With his AFL namesake currently on the sidelines, the equine version should keep the Gawn moniker to the fore by taking out the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic (3YO colts and geldings) Final at Melton on Saturday night.
The highly-promising Emma Stewart trained colt should work to the lead from his favorable front row draw and chalk up his first feature race win.
The son of Captaintreacherous did plenty wrong when runner-up in his debut at Ballarat before posting impressive all-the-way wins at subsequent starts, including the heat of this race at Bendigo last week.
Gawn is raced by prominent owner and avid Melbourne supporter Danny Zavitsanos, who also has Petracca and Oliver Dan among his considerable muster of racing stock.
“I know Emma and Clayton have always liked Gawn, but because he is a big horse they have given him plenty of time and didn’t race him as a two-year-old,” Zavitsanos said.
“They believe he is a horse who will get better with racing and he should progress through the grades.”
Zavitsanos also part-owns the talented juvenile Hammer Dan, who is one of the main chances in the Shakamaker Classic on Saturday night.
The Andy Gath-trained son of Vincent outclassed his rivals when he sat parked at Melton three weeks ago and is drawn to follow out the Emma Stewart-prepared debutant Bay Of Biscay who easily won his only trial at Melton.
“Hammer Dan should follow out Emma and Clayton’s horse who obviously has ability and we should have our chance to run him down if we’re good enough,” Gath said.
The Stewart camp appears set to make a clean sweep of the Home Grown finals with heat winner Tequila Delight looking the horse to beat in the fillies’ division.
One of the country’s best three-year-old fillies from last year, Encipher, makes her open-class debut when she steps out as a $1.40 favorite in the $30,000 Allied Express Blossom Lady.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous hasn’t been seen since finishing runner-up behind Amore Vita in the Vicbred (3YO Fillies) Final on New Year’s Eve, however she indicated a forward showing first-up with a trial win against talented opposition at Geelong last month.
Regular driver Kate Gath believes last start Ian Daff Memorial winner Cheyella will provide the favorite with plenty of opposition.
“Cheyella beat the boys at Melton recently, is back to mares’ class on Saturday night and is racing in good form,” she said.
TUNE IN at MELTON on Saturday
First Race: 5.32pm Last Race: 9.58pm
Racecaller: Dan Mielicki with Rob Auber, Jason Bonnington and Steve Cleave on TrotsVision.
TrotsVision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: LISTEN LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
Winner of the Week
SIMPLY SHAZ, by American Ideal out of Simply Stunning, in the Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park on March 31.
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
