Apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray produced an inch-perfect front-running ride to land the RDAV Mary Longden Mile (1600m) at Flemington aboard smart three-year-old Rise At Dawn.
Trained by Ben, JD and Will Hayes, the son of Almanzor was resuming over a mile following an enforced break and he hung on grimly to win by the barest of margins in a driving finish from the fast-finishing Craig.
“I thought he had got beaten so it’s nice the photo went our way this time,” Ben Hayes said.
“We had been hoping to get to a Derby with him, but he pulled up a bit sore after the Port Adelaide Guineas (Listed, 1800m) at Morphettville.
“He had freshened up really well and to come back and win a race at Flemington is fantastic.
“We just thought we’d back off, keep him happy, and he responded really well.
“He’s a horse we have to manage and if we turned him out, he could have gone the wrong way, so it’s good to have him bounce back as he’s a horse we’ve always liked.
“I think it’s the right time of year for him and he loves wet tracks, even though it wasn’t wet today.
“Celine had him nice and relaxed in front and I can’t say she went too early, because she won.”
Rise At Dawn made the running and kicked well clear 300m from home and had enough in reserve to post the fourth win of his seven-start career.
“I rode him in his last jump-out and was pleased,” winning rider Celine Gaudray said.
“We got an easy lead and while he paddled the last bit, he’s done a great job.”
Bred by the Smithies family’s Monovale Holdings, Rise At Dawn was purchased by Lindsay Park for A$90,000 at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
He is an older brother of this season’s Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) placegetter Kay’s Ruebe with their dam the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) winner and multiple Group One placegetter Kay’s Awake.
