By Craig Kerry
Trainer Michael Hawkes jokes that he’s only slowly getting over the luckless but eye-catching run of Briasa in the group 1 Galaxy (1100m), which boom colt Private Harry won on Golden Slipper day to cement his place in the $20 million Everest.
Hawkes, though, believes Briasa’s turn will come on Saturday in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).
Briasa wins The Hunter in November.Credit: Getty Images
The Smart Missile gelding resumed in the Galaxy on March 22, after winning six of seven starts, including the $1 million The Hunter, to announce himself as a sprinting star.
From gate 13, he was taken back to last before rattling home in a slick final 600m of 32.6 seconds, only to finish fourth.
Private Harry has since gone for a spell after securing the Yulong Investments slot in October’s Everest, and an $8 million-plus deal with the racing juggernaut for a 50 per cent ownership share.
Hawkes said he “wouldn’t think it’ll take long” for Briasa to get his spot in the richest race on turf, and he’s confident the flying grey can stamp his class on Saturday in the TJ Smith, where he drew well in gate three.
Briasa and Tyler Schiller win at Rosehill in August.Credit: Getty Images
“He should have won here the other day, with a barrier,” Hawkes said. “I’m slowly getting over it. But I know if he’d drawn where Private Harry does, he annihilates them.
“He’s [Private Harry] a good horse, too. It’s not knocking him, he’s a great horse. But our horse, I know what he’s got, so it’s the right race, right everything.
“He’s flying, he’s in the right zone, and he’s just a big baby that’s got a lot to give, and he doesn’t know what he’s got yet.”
Tyler Schiller will again be aboard Briasa, which is a $4.50 second elect with Sportsbet in the 13-horse field. Chris Waller-trained Joliestar is favourite at $3.90.
“He’s drawn a lot better, which definitely suits,” Schiller said. “And as long as the pace is genuine, I think he’ll be a couple of pairs back, but hopefully on the outside, getting him into a bit of room, and he can unleash that turn of foot that he’s got, like he showed last start.
“I’d be pretty confident with him. With the weight [58.5kg], he’s a big boy, he should be able to carry it.”
Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father, John, and brother, Wayne, hoped to have Swiftfalcon in the $4 million Doncaster Mile on Saturday, but the three-year-old will need two scratchings.
Swiftfalcon can do some damage if he gets a start in the Doncaster.Credit: Getty Images
An $8 chance as second emergency, Swiftfalcon has gate 12 and just 49 kilograms. The group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) is the back-up option for Swiftfalcon, but Hawkes wants a Doncaster start.
“He’s flying. It’s the right race,” he said. “I hope he does get in because you’ll see the real Swiftfalcon. I can’t fault him – 49 kilos, and Tyler has been riding him well.”
Schiller was at 52.5kg on Wednesday and hopes to ride Swiftfalcon at 50kg in the Doncaster.
“Because he’s a second emergency, I’ll probably ride him at 50, as long as the stewards permit it,” Schiller said.
“If he doesn’t start, well, I’ll be able to have a bit of water in the morning, which is good.
“I’ll get to 51 by Friday, and then if I have to lose a kilo on the day, it’ll be hopefully a bit easier than having to lose two.”
Nepotism was an impressive winner of the group 3 Baillieu on Tuesday at Rosehill and Hawkes entertained the idea of backing up the Brutal colt in the group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday before not accepting with him.
His target now appears the Champagne Stakes over the mile on April 19.
Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night and West Of Swindon were spelling after their runs in the Golden Slipper, but Federalist will represent the stable in the $1 million Sires (1400m). He drew gate eight of 10 and was a $51 chance after a fifth on debut at Newcastle.
The $1 million colt, the son of I Am Invincible and Arcadia Queen, was bottled up on the rails and never saw daylight in the run. Nash Rawiller rides from gate eight.
“He should have won first up at Newcastle, and it was a bit disappointing, but Saturday is a different day,” Hawkes said.
“At 1400, he’s looking for it, and he’s bred in the purple, too. He’s just a lovely colt.
“He was always going to be a Sires horse. We’ve tried to split them up as much as we can, to try to give every owner an opportunity.
“It’s about timing, and he’s coming in at the right time.”
The Hawkes also have Husk ($26) in the PJ Bell Stakes and Jayashree ($51) in the Adrian Knox Stakes.
