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Herald Sun
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Hawkes hoping for The Everest-Eureka slot race double
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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. READ: 'The shoulder has had enough': Digger calls time on career '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.' READ: Rebecca's winning ride leaves egg on some faces 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
News.com.au
10-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
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. — 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.'
Courier-Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Courier-Mail
Racing NSW puts 2025 The Everest slot up for sale
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. There's a prime piece of racing 'real estate' up for sale – and it has nothing to do with Rosehill racecourse. Racing NSW is inviting 'interested parties' to submit Expressions of Interest to acquire a vacant slot in the $20 million The Everest. The slot being offered had previously been owned by The Star since the inception of The Everest in 2017. An Everest slot is valued at a minimum $700,000 per year and Racing NSW has stipulated potential slot buyers need to invest for a minimum of three years. The Expression of Interest process will close on May 30 and those interested in the slot have to 'illustrate their proposed commercial terms and to also show how their offer will benefit the growth and engagement of The Everest and thoroughbred racing generally.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! There are only two slots filled so for The Everest, run at Royal Randwick on October 18, with the Team Hawkes-trained Briasa snapped up by slot-holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden, while Private Harry will race in the slot of part-owners Yulong. But Sunshine In Paris, owned by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds which also has an Everest slot, could move closer to confirming her place in The Everest field if she runs well in the Group 1 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday. • 'Proper reset': Rosehill sale divisions expose bigger problem for racing Camilleri said earlier this week that a decision on rising six-year-old mare Sunshine In Paris' racing future will be made after Saturday's Group 1 sprint. Sunshine In Paris, who ran a close fifth in The Everest last spring, has firmed into $4.40 favouritism with TAB Fixed Odds for the Doomben 10,000. Champion jockey James McDonald is reunited with Sunshine In Paris after partnering her to win the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington last spring. If Sunshine In Paris wins at Doomben, she will be McDonald's 14th Australian Group 1 win of the season. He has also ridden five international major race winners. Originally published as Racing NSW invites expressions of interest for slot in 2025 The Everest
The Australian
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Briasa confirmed for The Everest
Brilliant TJ Smith Stakes winner Briasa, racing's new 'grey flash', is the second horse locked in for this year's $20m The Everest. Hawkes Racing made the announcement at lunch time on Saturday with the gelding snapped up by slot holders Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Briasa confirmed himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in the country when the son of Smart Missile got the better of Overpass to prevail in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes on day one of The Championships. 'It's very exciting obviously but it's nice to get it done early so we can map out the best way to get him there to give us the best possible chance at the race,' co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. 'He's still out in the paddock for a bit but we'll work out when we get him back and he'll guide us on the path we plot. 'He'll have one or two runs into The Everest and he stay in Sydney and he'll run in the lead ups. 'We just need to decide how many and which ones.' Briasa's rise into The Everest calculations has been sensational with the rising five-year-old only breaking his maiden in autumn last year. He's since put together seven wins from 10 starts and Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, believes his best could still be ahead of him. Michael Hawkes. Picture:'He's a young horse that's still learning but he's already got a TJ under his belt,' he said. 'Six months ago, he was in a benchmark 85 on the Kensington so to have come that far in such a short time only emphasises how exciting he is, and we still don't know where his ceiling is. 'Every preparation he's improved as a racehorse and there's no reason why that won't be the case again when he starts off his Everest campaign.' Unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first horse locked in for The Everest following his The Galaxy victory on Golden Slipper day. The Nathan Doyle-trained sprinter was purchased by racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong after the win and will run in their slot in the race. The Everest betting is dominated by Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising ($1.90 favourite) with plans for the David Hayes-trained sprint weapon still to be officially snapped up for the race. Private Harry is the $6 second favourite with Briasa on the third line of betting at $8.
Sydney Morning Herald
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's very exciting': TJ Smith winner Briasa books Everest slot
Briasa became the second horse into the $20 million The Everest (1200m) after the Hawkes training team announced on Saturday that the four-year-old had secured the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Nathan Doyle's unbeaten colt Private Harry was the first into the October 18 race at Randwick last month when Kurrinda Bloodstock struck a part-ownership deal with slot-holders Yulong Investments after winning the group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on March 22. Briasa, a homebred son of Smart Missile for Ian and Anthony Johnson, pressed his claims for a spot when taking out the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 5 at Randwick for John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes. He was an $8 Sportsbet chance for the richest race on turf behind Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising ($2) and Private Harry ($7). Regular jockey Tyler Schiller was thrilled to hear the news between races at Gosford. 'It's very exciting,' Schiller said. 'We were hoping [for a slot], because he's a very good, up-and-coming sprinter and on what he did last prep, he showed he's a group 1 sprinter. 'Weight for age should be fine. He's a big boy and hopefully a little spell just does him well. Really pleased with him and very happy to hear.' Big Dance plans Trainer Adrian Bott said Les Vampires was likely headed to the paddock before a preparation aimed at the $3 million Big Dance (1600m) in November after stamping his ticket with a commanding win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Monday. A $2.90 favourite, Les Vampires led the $300,000 listed race under Winona Costin and was challenged approaching the home turn, only to kick clear late and win by one-and-a-third lengths from Etna Rosso.
