The Team Hawkes trained Showtime produced a first class performance to earn himself a start in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes with a gutsy win in the Group 2 $200,000 Sir John Monash P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield today.

Showtime, above in yellow and red colours, holds on to win the P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
New season four year old Showtime was having his second start this campaign after a first up fifth in the Group 2 $200,000 Mostyn Copper Group Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 4 and will now be given his chance at Group 1 level again in the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1.
Showtime has already been tested at weight for age at Group 1 level with a third in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2018 Melbourne Autumn Carnival plus a third in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
“The 1400m here at Caulfield (in the Memsie). He ran great in the Futurity, he has won today so he obviously gets around the 1400m perfectly well,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.
“It was a good effort.”
“The leader did annoy us a fair bit and it probably took him to the six, seven hundred before he actually relaxed. In the first half of the race his head was up and he was very keen with the other horse just in front of him.”
“It is very difficult to do it at both ends and to be fair he did it at both ends.”
“It was by far and away his best win.”
Winning jockey Dwayne Dunn had Showtime ($6) quickly into stride from the jump and settled the four year old at the heels of the leader Jungle Edge in the run down the side.
Dunn had Showtime poised to strike as heads were turned for home and the Snitzel stallion fought hard in the straight and was able to hold off all comers.
Runner up Hartnell ($9.50) snuck up along the fence while third placegetter Widgee Turf ($11) and Kings Will Dreams ($9) were eye catching runs.
The Mick Price trained Grunt was sent out as the $4.40 favourite for the P.B. Lawrence Stakes but never threatened in the straight to finish fifth.
P.B. Lawrence Stakes Results
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 | SHOWTIME | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 8 | 58.5kg | $6 | |||
2 | 1 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 0.4L | 13 | 59kg | $9.50 | ||
3 | 9 | WIDGEE TURF | Patrick Payne | Billy Egan | 0.6L | 9 | 59kg | $11 | ||
4 | 11 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | Darren Weir | John Allen | 0.7L | 14 | 59kg | $9 | ||
5 | 13 | GRUNT (NZ) | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 1L | 6 | 58.5kg | $4.40F | ||
6 | 8 | JUNGLE EDGE | Mick Bell | Kevin Forrester | 1.1L | 15 | 59kg | $21 | ||
6 | 15 | HOLY SNOW | Mick Price | Michael Dee | 1.1L | 5 | 58.5kg | $15 | ||
8 | 3 | HUMIDOR (NZ) | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 2.85L | 1 | 59kg | $21 | ||
9 | 2 | BLACK HEART BART | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 3.05L | 2 | 59kg | $8.50 | ||
10 | 16 | MISS GUNPOWDER | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jordan Childs | 3.25L | 16 | 57kg | $21 | ||
11 | 12 | MIGHTY BOSS | Mick Price | Michael Walker | 4.5L | 7 | 58.5kg | $19 | ||
12 | 6 | BIG DUKE (IRE) | Darren Weir | Harry Coffey | 5L | 3 | 59kg | $201 | ||
13 | 7 | HARLEM (GB) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 5.5L | 4 | 59kg | $41 | ||
14 | 4 | BOOM TIME | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 7.5L | 10 | 59kg | $41 | ||
15 | 5 | DANON LIBERTY (JPN) | Darren Weir | Mark Zahra | 7.7L | 12 | 59kg | $21 | ||
16 | 10 | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | Darren Weir | Ben Allen (a) | 11.45L | 11 | 59kg | $201 |