Messene, a son of Lonhro, has added to his Stakes record with victory in the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup over 2000m, 6 May.
Capping off a huge week for the team Hawkes training partnership, Messene took the lead in the early stages of the race from where he settled and travelled comfortably for jockey Blake Shinn. A winner of the G2 Ajax Stakes, Messene proved too strong for his rivals winning by two lengths from Iggi Pop and Adirondack (Lonhro).
Bred and raced by the Cloros family, Messene is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Belle Giselle who hails from the family of Champion stallion Zabeel and multiple G1-winning Darley stallion Hallowed Crown.
Champion sire Lonhro is the sire of 60 career Stakes winners, among them G1-winning Darley stallions Exosphere and Denman, as well as Champion two-year-old Pierro and fellow G1-winning juvenile Benfica.
Lonhro will stand the coming breeding season at Kelvinside at a fee of $88,000 inc. GST alongside Exosphere who will stand his first season at a fee of $27,500 inc. GST and Denman who is standing at $11,000 inc. GST.
