A keenly contested renewal of the $200,000, Group 2, Guy Walter Proven Thoroughbred Stakes (1400m) on the Royal Randwick program in Sydney witnessed Dawn Dawn (by All Too Hard) swoop late in the straight to record her maiden black-type victory at the 5-year-old mare’s sixteenth career start.

Run at a very strong tempo with short-priced favourite Sweet Deal (by Casino Prince) taken on for the lead and not allowed her own way out in front, the metric seven-furlong contest set-up beautifully for a late finisher and played right in to the hands of Dawn Dawn.

Some 10-to-12 lengths off the pace towards the tail of the field racing in to the only turn, Dawn Dawn peeled to the outside of the field soon after turning for home before ultimately grabbing Sweet Deal right on the line.

Illustrating the nature of the race was the minor placing of Pohutukawa (by Medaglia d’Oro). The only runner in the field behind Dawn Dawn on the home turn, the Godolphin raced 4-year-old produced a very similar finishing burst to the winner and only just failed to take out the contest in a three-way photo-finish.

Official margins of the race were a short half-head by a head, with the fourth placed horse Sweet Scandal finishing a length-and-a-half adrift of the placegetters.

Asked about the manner of his victory, winning rider Tommy Berry explained: “We went along at a decent clip, so I thought I’d make it up between James [McDonald aboard Pohutukawa] and myself.

“I rode Pohutukawa last start, and I knew she would be storming over the top of them late, so I wanted to pinch a bit of a break on her over the 1400m.”

Keen to praise his winning partner, Berry added: “This mare has been tough and honest all the way through. She has been unlucky; [she] never got out until late when I rode her first-up, and second-up she bumped into a soft track. 

“She’s better on top of the ground, so she could have had two out of three this prep.

“I think she’ll run a Coolmore [Classic] distance 1500m. The Rosehill 1500m is very soft. If it was here over the mile, I’d say it would be more of a worry.”

Winning co-trainer Michael Hawkes concurred with Berry’s observations.

“She had no luck last start, and even first-up she was probably a good thing beaten when Tommy rode her,” remarked Hawkes Jnr.

“I said to Tommy today, he was a little worried about the barrier, but I thought it was perfect for her. She’ll get back and she’ll really hit the line. If she can get a clear crack at them from the corner, she will do the rest.”

Hawkes then declared: “She’s tough as, and I’m very proud of her.”

Hawkes also added that the Coolmore Classic would be Dawn Dawn’s next assignment as Berry indicated.

Dawn Dawn is now the winner of five races from 16 starts, having also placed on another six occasions. She has now amassed $363,860 in prizemoney and bonuses for her owners, Mr R R Crosby and Mrs P L Crosby.

Winning time of the race was a very sharp 1m20.83s, the last 600m being registered as 35.56s.

Starting prices of the first three were $13.00 the winner, $2.50 favourite the runner-up, and $5.00 the minor placegetter.

What the beaten jockeys said:

Kerrin McEvoy (Reelem In Ruby): ‘She was just fair today. We had a nice trail and tracked up into the race okay but her run was short-lived.’

Glen Boss (Noire): ‘She’s going well but she wants wet ground - it would bring her back into this sort of race.’

Hugh Bowman (Fiesta): ‘She just overdid it a bit with the blinkers on and it told late.’

Blake Shinn (Sweet Deal): ‘She ran a tremendous race. We were softened-up a little bit in the early stages and I think that told in the last 100m. She did prick her ears and stargaze a bit from the 100m to the 50m mark and I think those two factors, the early stages and what happened from the 100 to the 50, cost her the race.’ 

Tim Clark (Con Te Partiro): ‘She went okay. I had to race her a bit out of her pattern. I think she’s looking for a bit further.’

James McDonald (Pohutukawa): ‘She just got back too far but stormed home late. She’s going super.’

Brenton Avdulla (Sweet Scandal): ‘She ran an honest race. Drew a bit awkward and ended up three-wide without cover but she tried her guts out.’

Rachel King (Connemara): ‘A bit disappointing today. I think she’s lost her confidence.’

Andrew Adkins (Helga): ‘She had a lovely run in transit. Maybe she’s had enough, or she might want a little further.’