Group 1 winners and barn mates Nepotism and Devil Night will go head-to-head in an important Golden Rose lead-up.
Hawkes Racing has prepared its share of high-class colts but co-trainer Michael Hawkes says Nepotism is cut from a different cloth.
The three-year-old will make his seasonal return in Saturday’s The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill as he embarks on a path towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at the end of the month.
Nepotism is among the latest in a line of quality colts to come through the stable, a list that is headed by four-time Group 1 performer All Too Hard and more recently 2020 Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk, a cousin to Nepotism, Divine Prophet and Star Turn.
However, Michael Hawkes described Nepotism as unique in that everything he’d achieved to date had been on natural talent.
“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’s only defeat came in the Todman Stakes (1200m) on debut when he finished third behind Tentyris and Wodeton before successive victories in the Baillieu (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m).
Hawkes believes that with even luck, the horse’s record could read even better and he is also buoyed by the fact Nepotism has contested some of the strongest two-year-old form races.
“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 (Golden) Slipper, which is a Todman. You don’t get much better than that.
“His form is ridiculous. He’s a really nice colt.”
Nepotism is on a Golden Rose path while the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is a longer-term option.
Both races are also in the frame for Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night, who is set to take his place alongside his stablemate in The Run To The Rose.
The colt was strong through the line when fifth first-up in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m), prompting Team Hawkes to consider stretching him in journey.
“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, a dual acceptor for the Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington, has barrier one in The Run To The Rose while Nepotism has also drawn low in gate five.
