Fortunes have been mixed for the training operation of Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes in recent times.
Their most recent winner in Victoria was in a Kilmore maiden earlier in the month while they did taste Stakes race success with Gangsta Granny in Sydney on March 7.
The stable invariably has a strong hand during the carnivals in both Melbourne and Sydney and will have representation in three of the five Group 1 races at Rosehill.
The William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday will be Melbourne’s final Group 1 race of the season and the Hawkes family will be represented by Airman and Devil Night.
Airman has been winless for just shy of 18 months and has paid the penalty for winning the Group 2 Premiere Cup (1200m) at Randwick in October 2024.
Wayne Hawkes said Airman has the quality to be a contender in Saturday’s race and has trialled nicely in preparation for his first run since November.
“He won the Premiere Stakes which is two weeks before The Everest and which is the best lead-up race to The Everest,” Hawkes said.
“You know he is up to that class of race, but he hasn’t won for 18 months, but I wouldn’t discard him.
“He’s going pretty well.”
Devil Night has only the one win from seven starts to his name but did land Melbourne’s premier juvenile race, the Blue Diamond Stakes, at his second start.
The three-year-old had a mixed spring campaign, but Hawkes pointed to his final run of that campaign when fourth behind Giga Kick in the Schillaci Stakes.
Devil Night resumed his autumn campaign finishing second to Pallaton in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month and has since had an easy trial at Flemington.
“He’s going super and this is the race we’ve picked out for him,” Hawkes said.
“He was getting beaten in the spring behind Giga Kick, which isn’t bad for a three-year-old and Giga Kick is an Everest horse, and the bottom line is, there’s your form.
“Beau Mertens had a sit on him in his trial and I’m happy with the horse and how he’s going.”
Asked for his preference of the two, Hawkes had a slight leaning to Devil Night.
“He’s the fitter one,” Hawkes said.
