Nepotism, Briasa still building for 2025 Spring Racing Carnival

While a number of high-profile three-year-olds return this weekend, the colt most punters are waiting for — Nepotism — won’t resume until September 13 in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

A Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner as a juvenile, Nepotism has had a quiet build-up, trialling at Canterbury last week, and trainer Michael Hawkes was thrilled with how he came through the hit-out.

“He’ll run in the Run To The Rose first-up,” Hawkes said. “His trial was great, we can’t fault him and he’s looking well. The Run To The Rose looks ideal for him and he’s going really good.”

The colt is already favourite for both the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 27 and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October. Should he win both, he would match Ole Kirk, who achieved the same double for Team Hawkes in 2020. Both colts trace back to Helsinge, the dam of Black Caviar, underscoring their illustrious pedigree.

Adding to the stable’s firepower, T J Smith Stakes winner Briasa trialled sharply over 900m as he builds towards the $20 million The Everest. He hasn’t raced since a fourth in the All Aged Stakes but is pencilled in for the The Shorts (1100m) on September 20.

“We haven’t really made a plan with him yet, I know there’s only limited races he can run in, but he he’ll be cherry ripe by the time The Everest comes around,” Hawkes said. “His trial was super for his first one, he went really good, and we’re very happy. He’s matured, he’s grown and he looks great.”

Briasa is an $8 chance in Everest betting, trailing only Ka Ying Rising ($1.80) and Private Harry ($6) in early markets.