Group I winner to join Hawkes stable

The Hawkes stable has been bolstered by some high-priced yearling purchases recently and will be strengthened even further with the addition of a Group I winner to the team.

This season's New Zealand 2000 Guineas' winner Atlante is currently spelling at Hawkesbury following an unsuccessful Sydney autumn campaign and will remain in Australia.

"He's spelling at Wild Oaks near Hawkesbury and he's now under the guidance of the Hawkes operation," Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry, who oversees the New Zealand bloodstock interests of Atlante's part-owner Lib Petagna, told NZ Racing Desk.

"He will target the good spring mile races and it's too difficult to get him back here (New Zealand) and then get him ready because he needs good ground."

A son of Fastnet Rock, Atlante was trained in New Zealand by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman to win the Listed Holloway Stakes and then the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 9.

Atlante finished runner-up to Dissident in the Group II Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill when resuming on March 1 but was unsuited by the prevailing rain-affected tracks in Sydney, finishing last of eight in the Group I All-Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 26 at his last outing.

Petagna also races Group I Vinery Stud Stakes winner Lucia Valentina, now trained by Kris Lees after winning the Group III Wellington Stakes in New Zealand for Stephen Marsh.

Story: Darryl Sherer RaceNet