PRINCE Of Caviar remains a maiden after narrow defeat at Bendigo on Wednesday but Wayne Hawkes still believes the regally-bred colt has a decent future.

Heavily backed to start a $1.75 favourite, Prince Of Caviar was caught in the last stride by charging Mickey Blue Eyes to fail by a half head.

The son of champion mare Black Caviar and Golden Slipper winner Sebring, Prince Of Caviar was involved in an early speed battle before storming to the lead 300m out.

He was hailed the winner before Lindsay Park’s Mickey Blue Eyes flew late. The Hayes-Dabernig team has a high opinion of Mickey Blue Eyes.

The result did not change Hawkes’ opinion.

“I haven’t been shy in saying he won’t be at his best in the spring,” Hawkes said. “He won’t see that (his best) until the autumn so whatever he does in the spring is a bonus.”

Team Hawkes will now decide if the colt is sent for a spell or presses on.

The second foal of undefeated Black Caviar, Prince of Caviar has finished second twice and fourth from three starts.

Black Caviar’s first foal Oscietra was retired to stud after winning two of her five races.

INSIDE RUNNING


Michael Manley

KEMENTARI is a $3.70 favourite with TAB fixed odds for Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington and James Cummings says the horse in the best shape he’s been this campaign.

“He’s the fittest he’s been this campaign and his work on Tuesday morning reflected that,’’ Cummings said. “His gallop on the course proper at Flemington was what I wanted to see. He’s tightened up nicely.

“He picked up nicely from the six furlongs and was full of running on the line, suggesting to me that he’s coped well with his very impressive Memsie Stakes run. Since the Caulfield race he’s been really bright and he looks confident stepping up to the mile.”

Last Orders, George
LLOYD Williams’ champion European stayer Order Of St George was retired on Tuesday, the day the Melbourne Cup weights were released.

He never ran in the race but had the distinction of being topweight in 2016 and 2017.

Order Of St George was being aimed at a third Irish St Leger win, but trainer Aidan O’Brien said as he couldn’t get him to that race at The Curragh on Sunday, he had decided to retire the six-year-old. Order Of St George won 13 of his 25 starts, including the Ascot Gold Cup at the royal meeting in 2016.

Latrobe, trained by O’Brien’s son Joseph, will represent Williams in the 2800m Irish St Leger. If the colt runs well, he’s likely to come for the Melbourne Cup.

Feature double
GEELONG apprentice Georgina Cartwright stole the show at Balaklava on Wednesday.

Cartwright won both features, the $50,000 Flying on Showpero and the $100,000 Balaklava Cup on Temps Voleur. She said the win on Temps Voleur, who led throughout, was the highlight of her career. The former Victorian-trained galloper has won four of six starts since joining Chris Bieg’s stables.