The Hawkes family has long been associated with prominent breeding and racing operations, and their expertise continued to shine through on Saturday when Devil Night claimed victory in the prestigious Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
John Hawkes, the patriarch, has a rich history in the industry, having initially prepared the Woodlands Stud team for Jack and Bob Ingham before the operation was acquired by Darley Stud, transforming into the Godolphin operation. Later, he branched out with his sons, Wayne and Michael, establishing a two-state operation with training bases at Rosehill and Flemington.
While their operation isn’t as large as it was during the Woodlands Stud days, they continue to train horses for several notable breeders. One of those breeders, Yulong Stud, had a small but significant presence with the Hawkes team, and together, they secured one of Victoria’s premier two-year-old races.
Devil Night ($16), a son of the 2016 Blue Diamond winner Extreme Choice, held off a determined challenge from Tentyris ($21) to win by a narrow half-head. Tycoon Star ($17) finished third, a further 1¼ lengths behind. The victory marked the second Blue Diamond win for the Hawkes family, following Kusi’s win in 2003. It was also Michael Dee’s second Blue Diamond victory, having won on Little Brose when the race was held at Sandown in 2023.
The colt’s triumph solidified his future prospects, with his $1.4 million price tag at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale now fully justified. His victory ensures he will have a place on Yulong’s stallion roster.
Wayne Hawkes expressed his gratitude toward Yulong Stud, praising their investment in the horse.
“I just saw Vin Cox and said, you don’t have to buy this one,” Wayne laughed. “They pay a lot for their horses, and to come out and win a Blue Diamond—wow. I just love working with big colts, and they’ve really backed this one. Mr. Zhang deserves all the success, as he’s putting more into this game than anyone else.”
Devil Night had only made one prior start, finishing second behind Field of Play, but he showed plenty of promise leading up to the Blue Diamond.
Hawkes gave Michael Dee simple instructions, advising him not to overcomplicate the ride.
“I thought he’d be in the first four or five, and I said to Mick, ‘don’t overthink it, he’s a lovely horse’,” Hawkes shared. “He probably could have waited 50 more yards, though. At the 100m, I was screaming ‘where’s that winning post?’”
Despite the anxious moments, Hawkes was ultimately delighted with the result. “Winners are grinners, and no one remembers the margin,” he added.
Dee himself was a bit surprised by the lack of early pace, which led to the race being run in 1:10.47, the slowest time since Pride of Dubai in 2015.
“I thought there would be more pressure,” Dee said. “I ended up outside the leader by default. He was a bit keen and travelled strongly, but he fought on well.”
