Scenic Warrior (NZ)
2 c Proisir – Pemba Nepali by Domesday
O: F A L Racing
B: T Falcone
T: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes
W: Iron Jack Plate, 1200m, June 8, Warwick Farm
The Falcone family colours were famously sported by brothers and top three-year-olds Divine Prophet (Choisir) and Proisir (Choisir) in the last decade.
Proisir’s son Scenic Warrior has a long way to go to join the pair but, on the strength of his maiden win at Warwick Farm on Monday, he is likely to be given his chance to head down a Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) path in the spring.
The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Scenic Warrior is already in the spelling paddock following his determined victory on Monday at what was his second start following a fast-finishing fifth to Concealed (Deep Field) at Canterbury on debut.
Sitting much closer to the speed on Monday, he didn’t look entirely comfortable on the wet track but handled it better than his rivals. He edged clear for a three-quarter length success over early leader Gunnamatta (Headwater) with Prompt Prodigy (More Than Ready) a head away in third.
“He’s a really nice horse going forward,” Michael Hawkes told Sky Thoroughbred Central. “He was probably a little bit stiff at Canterbury. He drew a bad barrier and had to go too far back but he really hit the line solidly.
“Today, Warwick Farm, he jumped out and travelled pretty well and he got away with a win. Actually, we would have been disappointed had he got beaten, but he stuck into the fight. He’ll more than likely head to the paddock and he’ll come back a really nice horse later on in the spring.”
Hawkes added: “These colours have been pretty successful with us with the Falcone family. Divine Prophet was their last good horse that we had and there have been a few in between. Being by Proisir, it’s probably a bit sentimental to the Falcone family.”
Scenic Warrior is the second named foal out of Pemba Nepali (Domesday); the first, Napster (Proisir), won twice over the Canterbury 1250 metres earlier this year and has now joined the Hong Kong stable of John Size.
Further back, Scenic Warrior descends from one of the most prominent Woodlands families. Second dam Nepal (Quest For Fame) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Crawl (Dr Grace), while the family also features another Group 1 winner in Trapeze Artist (Snitzel).
Pemba Nepali, a Sale maiden winner, was offered for sale by Goodwood Farm at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. She was bought by Kitchwin Hills for $29,000.
Having missed the 2017 breeding season after Scenic Warrior was foaled in late November, she has again visited Proisir the last two years; she produced a filly in August last year, while she is back in foal to him once more.
Proisir will stand at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand this season for NZ$9,000 (plus GST).