Thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes has a Queensland Derby harness racing contender in Seathestars
Horses are both big business and a hobby for Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes.
The business side is the powerhouse stable Hawkes runs with sons Michael and Wayne with about 60 horses in work across Sydney and Melbourne, headed by The Everest contender Briasa.
The hobby is harness racing.
'I grew up in Adelaide around lots of harness trainers, some real legends, and have great memories of going to the old Wayville track when I was about 15,' Hawkes.
'I've always loved the pacers and I must have raced about 20 of them with different mates over the years, mostly with Geoff Webster (trainer). Jenny (Hawkes' wife) and I love watching the trots of a Saturday night.'
This Saturday they'll be watching one of their own when emerging three-year-old Seathestars – named after the former champion Irish thoroughbred – struts his stuff at Melton as a possible pointer to a Queensland Derby raid next month.
'I think he's a cog below the top ones at this stage, but he's getting there. He'll need to go really well from a bad draw (gate 11) this week to show he's worthy of a trip to Brisbane, but I'll leave that to Geoff (Webster),' Hawkes said.
Seathestars has raced just 14 times for three wins and eight placings, including a third in the Group 2 Gold Chalice final at Bathurst in March.
He narrowly won his last start at Melton on May 31.
Jordan Leedham-driven Seathestars powers to an impressive victory in the final race of the night, the Nutrien Equine Pace at Melton, for trainer Geoff Webster. pic.twitter.com/hTbclFFaRn
— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) March 8, 2025
'He led and I don't think he's as good in front, he's more of a chaser at this stage,' Hawkes said.
Hawkes' harness team grew when made a surprise appearance at the Nutrien Sydney Yearling Sales earlier this year and spent $260,000 on two yearlings.
'I had some friends who were keen to go in a horse or two with me and they are Sydney-based, so I bought a couple for Luke McCarthy to train,' Hawkes said.
Those friends include star jockeys Tommy Berry, Tyler Schiller and Zac Lloyd.
The marquee buy was a Captaintreacherous colt out of Island Banner, a daughter of former NZ Cup-winning mare Mainland Banner, who sold for $200,000.
Hawkes said he and Jenny were huge fans of McCarthy's three-time Miracle Mile winner King Of Swing, whose first crop sold through the sale.
'Jenny really wanted a King Of Swing (yearling), too, so we picked up a nice one,' he said.
It is a colt out of the well-related Kiwi mare Northern Velocity.
'Now we've just got to hope they'll turn out okay,' Hawkes said. 'The guys were keen to see them race up here so that's why we've gone with Luke, who is as good as it gets.'
Back to the business side of horses and Hawkes can't wait to see Briasa back after a spell.
'He'll come back even better, you watch. What he's done so far has largely been on raw ability. He's very good, but he'll need to be aiming at a race like the Everest,' he said.
'We've had a really good season for a relatively small stable compared to the biggest and there's a few two-year-olds we're excited about seeing back next season.'
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