Team Hawkes to take a careful approach with $1.4m yearling purchase Devil Night

Champion trainer John Hawkes has ruled out the Magic Millions for one of the stables boom two-year-olds but the $3 million race is still the target for another of their gun youngsters.

Trainer John Hawkes (right) has ruled out the Magic Millions for Devil Night while stablemate Gallo Nero will head to the Gold Coast.

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes has revealed expensive yearling purchase Devil Night won’t back up in the $3 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic even if he wins his debut race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Devil Night, a $1.4 million Magic Millions graduate, takes on a competitive field of two-year-olds in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m).

But Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne, said Devil Night is not certain to race after he drew the outside barrier in the 11-horse field.

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“Devil Night won his barrier trial and he’s a nice horse,” Hawkes said.

“But he’s drawn out wide which is not ideal. He’s still learning his craft and he’s an expensive horse so we have to be careful when we run him.”

Devil Night, owned by racing and breeding giant Yulong, is superbly-bred by Newgate Farm’s champion stallion Extreme Choice, sire of Espiona, Stay Inside and She’s Extreme, out of Mischief Night, who is a half-sister to Pierata.

Team Hawkes has given Devil Night only the one barrier trial but the colt looked a ready-made racehorse leading most of the way to win his Rosehill heat last month.

In early TAB Fixed Odds betting, Devil Night is favourite at $3.30 just ahead of Godolphin youngster Cryoseisms at $5 then impressive trial winners Point Score at $5 and Rivellino at $6.50.

Gallo Nero takes out the Randwick opener! @HawkesRacingpic.twitter.com/9cyTVdiGta

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

• Slipper winner ready to shine on the Gold Coast

Cryoseisms, who is out of Blue Diamond winner Earthquake, won a jumpout at Flemington last week, Point Score ripped around Warwick Farm to win his trial by more than five lengths before Christmas, and Rivellino finished his Rosehill trial very strongly to win by nearly two lengths.

The only other runner under double figure odds is the Robert and Luke Price-trained Commanding Belle ($8) after two promising trial efforts.

If Devil Night wins on Saturday, then he would secure a start in next week’s Magic Millions but Hawkes said the colt would not be asked to travel interstate then back-up in the rich Gold Coast race.

But Hawkes confirmed boom colt Gallo Nero remains on track for the Magic Millions 2yo Classic after his win at Randwick last Saturday.

“At this stage, Gallo Nero seems fine, everything is on track, and he is most likely to go to the Magic Millions,” Hawkes said.

“But it is all about how he works next week. If he works well, then he will go to the Gold Coast.”

Gallo Nero, who is by Coolmore Stud sire sensation Wootton Bassett, is currently $6 second favourite behind Icarian Dream at $4.50 for Magic Millions on January 11.

Originally published as Team Hawkes to take a careful approach with $1.4m yearling purchase Devil Night