Long time friends John Messara and John Hawkes are striving for a shared Group 1 with a classy colt

Having won countless Group 1 each, great mates John Messara and John Hawkes are looking to share Group 1 glory in the Golden Rose.

Hall of Famers and close friends, John Messara (left) and John Hawkes, are looking to share their first Group 1 together with Remarque in the Golden Rose. Picture: Atkins Photography

They have been close friends for more than 30 years, raced many champions and won most of the biggest races – but both men have never shared Group 1 success together.

This could change at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday when owner-breeder John Messara and trainer John Hawkes combine with a talented colt described as the “dream horse”, Remarque, in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m).

Messara, the Arrowfield Stud supremo, and Hawkes, one of the all-time great trainers, have enjoyed an enduring friendship but it has only been in recent years they have joined forces.

“I’ve known ‘Hawkesy’ for a long time, he’s a great mate, and I’ve always respected him as a trainer,” Messara said.

Highly talented colt Remarque is out to give John Hawkes and John Messara their first Group 1 win together. Picture: Grant Guy

“His record with colts is second-to-none and there were many times over the years when I wanted to send him a horse but he was the private trainer for the Inghams.

“I’m pleased we have a couple of good horses with John and his boys (sons Michael and Wayne) these days and it would be really something if we can finally team up to win a Group 1 race.”

As a measure of the regard Hawkes holds Messara, he privately arranged to be the presenter of the owner-breeder’s Hall of Fame honour in Adelaide earlier this year.

“It was something I wanted to do because John has been great for the racing industry over many years,” Hawkes said,

“He has done a lot for this sport and he always puts the industry first, which is what I respect about him, and he deserved to get into the Hall of Fame.

“John has been a friend for a long time, more than three decades, and he has always been a great supporter of our stable, even when we weren’t training for him. It would be great if we could win a big race together.”

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It would be fitting if the superbly-bred Remarque can deliver that Group 1 win for both men in the Golden Rose, which is acknowledged as a stallion-making race.

“We have always thought that Remarque was potentially the ‘dream stallion’,” Messara said.

“He is by a champion sire, Snitzel, out of a Group 1-winning mare, Response, and the brother to a Golden Slipper winner, Estijaab.

“Plus, he is a magnificent individual and we have always hoped he would turn out to be a good racehorse.

“This colt has so much going for him from a pedigree and physical point of view. We know he is very talented racehorse but we would like to prove it by winning a Group 1 like the Golden Rose – that’s a good horse’s race.”

Remarque has only one win from four starts but has such obvious ability he is rated as the $8 second favourite behind Anamoe ($2) for the Golden Rose.

Hawkes, a Hall of Famer himself, said Remarque has trained on well since his third to Anamoe in the Run To The Rose at Kembla Grange two weeks ago.

Group 1 placegetter Hilal (right)

“Remarque is a promising colt, he’s only lightly-raced and is still learning,” Hawkes said.

“We have a good barrier (five) so we just have to hope for a bit of luck in running.”

When asked if Remarque could turn the tables on the formidable Anamoe, Hawkes said simply: “One horse doesn’t make a race.”

Messara was more circumspect when asked about Anamoe: “We know what a talented he is, obviously it won’t be easy to beat him.”

Hawkes, who has won two Golden Roses with Ole Kirk (2020) and Paratroopers (2005), also has the handy Hilal ($34) in the big race.

“He’s drawn wide so he will need a lot of luck but he should be competitive,” Hawkes said.

Messara also shares in the ownership of the Anthony Cummings-trained Moridan, a $61 Golden Rose outsider.

“Anthony thinks Moridan is a chance,” Messara said.

“I’m not so sure, he just won his maiden but he is promising.

“They might be too sharp for him but Anthony thinks it’s definitely worth a shot.”

Originally published as Long time friends John Messara and John Hawkes are striving for a shared Group 1 with a classy colt