Team Hawkes made a successful raid on the Wagga Gold Cup as Messene found the front mid-race and dashed away from his rivals in the straight for an easy win.

It was an emotional hometown victory for retired Wagga businessman George Cloros, who owns Messene with his family.

It also continued an amazing run for the Hawks training partnership, John and sons Michael and Wayne, less than six days after conquering the world with Chautauqua in Hong Kong.

Messene ($3.20) scored by two lengths, with Iggi Pop ($10.00) second and Victorian visitor Adirondack ($4.60) a further half length back in third.

Michael Hawkes was on track to enjoy Messene’s return to winning form

“He’s an old timer but he’s been the pinnacle of our stable,” Hawkes said.

“He hasn’t won a race in a long time but he’s won a lot of money. To get a win back on the board is just great, Blake did the right thing, it took a while to get to the front but that was the game plan. 

“It was just about finding the right race. 

“He’s won good, albeit he was the best horse in the race but you know what, you have got to get back into winning form and that’s what it’s about.”

Messene provided John Hawkes with his second Wagga Gold Cup 23 years after his first with Antwerp in 1993.

Hawkes said it was more about Cloros than it was his family.

“It’s more important for this man here, George Cloros,” Hawkes said.

“This is what it’s all about. He’s been knocking on the door for this horse to win and today we have finally done it.”

Not long back from Hong Kong where Chautauqua produced one of the world’s best sprinting performances of the year, Hawkes said the Wagga Gold Cup was the perfect finish to a big week.

“It doesn’t matter where we are, you have got to be proud to be anywhere. We go from Hong Kong one minute, to Wagga the next an we just love winning races,” he said.

The Gold Cup was marred with tragedy with the loss of fourth placegetter Grand Proposal past the wining post.

Grand Proposal was humanely put down after suffering a suspected fractured sesamoid in the final stages of the race.

Queanbeyan trainer Neville Layt was naturally devastated to lose the mare, who had won her past two at Wagga leading up the Cup.