Nepotism didn’t gain a start in the Golden Slipper but the two-year-old colt could still get his chance at a Group 1 in Sydney this autumn after an impressive win in the Group 3 Baillieu at Rosehill.
Trained by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, Nepotism finished third on debut in the Todman Stakes at Randwick on March 8 and was among the Golden Slipper acceptances but didn’t gain a run in the March 22 feature as second emergency.
He instead stepped out for his second start in Tuesday’s Baillieu (1400m) and under jockey Tyler Schiller the colt by Brutal weaved through the field before surging clear late to score by 1-1/2-lengths over Savvy Hallie.
Tupakara was another length away third.
Nepotism holds a nomination for Saturday’s Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and Michael Hawkes didn’t rule that race out immediately after the colt’s win.
Acceptances for the Sires’ are taken on Tuesday evening, given Tuesday’s meeting was originally set down to be run last Saturday but had to be postponed because of wet weather.
“The five-day back-up, it was always going to be a bit tough (to go to the Sires’) but we haven’t counted anything out,” Hawkes said.
“It depends on how he pulls up.
“We can accept today, it’s a free hit, so we’ll just see how he pulls up. Obviously tonight is acceptance time, but now he’s won it’s a big difference.
“He’s still a baby and he doesn’t know what he’s doing yet and he’s going to be a proper colt in the future.”
Hawkes said the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) later this month at Randwick is a definite option and believes the colt will relish getting to that distance.
Hawkes was delighted to see Nepotism win well on Tuesday having considered the colt an unlucky runner on debut in the Todman behind Tentyris and subsqequent Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton.
“He just got hemmed up a little bit and Wodeton went past him and he had to pick himself back up again, which he did and he really hit the line strongly,” Hawkes said of the colt’s debut run.
“Today, going to 1400 (metres) wasn’t ideal with not running Saturday but we just kept him ticking over and Tyler rode the right race.
“He was a little bit tardy away and he rode for luck, came up through them, and when he finally got out he put pay to them.
“He’s a proper colt.”
