The Team Hawkes stable have been producing some handy winners of late but none more so than the impressive Messene who steps out at Canterbury this afternoon.
A son of John Hawkes’ former superstar galloper now successful stallion Lonhro, Messene has started nine times for six wins and two placings but will take his place second up today in the open handicap, the final race on the Canterbury card over 1550m.
Messene who did his early racing in Melbourne has returned a new peak Timeform rating in every one of his three campaigns to date and judging by the way he won fresh up on the Randwick Kensington there are clear signs he is capable of more still.
Last campaign, Messene strung together a series of three consecutive victories at distances of 1550m to 1600m starting at Canterbury, Randwick then Warwick Farm before heading off to the spelling paddock.
He then resumed off a 226 day break to win fresh up over 1400m in benchmark 95 class on the Kensington, storming home to win running away by over two lengths from Babel, a form line that now looks franked given that mare’s great effort to beat all bar stable mate Limes last Saturday.
Messene sat just off the very fast early tempo winning fresh up, but his running style suggests he can lead just as effectively as he did in his three prior wins.
Messene ticks a lot of boxes for today’s race. He comes off a new Timeform master figure of 106p at Randwick, will not be troubled by Canterbury already being a two time winner there and he is unbeaten at this distance.
This afternoon’s race again looks like it could be run along early with a couple of speedsters engaged, but that should not worry Messene one little bit, James McDonald should be able to track that speed off the lead and produce the lightly raced five-year-old at the right time.
Messene is an exciting prospect and although he strikes his toughest assignment today, his progressive nature should be enough to see him home.
A more reliable Tromso should present the stiffest opposition although the Guy Walter-trained Straight Albert and Waterhouse galloper Western Symbol can turn some below par efforts around and are likely to add some value to the multiples, Messene expected to start favourite.
Tromso from the powerful Chris Waller stable has been racing more consistently since being ridden more forward, a move that started three runs back when just beaten by Secessio over 1500m in open class at Rosehill.
Then followed a win in the Ladies Day Cup over 1400m at Hawkesbury defeating subsequent Villiers Handicap winner Ninth Legion after leading practically throughout.
On that occasion he had a slow mid race tempo but was soon in front and fought on tenaciously to prevail in a deceptive finish.
Given a 30 day break after that run, Tromso last raced in the event easily won by Messene at Randwick on the Kensington and on face value looked a little disappointing dropping out to finish a distant fourth beaten over seven lengths after leading for home.
However there are good reasons to suggest he can improve on that form today.
Tromso had to be used up early from a wide barrier under a big weight to cross the field and lead at a very fast early tempo, so it was no surprise to see him cave in late, especially as there was a query over his fitness as well.
This afternoon he will meet Messene a significant 3 kilos better and with Glyn Schofield in the saddle, he is certain to run a much improved race.
If Messene turns up in top form, Tromso will still find it difficult to turn the tables but the finish should be more competitive at least.
A query runner is the Guy Walter-trained Straight Albert who has started twice since a long break from racing, showing gradual improvement each time.
The winner of seven of his 21 race starts, Straight Albert was in top form at this time last year winning four races on end including the Listed Tattersalls Cup (2095m) and Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) before going amiss after the Newcastle Newmarket in March.
After a long spell, Straight Albert resumed in the Starlight Stakes (1100m) finishing about six lengths off the winner Zaratone, the last start stepped up to 1150m in the Listed Razor Sharp running a bold race to finish three lengths from Aeronautical and still rating about eight pounds below his top form.
Today the step up to 1550m is going to be a bonus and although he probably needs more racing and longer distances, I can see this fellow running very well.
It is interesting that Blake Shinn has stuck solid with Straight Albert in his two runs back and is atop him again today.
If there is a upset here, Straight Albert can cause it.
Another galloper who has been out of the winning list for a long time is the Gai Waterhouse trained Western Symbol.
Winless for some 616 days, Western Symbol resumed from a long spell with a creditable run behind Ninth Legion in the G2 Villiers Handicap beaten just over four lengths.
Western Symbol has a good record second up winning twice and placing twice from only four attempts in that state and the fact Waterhouse has elected for blinkers again is a strong pointer to an improved performance.
Despite his 60.5kgs, Western Symbol is one to consider for the multiples, but if Messene turns up in top form, he will be running for place money.
