It would appear that the Hawkes team have another stallion prospect on their hands in the form of Nepotism, who on April 19 laid his claim to being the best juvenile colt around with an awe-inspiring late run to win the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Randwick.
Just seven weeks after stablemate Devil Night (AUS) ensured his future at stud in winning the Blue Diamond Stakes (G1), the son of Brutal duly followed suit by capturing his first group 1 victory in only his third career start, in the process becoming the first elite-level winner for his Newgate Farm-based sire.
Sent off the AU$3.90 favorite under the guidance of Tyler Schiller, Nepotism entered the Randwick straight in last place but was able to unleash an outside run as fluid as champagne itself, which in the final strides saw him get up to beat Sweet Embrace Stakes (G2) winner Within The Law by 0.13 lengths.
Tupakara finished just 0.05 lengths away in third in what was a thrilling finish to the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) feature.
Nepotism was backing up his impressive last-start win in the rescheduled Baillieu Stakes (G3) at Rosehill April 1, which followed a third-place finish behind Tentyris in the Todman Stakes (G2) on debut in March.
"He's just a proper horse," Michael Hawkes, who trains Nepotism in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said.
"The only thing I said to Tyler (Schiller) was, 'You're going to have to slice and dice and try to come up through them.' He came around the corner and I thought, 'Is he going to get there?'
"But he's just blistering. He's got an exceptional turn of foot. Last-to-first, unbelievable.
"I just love making colts. It's just one thing we just love doing."
While Nepotism has now earned his stripes on the track, he was already a valuable colt whose pointed name tells a story of an illustrious family.
It is a family the Hawkes know well, with the Gilgai Farm-bred colt being by the former Team Hawkes-trained Doncaster Handicap (G1) winner Brutal and out of Brigite, a sister to the Team Hawkes-trained four-time group 1 winner turned Vinery Stud stallion All Too Hard.
Out of the unraced Desert Sun mare Helsinge, Brigite is also a half-sister to Black Caviar, as well as to the legendary sprinter's sister Naturale, herself the dam of two stakes winners, including Vinery Stud's dual group 1 winner and leading first-season sire Ole Kirk.
Nepotism, therefore, is the latest of five group 1 winners to descend from the group 2-winning and group 1-placed blue hen mare Scandinavia, the dam of Helsinge and four stakes winners, those headed by group 1 winner and late Widden Stud sire Magnus.
Nepotism is further tied to Black Caviar through co-owner Neil Werrett, who also co-owned the record-breaking 15-time group 1 winner. While the great mare didn't venture beyond 1,400 meters, and the other aforementioned group 1 winners of the family not stretching beyond a mile, Schiller believes the gutsy juvenile could have the capacity to step out in trip.
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Jimmysstar Earns Second Top-Level Triumph in All Aged Stakes
Having landed the Oakleigh Plate (G1) in February, the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar doubled his group 1 tally when coming home strongly to win Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick.
The 5-year-old gelding had run third in the William Reid Stakes (G1) and fourth in the TJ Smith Stakes (G1) in two runs since his Oakleigh Plate triumph, and appreciated the step back up to 1400 meters (about seven furlongs) Saturday.
Ridden by Ethan Brown for the fourth start in a row, Jimmysstar needed racing room down the home straight but, once in the clear with 200 metres left to run, came home best of all to beat fellow fast finisher Joliestar by 0.6 lengths.
There was a further 0.7 lengths back to the third-placed Sunshine In Paris, while favored Briasa was fourth.
“He is such a ripper,” Maher said. “This prep, he has come out this time with the Oakleigh Plate, and his next two runs have been absolutely outstanding. He has run in four group 1s and to claim two of them is pretty special.
“He’s a cool horse with a great ownership group, and he’s got a pretty cool jockey as well. I’m just thrilled. This has been a real come-out preparation for Jimmy.
Maher revealed that the AU$20 million Oct. 18 The Everest (G1) would be an obvious target for Jimmysstar.
“I was thinking about The Everest after the Oakleigh Plate,” Maher said. “The other day, he ran home a quicker time in the TJ Smith than he did in the Oakleigh Plate, and his Oakleigh Plate was blistering.
“He’s just a very good horse and I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt in The Everest.”
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