Team Hawkes unveiled another very promising two year-old for Vinery Stud and its partners at Geelong on Wednesday.
Strindberg carried the stud’s successful green and white colours to an all-the-way victory in the Toronado@Swettenham Hcp (1100m). The Fastnet Rock colt crossed from a wide gate and coasted home without being given full-rein by jockey James Winks.
“The Fastnet Rocks hardly win at two but he did,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said. “The job’s done now. We will wait and see before making plans but we’re not going to push him.”
Winks also praised the winner. “He’s the ultimate professional and made my job easy today!”
Strindberg (2c Fastnet Rock – Dream Play by Hennessy) had been nailed by a nose on debut at Seymour and was ready to fire after that hit-out a fortnight ago. Vinery bought him from Kia-Ora Stud for $500,000 at the 2014 Inglis Easter Sale – a month later his older brother Zululand won the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Their dam Dream Play (USA) won the G2 Comely Stakes and LR Dearly Precious Stakes as a three year-old at Aqueduct. She arrived in Australia after selling for US$460,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale.
Strindberg is the second Vinery-owned two year-old winner trained by Team Hawkes this year. He is a stablemate of brilliant youngster Headwater who won the G2 Silver Slipper before finishing fifth in the G1 Golden Slipper.
Team Hawkes farewelled 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun this week. The daughter of Vinery sire Mossman retires to the broodmare paddock at Emirates Park Stud with earnings over $2.54 million.
