The Hawkes Racing team have an uncanny knack for unearthing and nurturing the careers of colts and Inglis Nursery favourite Overmann might just be their latest find.
A $180,000 buy at the Melbourne Premier sale, the son of Hinchinbrook is raced by prominent owner Alan Bell who has enjoyed tremendous success with the likes of Schillaci, Grand Armee, Deep Field and more recently Graff.
Overmann won his only trial at Rosehill where he camped off the leaders before ambling up to them in the straight and scoring with something in hand.
He has attracted early market support and is a $4.40 favourite with TAB fixed odds for Saturday’s $500,000 race despite an awkward draw in 10.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Inglis Nursery
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes says the stable regards Overmann as a quality colt who has the potential to feature during the two-year-old autumn carnival races.
However, the lure of a rich sales-restricted race provided the impetus to unveil him during the off-season months.
“He trialled here last Tuesday (week) at Rosehill. He’s a nice horse by Hinchinbrook,” Hawkes said.
“The further he’s goes on, the better he is but when there’s half a million dollars on offer in an Inglis race, why not?”
The Hawkes stable has been in great form this season, producing star colt Ole Kirk to win the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, while Archedemus put the icing on the cake with his victory in the $1 million The Gong.
They will also have Outrageous in the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick with Tommy Berry to partner their two stakes runners.
The Nursery is restricted to horses bought at Inglis sales and has proven to be a handy launching pad during its five-year history.
The inaugural edition was won by Extreme Choice, who went on to capture a Group One Moir Stakes, while the 2016 renewal was taken out by subsequent Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.
The Snowdens won the most recent running with stakes performer Wild Ruler and will be represented on Saturday by Belle O’Ballee.
