Racing
The Saturday Look Ahead
The iconic Derby-Doncaster meeting has given Hall of Famer John Hawkes some of the greatest milestone moments of his celebrated training career.
And it was only a decade ago when the Team Hawkes-trained Chautauqua did the impossible when he came from last on the turn to run down Fell Swoop and win the second of three consecutive TJ Smith Stakes.
At Royal Randwick on Saturday, the Hawkes stable is chasing another big-race double with Briasa in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Federalist in the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).
Hawkes, who has been training in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne since 2008, has prepared 121 career Group 1 winners to be sixth on the all-time list led by legendary duo Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings on 246 Group 1 wins each.
Hawkes is hoping to add to his imposing Group 1 tally and claim a record fifth TJ Smith Stakes with defending champ Briasa to complement Chautauqua's historic three-peat from 2015-17.
Briasa, racing's new "Grey Flash", has been given the identical preparation which resulted in his brilliant TJ Smith win last year.
The gelding is going second-up into the rich Randwick sprint after resuming with a close fourth in The Galaxy at Rosehill on Slipper Day.
Briasa also ran fourth in The Galaxy last year before he got the better of Overpass in the TJ Smith Stakes.
But Hawkes, who is conservative by nature, conceded he isn't overly confident Briasa can go back-to-back in the rich Randwick sprint.
"Briasa is going well and this is the race he's been set for,'' Hawkes said.
"But he has an awkward barrier (eight) so he is 'half' out of business before he starts.
"Sometimes, bad barriers can be worse in small fields than they are in big fields.
"They will probably cruise across from the outside and those drawn inside will kick up so there's a chance he's caught three-wide. I'm just hoping he can get across.''
Godolphin's crack colt Tentyris is the $3.70 favourite for an open TJ Smith Stakes ahead of Joliestar ($4), Jimmysstar ($4.80), Giga Kick ($6) and Briasa ($6.50).
The Team Hawkes-trained Federalist is trying to break his maiden in the Group 1 $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).
Ethiopia proved it can be done when he won the Derby as a maiden at just his fourth start in 2012 – but he never won another race.
Federalist, one of the best-bred horses in training by super sire I Am Invincible out of three-time Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen, has been winless in nine starts but he is showing potential.
The Team Hawkes-trained gelding stormed home to just miss reeling in Sixties in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes two starts back then he ran competitively for fifth in Autumn Boy's Group 1 Rosehill Guineas.
Federalist had to make his run in the Guineas on the inside part of the track which was a disadvantage on Slipper Day but still ran well to finish alongside the placegetters behind a dominant Autumn Boy.
"If Federalist runs a mile and a half (a2400m) he is a chance,'' Hawkes said.
"Whether he can run a mile and half I'm not sure but we are about to find out.''
Federalist is at generous odds of $14 for the Derby behind Godolphin colts Observer ($2.90 favourite) and Green Spaces ($3.40).
Hawkes, who is chasing a fourth Derby win after his previous successes with Octagonal (1996), Headturner (2006) and Fiumicino (2007), said Federalist has had the right preparation but he is guarded about the winning prospects of both his Group 1 runners on Saturday.
"Briasa and Federalist are outside chances, both of them,'' Hawkes said.
"They are fit and well and you never know but they are going to need luck on their side.''
AN UPSET IN THE DERBY?
Messara has two Derby hopefuls as he's also in the ownership of $71 outsider Are You Kidding, who is trained by his son, Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich.
Are You Kidding, by Arrowfield's top stallion Castelvecchio (sire of Aeliana), has a high profile syndicate of owners including Hollywood superstar Matt Damon, Australian Test cricketer Steve Smith and former Geelong Cats AFL star Tom Hawkins.
Messara and Gavranich, who have an extraordinary win strike-rate of nearly 30 percent winners to runners this season, also have promising Olympian ($15) chasing a third successive win in the Group 3 $250,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).
Meanwhile, Autumn Glow, racing's "Miss Invincible", will have an exhibition gallop between races as trainer Chris Waller prepares the mare to attempt a 12th win from as many starts in the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
WALLER CHASING DOWN 200 G1s
The champion trainer leads the national premierships this season for the most race wins and prizemoney categories, and he's also a clear leader for the Group 1 title.
Waller has prepared 13 Group 1 winners already in 2025-26 and is some chance of breaking his all-time record of 19 Group 1 wins set last season.
With 193 career Group 1 wins, Waller is also closing in on the magical 200 major wins milestone that has only been achieved by the legendary duo of Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith.
Waller has leading chances in all four Group 1 races on Day One of The Championships – Fireball and Campione D'Italia in the $1 million Inglis Sires (1400m), Joliestar in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes, Autumn Boy, Sixties and Militarize in the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Savisanta in the $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m).
ANOTHER KIWI ON THE DERBY TRAIL
James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood these days, saddles up his latest New Zealand Derby winner, Road To Paris in the Royal Randwick classic on Saturday.
"Road To Paris has done really well since his Derby win,'' James said.
"He beat the filly (Autumn Glory) in the Derby that had run second to Ohope Wins (New Zealand Oaks) so that is good form.
"I know my three-year-old will run a strong 2400m and he can quicken at the end of his races which is a big advantage.''
Road To Paris is attempting to become only the third to complete the New Zealand Derby-ATC Australian Derby double.
The great Bonecrusher won both races 40 years ago while Mongolian Khan also achieved the feat in 2015.
James hasn't had many runners in the ATC Australian Derby but he first tried to win the Randwick classic three decades ago with his Kiwi classic winner Roysyn.
Unfortunately, it was 1996 and Roysyn had the misfortune to race against a quartet of mighty three-year-olds, finishing fifth behind Octagonal, Saintly, Filante and Nothin' Leica Dane.
James's outstanding filly Silent Achiever won the New Zealand Derby in 2012 before finishing sixth to Ethiopia at Randwick.
More recently, James saddled up Mark Twain in the 2023 ATC Australian Derby but the tough stayer was disadvantaged by a bottomless track and ran 10th behind Major Beel.
A BIG DAY AROUND THE COUNTRY
There are five races with prizemoney of at least $1 million on the program including the only non-stakes race, the Country Championships Final.
The Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) has been described as the "Autumn Everest" with all nine sprinters having won at Group 1 level previously.
In total, there are 19 individual Group 1 winners competing at Randwick including seven in the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile – Gringotts, Pericles, Linebacker, Militarize, Autumn Boy, Attica and Sheza Alibi.
There is more stakes racing at Caulfield and Ascot on Easter Saturday.
The Caulfield meeting features two Group 3 races with Ambassadorial the $4.60 favourite for the $200,000 Easter Cup (2000m) and Persian Spirit at the top of betting at $4.20 for the $200,000 Victoria Handicap (1400m).
At Ascot, flying two-year-old filly Aurum Belle is the $1.70 favourite to maintain her unbeaten record in the Group 3 $200,000 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) and boom sprinter Smooth Chino is the $2.70 favourite to enhance his perfect race record with a seventh win from as many starts in the Group 3 $200,000 Roma Cup (1100m).