Hawkes Racing has nurtured many outstanding colts over the years, but co-trainer Michael Hawkes says Nepotism brings something different to the table.
The promising three-year-old resumes this Saturday in the Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill as he begins a campaign aimed at the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) later this month.
Among the stable’s honour roll of colts are All Too Hard, a four-time Group 1 star, and Ole Kirk, who claimed the Golden Rose in 2020. Nepotism, a relative of Ole Kirk, Divine Prophet and Star Turn, is the latest to emerge from that lineage. But Hawkes says what sets him apart is that all of his success so far has come through untapped ability. “He’s a baby. He is maturing,” Hawkes said. “He is different and different in a good way because what you saw was just raw ability.”
Nepotism has tasted defeat only once, on debut in the Todman Stakes (1200m) when finishing third behind Tentyris and Wodeton. He quickly atoned with victories in the Baillieu (1400m) and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Hawkes maintains the colt’s record could be flawless with more racing luck. “To be fair, he should nearly be unbeaten,” he said. “Wodeton came in on him up the straight (in the Todman Stakes) and he should have at least run second. With a bit more luck and if he’d had momentum, he probably nearly wins the race. He was in the best lead-up to the Slipper, which is a Todman. You don’t get much better than that. His form is ridiculous. He’s a really nice colt.”
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is also a possibility beyond the Golden Rose. Stablemate Devil Night, winner of the Blue Diamond, is on a similar path and will also run in The Run To The Rose after finishing strongly for fifth in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m). “He was in behind them and they just outsprinted him and took that bit of an edge off,” Hawkes said. “Personally, I thought the last fifty (metres) and through the line the next fifty was ridiculous. He could be in a Golden Rose. He could be in a Caulfield Guineas. We’re leaving our options open with him because we thought he was more a sprinter but he’s relaxing well so you never know.”
Devil Night has drawn barrier one for The Run To The Rose, while Nepotism will jump from gate five.