Team Hawkes have capped a memorable day at Rosehill Gardens with victory in the race card’s final event this afternoon; Traitor producing a strong final straight sprint to win the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) a length in the clear of Define and Guelph.

Traitor wins the 2014 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Steve Hart

Having jumped well, Traitor found good position on the heels of early leaders Liberty’s Choice and Chateau Lafaite early in the back straight, maintaining good position rounding the bend before breaking clear of the pack and sustaining a strong run to the line.

Co-trainers Michael and Wayne Hawkes were delighted with the way Traitor approached and won the Phar Lap Stakes, commending the class of the talented Mossman gelding.

“It’s been a great day and it’s been a long time coming for this horse” Michael Hawkes said.

“To do what he’s done, he’s just well out of his depth and we’ve just got a great team behind us and he gave him a peach ride.”

“To get horses with a rating of 100 or more, there’s not many around, and to get into these better races you’ve got to go around the back door so these horses have been winning week to week just to race” Wayne Hawkes added.

“This bloke probably should have won his last three and he just kept improving and I really don’t think we’ve seen the best of him” Michael Hawkes said.

In-form jockey Brenton Avdulla delivered a sensational ride on Traitor in the Phar Lap Stakes, but confessed he was not in the position he had expected rounding the final bend.

“I thought I could feel Michael, Wayne and John strangling me there at the 300 when I cruised up and hit the front a bit early” Avdulla said with a chuckle.

“They rolled along at a good tempo and I was able to find a nice enough spot, but what I gathered from him the other day is he’s just got a high cruising speed and he can lengthen on for a good 700 metres.

“When they wanted to play games before the corner not going anywhere I decided to get on my bike and just get him into a rhythm and as soon as they got round him he was off a going again.

“For him to do that today at this sort of lot, everything was kind of around him on the corners, so he’s a pretty high quality horse and he’s with the right camp at the moment.”

Traitor’s impressive win in the Phar Lap Stakes rounded out an impressive day for Team Hawkes-trainer runners at Rosehill Gardens, with victories also coming their way via Entirely Platinum in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes and Messene in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes.

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2014 Phar Lap Stakes Results