Almanzor dominates Heatherlie finish

Rise At Dawn credited Almanzor with his latest black-type success with a heroic victory at Caulfield where he headed a quinella for our shuttle stallion.The four-year-old continued his terrific run of form when he handled another rise in class with a tenacious performance to claim top honours from Positivity in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes over 1700 metres.“He’s just so tough and fought back so well, it was a great win,” co-trainer JD Hayes said.“That was incredible and all credit to the horse, he’s been up a long time but they say you never turn out a horse in winning form so we’ll probably look for something else now.”Rise At Dawn was quickly into stride to make the running and, after being under heavy pressure in the straight, he lifted gallantly to beat last season’s G3 SA Classic winner Positivity in a driving finish.“He really fought hard for that, I thought he was beaten at the top of the straight,” rider Michael Dee said.“He got headed before he found his second win and lifted again.”The winner of seven of his 12 starts, Rise At Dawn was bred by Monovale Holdings and was a A$90,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate.He is an older brother of the Group performer Kay’s Ruebe with their dam the Listed Newmarket Handicap winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter Kay’s Awake.