Classy three-year-old Wawail has continued her impressive career start at Sandown this afternoon; leading from start to finish to take out the Listed City Of Greater Dandenong Stakes (1400m) ahead of a fast-finishing Wine Tales.

Jumping from the gates well, jockey Michael Walker led Wawail to the fore of the pack; setting a quick tempo alongside Muscovado over the back straight and rounding the bend.

Hugging the rails and extending well in the final straight, the Lonhro filly at one stage pulled three lengths clear, and while fading slightly over the last 100m, maintained a strong-enough sprint to beat Wine Tales to the line; More Radiant boxing on for third.

Walker delivered a well-polished ride on Wawail in the 2014 City Of Great Dandenong Stakes, revealing he had not anticipated leading the field from jump.

“She looks like she’s just come out of the paddock,” Walker said.

“Last start Dave said ‘She doesn’t look any good, do what you do’, I won from back and today I said what do I do if she jumps, and he said ‘I don’t know, leave it to you’.”

Trainer David Hayes was thrilled with Wawail’s performance for victory in the 2014 City Of Great Dandenong Stakes and revealed he was not particularly confident of a successful tilt.

“It was a very long last furlong, but to pick up the black type with a beautifully-bred filly like this was a big thrill,”

“This filly I would have loved to have not paraded her before the race because I was embarrassed by how bad she looks but I think next preparation she’ll strengthen that little bit and get a coat and might be a very good little filly.

“She was one of our best two-year-old’s with Afleet Esprit and after she won she missed most of her two-year-old career.

“Looking at her, it might have been a bit of a blessing because she’s going to make a really nice four-year-old mare.”

Taking out a minor over 1000m on debut in December last year before returning to the paddock with injury, Wawail made it three wins from as many starts this afternoon having taken out the Quest Moonee Valley 3.y.o (1200m) first-up this time on October 31^st.

Punters who backed Wawail to win the City Of Greater Dandenong Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $9 odds for success.

2014 City Of Greater Dandenong Stakes Results

Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Starting Price
1	6	WAWAIL	David Hayes & Tom Dabernig	Michael Walker	–	5	55kg	$9
2	1	WINE TALES	Chris Waller	James McDonald	0.2L	8	56kg	$2.60F
3	3	MORE RADIANT	Mick Price	Craig Newitt	0.3L	1	55kg	$4.20
4	5	FITOCRACY	Jon O’Connor	Glen Boss	2.05L	4	55kg	$31
5	9	THE FRENCH HOUSE	Darren Weir	Dean Yendall	2.55L	6	55kg	$19
6	8	FEELS LIKE HOME	Danny O’Brien	Michael Rodd	3.55L	11	55kg	$41
7	4	DUAL STAR	Paul Messara	Craig Williams	3.75L	9	55kg	$6.50
8	2	MUSCOVADO	Gai Waterhouse	Steven Arnold	4.25L	7	56kg	$20
9	11	BLACKJACK BELLA	Greg Eurell	Chris Symons	4.45L	3	55kg	$51
10	7	WROCLAW	Lloyd Kennewell	Mark Zahra	5.2L	2	55kg	$15
11	12	SHE’S ALL THAT	Leon & Troy Corstens	Chad Schofield	15.2L	10	55kg	$81