Team Hawkes hunts black type with angst

The trucks have been leaving Sydney full of horses for the Melbourne spring but Team Hawkes has decided to go against the October traffic and send smart mare Zaira to Rosehill for tomorrow's Angst Stakes.

Sydney-based co-trainer Michael Hawkes said it was an easy decision to bring the Fastnet Rock mare north with the black-type on offer over 1400 metres.

"Our operation is about placing our horses in the right races be it in Sydney or Melbourne," he said. "This mare has a good winning record but we need to get some black type with her. This is the right race over the right trip. It is very important for a mare like her to have black type because it will make her very valuable. She has come up here before for one start and one win over 1400 at Randwick. She got here the other night and settled straight into her old box, which was good to see."

Zaira has had three starts in Melbourne this campaign, starting with a classy win at Moonee Valley. She stepped up to the Let's Elope Stakes, won by Pinker Pinker, and had no luck at a crucial time. Last start she ran fourth behind Zubbaya at Caulfield again without luck.

"The first-up win was very good and then her past couple have been good without the breaks going her way," Hawkes said. "She is still learning and developing and this is another chance for her to step up. We will see how she goes on Saturday and then decide where she will go next; she may stay here or she could go back to Melbourne."

Lonhro's sister Shannara opened favourite at $4.80 for the Angst after her eye-catching fourth in the Golden Pendant, with Little Surfer Girl, who was fifth in the same race, and Zaira at $5.

Team Hawkes' only other runner is Dao Dao in the Toorak Handicap. The eight-year-old hit the line hard in the Rupert Clarke Stakes when resuming but has drawn the outside gate of 14 tomorrow.

"He will have his work cut out from out there but he has Darren [Beadman], which is a big help," Hawkes said. "[Dao Dao] is not getting any younger, the old boy, but he has rarely let us down."

Story: Chris Roots SMH