Classy Team Hawkes-trained gelding Not Listenin’tome has opened his 2012 preparation in perfect form, strolling home to claim the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Racecourse today.

Having jumped fairly and settling just off the pace, Not Listenin’tome comfortably rounded the turn before jogging clear of the pack in the final straight and opened a four-length gap before crossing the line ahead of Consorting and Peter Moody-trained Thermal Current.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was impressed with the first-up display of the exciting Dylan Thomas gelding and is glad to have his 2014 opening run out of the way.

“When you’ve got the good thing of the day, it’s always nice to get it over and done with. Sometimes it’s a bit more of a relief than a thrill,” Hawkes said of the resounding $1.55 favourite.

“It was a good effort; it ended up being a bit of a track work gallop and that’s not being disrespectful to the others, but I think we all know he’s a pretty high class horse

“He just ambled up on the corner and everything just fell into place for him.

Owned by leading Hong Kong-based trainer John Moore, Not Listenin’tome has been the subject of plenty of speculation over recent weeks, with many believing the three-year-old isn’t far from leaving Australian shores; something Hawkes assured would not happen until the end of Autumn at the earliest.

“For another race horse trainer, John Moore has been unbelievably good; he just said do what you want, I don’t care, whatever suits you” Hawkes added.

“We’ll just take each race as it comes. We just wanted to get past today; it was either Sydney or Melbourne and we pulled the right reign today and we’ll just decide whether we keep him here, but he’ll probably go back to Sydney.

“It’s only going to get harder from here on in.”

Jockey James McDonald delivered a sensational ride on Not Listenin’tome , but was quick to lay all the praise on the talented gelding.

“He’s an unbelievable race horse; he’s so laid back and has the right attributes to be very good” McDonald said immediately after dismounting.

“He just relaxes and pings when I asked him and he was just devastating today.

“He’s just one of the horses who won out of the box and hopefully I can stick with him.”

Having now won three times in over five starts to date, a successful autumn campaign is well and truly on the cards for Not Listenin’tome, with starts in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) likely targets.

2014 Zeditave Stakes Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	5	NOT LISTENIN’TOME	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	James McDonald	–	2	55kg	$1.60F
2	6	CONSORTING	Michael Kent	Brad Rawiller	4L	3	55kg (cd 55.5kg)	$13
3	3	THERMAL CURRENT	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	4.2L	9	57.5kg	$7.50
4	2	FAST ’N’ ROCKING	David Hayes	Craig Williams	5.2L	4	57.5kg	$15
5	1	LION OF BELFORT	Mick Price	Damien Oliver	8.45L	1	58.5kg	$8
6	9	HARARE	Pat Carey	Rhys McLeod	8.65L	7	55kg (cd 55.5kg)	$201
7	8	THIS IS THE SHOW	David O’Prey	Craig Newitt	8.95L	6	55kg	$51
8	4	CRUDEN BAY	Anthony Freedman	Damian Browne	9.15L	5	57.5kg	$8.50
9	7	CLAIRVAUX	Matthew Williams	Dean Yendall	10.15L	8	55kg	$71