Deep Field Rounds Out Derby Day with Salinger Stakes Victory

Resounding pre-post favourite Deep Field has continued his perfect career start at Flemington this afternoon, kicking well over the last 200m to win the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) by a comfortable length.

Deep Field has secured a fifth race win from as many starts in the 2014 Salinger Stakes. Photo: Sarah Ebbett

Jumping from the gates well, the Northern Meteor entire immediately ran to the fore of the pack, maintaining a strong pace and pulling two lengths clear of his closest rivals.

Appearing to be slowing when In Cahoots and Driefontein pulled alongside with 400m to run, jockey Dwayne Dunn calmed the classy four-year-old who responded with a strong kick to finish comfortably ahead of Gai Waterhouse’s Group 1 winner.

Dunn delivered a typically polished ride on Deep Field in the 2014 Salinger Stakes and is confident the lightly-raced four-year-old is capable of developing into one of the country’s best short course specialists.

“I just took him out there just to give him a guide, we trialled him down there and I was just trying to find somewhere to get out of the wind, it’s just so strong,” Dunn said after crossing the line.

“For him to do all the tough work out in front was a great effort.

“I just couldn’t shrug off Gai’s horse the way I thought I would but it was a good effort to do that, he’s only a baby and he’s still got a lot to learn.”

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes was pleased with Deep Field’s performance in the 2014 Salinger Stakes, but ruled out any chance of a maiden appearance at the highest level of Australian racing this time in.

“He was good – Dad said to Dwayne if he’s swinging at the furlong then you can just let him go so that’s why Dwayne wasn’t in a hurry to let him go,” Hawkes said after the Salinger Stakes.

“To be fair, he’s a baby this horse; he hasn’t had a spell, he only had a freshen-up from his couple of runs in Sydney and these are not hacks – Damien’s horse chased home Chautauqua (in-form sprinter, Deep Field’s stable mate), I mean these are pretty fair horses.

“You never make a decision race day but Chautauqua’s sitting home and smoking his pipe and this bloke’s just done it, so I reckon we probably just keep them apart for now.”

Punters who backed Deep Field to win the 2014 Salinger Stakes and had signed up for a Ladbrokes Card will already have access to their winnings!

2014 Salinger Stakes Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	6	DEEP FIELD	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Dwayne Dunn	–	11	54kg	$1.60F
2	2	DRIEFONTEIN	Gai Waterhouse	Vlad Duric	1L	8	56kg	$21
3	4	IN CAHOOTS	Phillip Atkins	Damien Oliver	2.5L	5	55.5kg	$9.50
4	8	CHARLIE BOY	Gerald Ryan	Tommy Berry	3.25L	7	53.5kg	$26
5	11	NEAREST TO PIN	Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas	Chad Schofield	9.25L	6	53kg	$71
6	1	BEL SPRINTER	Jason Warren	Ben Melham	10L	4	59kg	$15
7	9	THAT’S A GOOD IDEA	Peter & Paul Snowden	Kerrin McEvoy	10.5L	9	53.5kg	$21
8	7	A TIME FOR JULIA	Peter G Moody	Glen Boss	12.25L	3	53.5kg	$41
9	5	BIG MONEY	Rodney Northam	Robert Thompson	12.45L	2	54kg	$15
10	10	ADAMANTIUM (NZ)	Danny O’Brien	James Winks	17.45L	10	53kg	$31
SB	12	ECLAIR BIG BANG (NZ)	Phillip Stokes	Dom Tourneur	–	1	53kg	$20