Racing: Inference gives sire first classic

Photo / 123rf

Raw colt Inference has given the Hawkes training team some group one consolation in the Randwick Guineas after stable veteran Chautauqua's narrow defeat in the Canterbury Stakes.

With his win in yesterday's 1600m-feature on a wet Randwick track, Inference earned a part of history as the first Australian Group One winner produced by former New Zealand champion So You Think.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said it had been an up-and-down day.

"It is a little bit bittersweet. The grey (Chautauqua) lost no admirers showed he's back. He ran a super race," Hawkes said.

"For this bloke, he has a lot of untapped potential. He went ever so close in the Victoria Derby."

Inference ran third in the Victoria Derby with Hawkes saying Saturday's win was a bonus as he heads to the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby.

"I said to the owners, 'if he wins today, he is winning on ability alone. The Rosehill Guineas is the one we're chasing and then into the Derby."'

Inference came from last with Tommy Berry timing his run to perfection to edge out the only filly in the race, Invincible Gem by a short neck with Comin' Through another 1 lengths away.

"The best part of this horse is we trained his mum (Pontiana) and she had a lot of potential," Hawkes said.

"The So You Thinks are going great at the moment."

"This is a horse with really untapped potential."

Berry said he felt lucky to be on Inference after what he admitted was not his best ride in the Victoria Derby.

"I put him up the fence in the Derby in Melbourne so I didn't know if I'd get on him again," Berry said.

"I can't thank the Hawkes team enough."

Meanwhile, Hey Doc has justified his favouritism with a convincing victory in the Group One Australian Guineas at Flemington.

The Tony McEvoy-trained gelding settled just behind the lead in yesterday's 1600m race for three-year-olds before jockey Luke Currie sent the $3.40 favourite through a gap on the inside early in the straight from where he sprinted for home.

Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon, who was scratched from the Randwick Guineas in Sydney to run at Flemington, ran home for second with Snitzson third.