Marwooba too good in Taj Rossi Series Final

The dual-state racing prowess of the Hawkes family was on full display at Flemington's Finals Day meeting on Saturday, where their charge Marwooba clinched the $175,000 Taj Rossi Series Final.

Prepared by the John, Wayne, and Michael Hawkes training partnership, the son of Wootton Bassett followed up a recent triumph at Rosehill on June 13 with a Listed victory over 1600 metres.

This outing marked a successful return to Victoria for the gelding. He had previously travelled to Sydney after enduring a last-place finish, beaten by 30 lengths at Geelong, in his opening run of the season. Wayne Hawkes commented on the advantage provided by the favourable weather conditions north of Victoria at this time of year.

"He only got here yesterday and his coat looked amazing," stated Hawkes, who oversees their Flemington stable operations. "The Sydney horses just look so much better than the Melbourne horses, just because of the weather. There's nothing anyone could do about that, but he just got off the float and he had a pig-root and was pretty happy with himself."

Marwooba benefited from a strategically economical run guided by Melbourne's leading jockey, Craig Williams, to secure the win from the $2.70 favourite, Star Of Macedon.

Williams settled Marwooba just off the pace, navigated a gap in the straight midway, and produced a strong acceleration to establish a decisive lead. The $3.20 second elect crossed the line half a length ahead of Star Of Macedon, with Ko Phangan ($7) a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

The victory gave Williams his second juvenile race win of the day, having previously saluted in the $150,000 Next Generation Sprinters Series Final (1200m) aboard the $2 favourite Stars Of Dom.

Hawkes indicated that the team's attention would now pivot towards the spring racing season for Marwooba. A potential target is the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27, which could serve as a lead-up to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney.

"We're very happy to be here in the depths of winter winning a race in July, (he'll go) back to Sydney and have three weeks off probably, then come back into work and he might end up in a Spring Champion (Stakes). There are plenty of options for him."

With Marwooba set for a spring campaign, consider exploring the latest racing betting markets at your preferred online bookmakers.