Star colts looking good for Team Hawkes in 2025 Run To The Rose

Hawkes Racing has produced a roll call of top-class colts, but according to Michael Hawkes, Nepotism is unique.

The colt returns in Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill before targeting the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at month’s end. He follows in the footsteps of All Too Hard and Ole Kirk, who also carried the stable’s colours to Group 1 glory, but Hawkes says Nepotism’s achievements have so far come on raw, 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 has a near-perfect record. After a luckless third in the Todman Stakes (1200m), he reeled off back-to-back wins in the Baillieu (1400m) and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m). Hawkes insists he should be unbeaten, noting the interference he struck on debut. “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 Slipper, which is a Todman. You don’t get much better than that.”

The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas is another potential target beyond Sydney. Stablemate Devil Night, who took out the Blue Diamond earlier this year, will also line up in The Run To The Rose after an eye-catching fifth in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m). “Personally, I thought the last fifty and through the line the next fifty was ridiculous,” Hawkes said. “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.”

The pair have drawn favourably for Saturday’s feature with Devil Night in barrier one and Nepotism from gate five.