Like a lot of connections with purchases made overseas, the new owners of former Irish galloper Dadoozdart would have had big dreams when he made his Australian debut.
Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups and the like would have been high on their list, but after more than two years in Australia Dadoozdart is yet to win on Australian soil.
On Saturday the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained galloper heads to the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) looking for that breakthrough win.
There is the added bonus of a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October, although Wayne Hawkes said that was the furtherest thing from their mind at present.
The Hawkes Racing-trained Mount Popa, an Irish-bred French-raced import, won last year’s Mornington Cup, and after three lead-up runs heading towards the Caulfield Cup, did not take his place.
Hawkes said Dadoozdart has been a cause of frustration as the gelding can gallop as displayed by victories over South Pacific, Eminence , Riven Light and Nickajack Cave along the way.
“He has been a bit frustrating because he has shown he can do it,” Hawkes said.
“But he hasn’t won in Australia before. He ran second in the Canberra Cup two years ago and they put his weight up, then his rating came down and he’s run second in another Canberra Cup and his rating has gone back up again.”
The two Canberra Cup placings in the past two years have been the only times Dadoozdart has placed in Australia from 16 starts.
Hawkes said the Mornington was a nice race to be running in and it carries significant prize money.
“It’s not about the free kick into the Caulfield Cup, it’s a race worth a lot of money, so it’s worth having a go at,” Hawkes said.
“This race is worth $300,000, the Canberra Cup was $200,000, so if he can get some prize money, it will be a good result.”