Boom colt Nepotism shows family’s class with barnstorming victory in Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick

With relations like Black Caviar, All Too Hard and Ole Kirk, Nepotism showed he has inherited the family’s elite talent with a big win the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

Nepotism (right) and Tyler Schiller storm home to win the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Nepotism needed the kind of acceleration his close relation Black Caviar showed throughout her storied career to complete an epic last-to-first Group 1 triumph at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The emerging son of Brutal pulled off the seemingly impossible when scorching home from the back to win the Group 1 $1m Champagne Stakes (1600m).

Jockey Tyler Schiller didn’t have a runner behind him at the halfway point of the race and was still a clear last as the field turned for home.

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Nepotism, trained by Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes, let rip with an amazing turn of speed in the straight to score one of the biggest wins of the autumn carnival.

“He’s just a proper horse,” trainer Michael Hawkes said.

“When he was at the back and when they were running along, I was thinking whether they were going hard enough.

“I said to Tyler that we’ll have to slice and dice and come through them. We came around the corner and I thought ‘is he going to get there’, but he has an exceptional turn-of-foot.

“Last to first, unbelievable.”

A huge win for Nepotism in the G1 Champagne Stakes, coming from last! 💪@G1TySchil | @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/moZrj6EBgx

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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Nepotism ($3.90 favourite) surged late to gun down the Bjorn Baker-trained Within The Law ($4.80) by a head with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Tupakara ($16) a further short-half head away in third.

Schiller admitted post-race he was concerned the pace through the middle stages had scuppered his chances.

“The tempo didn’t feel that strong to me from when I was at the 800. I was ‘watching the bird fly in front of me’ and thought that we had left it too late,” Schiller said.

“Michael said not to swoop them because we won’t win if we do.

“From the 600 (metre mark) I was waiting to cut the corner. Federalist was going nowhere in front of us but it was an incredible win.”

Trainer Wayne Hawkes hugs jockey Tyler Schiller after winning the Champagne Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I feel like he peaked at the 100 but he had that tenacity to win. He’s a greedy colt and a really tough effort today.”

The Hawkes elected to bypass the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes to focus on the Champagne Stakes following Nepotism’s victory in the Group 3 Baillieu Handicap and the decision paid huge dividends.

It was John Hawkes fourth victory in the Champagne Stakes and first since joining forces with his sons.

The win also gave the Hawkes their second juvenile major of the season after Devil Night won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes for the stable earlier this year.

The stable also tasted Group 1 success during The Championships with Briasa winning the TJ Smith Stakes a fortnight ago.

“The last few years have been hard,” Hawkes said.

"It was a nail-biter!"

Here's what @G1TySchil thought of Nepotism's win!@HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/XzFvkQOviS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025

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“We’ve been plagued by injuries. A lot of people don’t see that.

“There have been a few doubters. There have been a few knockers.

“But you know what? We’re still there doing it day in and day out.

“You win a Blue Diamond, you win a TJ, you go and win a Champagne. It has just been a phenomenal ride and our younger brigade are starting to shine.”

The victory was made all the more special for the Hawkes’ as they also trained his Group 1 Doncaster Mile winning father Brutal.

Nepotism is out of the mare Brigite, an unraced half-sister to Black Caviar and has now assured his future as a stallion.

He is raced by Neil Werrett and Col Madden, who were both part owners of Black Caviar, while the unbeaten superstar’s breeder Gilgai Farm is also in the colt.

Within The Law was brave in defeat after stepping up from a 1200m event last week into the Group 1 mile.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy felt the performance will open some doors for the Baker filly in the spring.

Tupakara’s rider Tommy Berry said he “got a bit excited at the 300m” before she only run over the top of late.

Originally published as Boom colt Nepotism shows family’s class with barnstorming victory in Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick