Scobie Breasley Medal winner Dwayne Dunn wrapped up a winning treble when he steered Ocean Embers to a stunning win in the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Cockram Stakes (1200m) Caulfield today.
Ocean Embers, blue and lime colours above, finishes strongly to win the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Dunn brought Ocean Embers ($4.40 favourite) from near the tail of the field on the home turn to score a half length win over Thames Court ($13) with Telopea ($6.50) running on for third.
Ocean Embers also provided Cranbourne trainer Shea Eden with his first Group race win.
“A career defining moment to win my first black type race, a Group 3 with this filly is very special,” Eden said.
Eden said that he was confident heading into today’s race after her win in Mares company over 1100m at Caulfield on August 13.
“I haven’t had anything to gauge her off and all I could go on was how well she was and how well she has worked and I knew she had improved after that last run,” Eden said.
Eden said that he didn’t want to overtax Ocean Embers who is not a big mare and will consider heading to the Group 3 $150,000 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in three weeks.
“She is tiny, barely fifteen hands and the plan is now to head to the How Now in three weeks. She will have an easy week and then business as normal in the two weeks leading into that and then maybe a race like the Manikato, no weight.”
Dunn is riding in superb form and was happy to sit out the back before giving Ocean Embers every chance to chase down the leaders in the straight.
Dunn scored early in the day on He’s Our Rokkii for the Lindsay Park Team in the $90,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m) and then rode a masterly race on Defcon to win the Group 3 $150,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) for Peter and Paul Snowden.
Cockram Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | OCEAN EMBERS | Shea Eden | Dwayne Dunn | – | 14 | 55kg | $4.40F |
| 2 | 2 | THAMES COURT | David Brideoake | Ryan Maloney | 0.5L | 6 | 57kg | $13 |
| 3 | 9 | TELOPEA (GB) | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver | 0.9L | 2 | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 4 | 11 | ANDRASSY | Allison Sheehan | Ben Melham | 1.4L | 5 | 55kg | $16 |
| 5 | 1 | DON’T DOUBT MAMMA | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 1.6L | 9 | 57kg | $8 |
| 6 | 14 | CANA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Patrick Moloney | 1.7L | 1 | 55kg | $13 |
| 7 | 10 | MISS SOFTHANDS | Colin Little | Steven King | 2.2L | 10 | 55kg | $51 |
| 8 | 5 | CHOOSE | Lee & Shannon Hope | Ben E Thompson (a) | 2.3L | 3 | 55kg | $10 |
| 9 | 15 | EGYPT | Mark Kavanagh | Stephen Baster | 3.3L | 7 | 55kg | $18 |
| 10 | 7 | A LOTTA LOVE | Sam Pritchard-Gordon | Dylan Dunn (a) | 3.5L | 12 | 55kg | $21 |
| 11 | 6 | AWASITA | Kris Lees | Craig Newitt | 4.25L | 4 | 55kg | $41 |
| 12 | 8 | KAYJAY’S JOY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damian Lane | 5.5L | 13 | 55kg | $11 |
| 13 | 4 | JESSY BELLE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 5.8L | 8 | 55kg | $11 |
| 14 | 12 | MOSSIN’ AROUND | Grahame Begg | Nicholas Hall | 6L | 11 | 55kg | $12 |
