Monday, 8 February 2010:
One-time Caulfield Cup fancy Growl won his first race in more than three years despite a torrid run in the Group Three Hobart Cup.
Jockey Brad Rawiller said he was a victim of circumstances on the David Hayes-trained Growl who was shunted five-wide in the back straight in the 2200m race.
"Bossy (Glen Boss on the $4.20 favourite Rathsallagh) at one stage put me out five deep," Rawiller said.
"I thought I couldn't win if I started going forward from there so I got on to the back of Bossy.
"I ended up having to go a touch early but he was too good. Coming to the corner he showed what he's shown at home."
Growl ($12.20) streeted his rivals, racing away to score by 4-1/4 lengths from De Fine Lago ($6.50) with Dream Pedlar ($30) four lengths away third.
Now a seven-year-old, Growl won the 2006 Group Two Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield before failing in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) at his next start when 13th to stablemate Tawqeet.
After finishing runner-up to Desert War in the 2006 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, the Montjeu gelding had two stints of racing in Hong Kong where his owners are based.
"He was in good form the first time he went to Hong Kong but he wouldn't go the other (clockwise) way," said Hayes' assistant trainer Gary Fennessy.
"Later we did jump him and he was a very good jumper, but he retained his dash so we didn't go on with that. He's only lightly raced for a horse his age.
"He should have won last start (when second at Flemington) I thought."
Fennessy said Growl would now have a crack at the Group Three $300,000 Launceston Cup (2400m) on February on February 24 and then he would probably head to Adelaide for the Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 8.
"He'll run two miles this old bugger," Fennessy said.
"The plan was to go back to Melbourne for the Australian Cup but Dave's got a couple of strong chances in it - Our Aqaleem, maybe Changingoftheguard and maybe Zagreb."
Growl has raced 32 times for seven wins and nine placings and Monday's winner's prize of $220,000 took his stake earnings to $738,822.
Fennessy said Growl would be stabled at Spreyton with trainer Michael Trinder in the lead-up to the Launceston Cup.
The last horse to complete the Hobart Cup-Launceston Cup double was Zacielo in 2004.
Among the disappointments in the race were the
Robert Smerdon-trained Rathsallagh who had a chequered passage before finishing 35 lengths last of the 16 runners and the Darren Weir-trained Bangerang Quickpic who weakened to run 13th.
