Nepotism proves his worth with ‘unbelievable’ Champagne Stakes win
It would appear that the Hawkes team have another stallion prospect on their hands in the form of Nepotism (Brutal), who on Saturday laid his claim to being the best juvenile colt around with an awe-inspiring late run to win the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick.
Just seven weeks after stablemate Devil Night (Extreme Choice) ensured his future at stud in winning the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), the son of Brutal (O’Reilly) duly followed suit by capturing his first Group 1 victory on only his third career start, in the process becoming the first elite-level winner for his Newgate Farm-based sire.
Sent off the $3.90 favourite under the guidance of Tyler Schiller, Nepotism entered the Randwick straight in last place but was able to unleash an outside run as fluid as champagne itself, which in the final strides saw him get up to beat Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Within The Law (Lucky Vega) by 0.13 lengths.
Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) finished just 0.05 lengths away in third in what was a thrilling finish to the 1600-metre feature.
Nepotism was backing up his impressive last-start win in the rescheduled Baillieu Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Rosehill on April 1, which followed a third-place finish behind Tentyris (Street Boss) in the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on debut in March.
“He’s just a proper horse,” Michael Hawkes, who trains Nepotism in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said.
“When he was out the back, they were running along and I was just thinking, ‘wow, are they going hard enough?’
“The only thing I said to Tyler [Schiller] was, ‘you’re going to have to slice and dice and try to come up through them. He came around the corner and I thought, ‘Is he going to get there?’
“But he’s just blistering. He’s got an exceptional turn of foot. Last-to-first, unbelievable.
“I just love making colts. It’s just one thing we just love doing.”
While Nepotism has now earned his stripes on the track, he was already a valuable colt whose pointed name tells a story of an illustrious family.
It is a family the Hawkes know well, with the Gilgai Farm-bred colt being by the former Team Hawkes-trained Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Brutal and out of Brigite (Casino Prince), a sister to the Team Hawkes-trained four-time Group 1 winner turned Vinery Stud stallion All Too Hard.
Out of the unraced Desert Sun (Green Desert) mare Helsinge, Brigite is also a half-sister to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), as well as to the legendary sprinter’s sister Naturale, herself the dam of two stakes winners including Vinery Stud’s dual Group 1 winner and leading first-season sire Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon).
Nepotism therefore is the latest of five Group 1 winners to descend from the Group 2-winning and Group 1-placed blue hen mare Scandinavia (Snippets), the dam of Helsinge and four stakes winners, those headed by Group 1 winner and late Widden Stud sire Magnus (Flying Spur).
“It’s very hard for any horse to do that.. come from last and come to the outside, especially a two-year-old having his first racing prep,” Wayne Hawkes said.
“There wouldn’t be too many hard luck stories behind him for the run that he had. He’s a special colt and he’s out of that special family, isn’t he? All Too hard, Black Caviar and Ole Kirk, all his dear relations, so Gilgai Farm have bred another one!
“Brutal won a Doncaster [Handicap] at his seventh race start and he was the youngest and least-raced horse to ever win a Doncaster.
“So he’s the first Group 1 winner for Brutal and it’s like having a son out there.”
Nepotism is further tied to Black Caviar through co-owner Neil Werrett, who also co-owned the record-breaking 15-time Group 1 winner. While the great mare didn’t venture beyond 1400 metres, and the other aforementioned Group 1 winners of the family not stretching beyond a mile, Schiller believes the gutsy juvenile could have the capacity to step out in trip.
“Michael said don’t loop them because he can’t win if you do from the 600 metres,” the winning rider said.
“So I was waiting to cut the corner but Federalist was going nowhere in front of us. It was an incredible win. I felt like he peaked at the 100 metres but he just had that tenacity to win.
“I wouldn’t say [he couldn’t get further]. He’s a relaxed colt and he’s got a great turn of foot. It will just be whether tempos [over further] are suitable for him but today we had to take our medicine and it paid off.”
Nepotism was already the second individual stakes winner for Brutal – alongside last July’s Taj Rossi Series Final (Listed, 1600m) winner Jenni’s Meadow – and with Saturday’s win gave the second-season sire an all-important first Group 1 winner.
The son of O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) will stand the upcoming season for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).