Hawkes hoping for The Everest-Eureka slot race double
HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes hopes to have runners in the biggest slot races of both Australia's equine codes.
His exciting sprinter Briasa is already locked in for the $20 million TAB The Everest on October 18 through the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett.
Now Hawkes and his harness trainer, Geoff Webster, are hunting for a slot in the world's richest harness race, the $2.1 million TAB Eureka, with emerging three-year-old Seathestars at Menangle on September 6.
Hawkes has always had a passion for harness racing and has owned '25 or more' pacers over the years, but Seathestars is potentially the best yet.
The gelding won three races on end, including the South-East Derby at Albion Park on July 5, before a slashing and luckless fourth in the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby last Saturday night.
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Seathestars drew outside the back row, sat near the rear and defied the pattern of racing to storm home into fourth spot behind star Kiwi pacer Rubira, which led throughout.
'I thought his run was great,' Hawkes said.
'You couldn't ask for any more from where he drew and how far back he was. He's always shown ability, but he keeps improving and that's the exciting part.
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'Geoff (Webster) mentioned The Eureka and I let him call the shots. If he thinks the horse is good enough to aim for it, then I'm onboard.
'It's a race for three and four-year-olds and the four-year-old crop doesn't look overly strong this year, so it could be a year for a three-year-old to win it.
'It would be exciting to have a runner in The Everest and The Eureka.'
Exciting pacer Seathestars could be on a path towards The TAB Eureka Picture: Stuart McCormick
Webster added: 'I've always liked him, but on what he's done the past few weeks, especially in the Derby, he's even better than I thought he was.'
Hawkes said Briasa would return to his Rosehill stables this week and had thrived during his time out.
'I think he can go up another notch this campaign, but he'll need to, given the races we're aiming at,' he said.
'Most of what he's done so far has been on raw ability.
'The timing is perfect for him to have a crack at a race like The Everest. He's lightly raced and still on the up. It's the right time of his career.'
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Briasa boasts seven wins from just 10 starts, including the Group 1 TJ Smith, and hasn't raced since a fourth in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 19.
'Forgive that run, he just wasn't quite ready and mature enough for the 1400m,' Hawkes said.
Briasa is $8 third favourite behind Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising and the exciting Private Harry in latest The Everest markets.
Hawkes is looking forward to the challenge against Ka Ying Rising.
'He's clearly a very good horse, but I'm not scared of him. You want to race the best,' he said.
'I know my horse has the potential to improve a lot on what we've seen so far, so I'm excited about getting the chance to take on a horse like him (Ka Ying Rising), especially in our own backyard.'
· Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
Originally published as Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes hopes to have runners in the biggest slot races of both equine codes
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