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Team Hawkes defies odds with three hopes in 2025 Golden Slipper in West Of Swindon, Devil Night and Nepotism

It’s no mean feat just to get a starter in the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper. So, for Team Hawkes to potentially have three in the world’s richest two-year-old race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday is some achievement.

Ray Thomas
3 min read
March 20, 2025 - 11:12AM
2025 Golden Slipper – Racenet Form Facts

It’s no mean feat just to get a starter in the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper.

So, for Team Hawkes to potentially have three in the world’s richest two-year-old race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday is some achievement.

Just consider the odds. This season’s two-year-olds came from a foal crop of 13,314 born in 2022 and only 16 from that crop can make the Golden Slipper field.

The Hawkes stable already has Devil Night and West Of Swindon as certain starters and Nepotism is second emergency – and they have only 30 two-year-olds on their books!

Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes, who knows a thing or two about winning the Golden Slipper, said the trio was “capable if they get the right run.’’

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“They are all fit and well and hopefully come Saturday morning they are still in one piece,’’ Hawkes said.

“But this is a very even race. We just need luck on the day – either you get the luck or you don’t.’’

Hawkes has already won the race four times with Guineas (1997) and Forensics (2007) before forming a training partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne, and together they have won Golden Slippers with Mossfun (2014) and Estijaab (2018).

The only trainers in Golden Slipper history to have had more success in the big race than Hawkes are Gai Waterhouse with eight wins and her father, Tommy Smith with six wins.

But Hawkes has an undeniable chance to win a fifth Golden Slipper with last start Blue Diamond winner Devil Night and West Of Swindon who ran second in the Silver Slipper the same day – and that was four weeks ago.

• 2025 Golden Slipper tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

West Of Swindon was withdrawn from the Pago Pago Stakes on race morning last Saturday after the colt pulled its near-fore plate, causing some mild lameness but Hawkes has given the all-clear for the Golden Slipper.

It’s unusual for Slipper runners to have such a lengthy gap between runs but Hawkes said that does not necessarily impede either colt’s winning chances.

“That is just how it is, you don’t have to run every week,’’ Hawkes said. “Both colts are fit and well – they wouldn’t be there otherwise.’’

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The superbly-bred Nepotism is by the Hawkes-trained Doncaster Mile winner Brutal out of a half-sister to the great Black Caviar, the unbeaten winner of her 25 starts including 15 Group 1 wins.

Nepotism only made his debut in the Todman Stakes two weeks ago and ran a blinder to finish a close third behind Tentryis and Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton.

“He ran great at his first start but it’s always hard taking on horses that have had more experience in a race like the Golden Slipper,’’ Hawkes said.

“But if he gets a run, he gets a run so that is all we can do and assess it from there.’’

• ‘She is right up there’: Baker chasing a career-alerting Slipper win

The Hawkes stable also has boom sprinter Briasa in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) and talented three-year-old Swiftfalcon in the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Briasa, who is resuming after winning The Hunter last November, has only been beaten once in seven starts and that was when he drew off the course at Kensington.

For the grey’s Group 1 debut in The Galaxy, Briasa has to come from the extreme outside barrier in the 14-horse field.

“We have gone from being a good chance with Briasa to who knows what will happen, its guess work from out there now,’’ Hawkes said.

“The horse is fine, he’s going well, but it makes it very difficult from that wide barrier.’’

• 2025 George Ryder Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

Swiftfalcon has returned in good form this autumn with his second placing in the Hobartville Stakes and third in the Randwick Guineas but he needs to prove he can run a strong 2000m on Saturday after finishing unplaced in the Spring Champion Stakes at his only previous attempt over the distance last October.

“You never know until you try them again,’’ Hawkes said of the stamina query with Swiftfalcon. “He’s a bit older and it’s a different race.’’

• Kiwi raider in Rosehill Guineas remains a mystery … even to his trainers

The Hawkes stable’s other Slipper Day starter is the promising filly Gangsta Granny, winner of three of her four starts to earn her chance in the Listed $200,000 Darby Munro Stakes (1200m).

“She has been in the lower grades but has earned a crack at this although it is a very difficult race,’’ Hawkes said.

Originally published as Team Hawkes defies odds with three hopes in 2025 Golden Slipper in West Of Swindon, Devil Night and Nepotism

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/team-hawkes-defies-odds-with-three-hopes-in-2025-golden-slipper-in-west-of-swindon-devil-night-and-nepotism/news-story/befc403e6bf6de8b4e212c434d2e40c4