Team Hawkes warriors primed for more spoils

Team Hawkes may not have a headline act but their thoroughbred stock is continually being refined. They've got two eight-year-old warhorses, 2007 Australian Derby winner Fiumicino and Dao Dao, another stable favourite, running at Flemington, and what about Revolt?

The former Kiwi, which goes around in the first at Rosehill today, is a work in progress for the Hawkes team, which is led by John Hawkes and includes his sons Michael and Wayne in the partnership. Michael runs the Rosehill stable, while Wayne is in charge at Flemington. John swings between states but remains hands-on.

"He [Revolt] is twice the horse he was when he went out," Michael said yesterday. "The more racing the better he'll be. He kept stepping up every single time we sent him out last time in, it is good, a horse like him to go through the grades. We have nothing in mind over the carnival but he might end up in a decent race."

You can bank on the Hawkes team having a target race for this five-year-old gelding, which has won four from nine outings.

There is more to come if those in charge are correct.

"He won four straight last time in and has done everything right," Michael said. "When he came over from New Zealand, he'd had a couple of starts. He was sent over and they were telling us he had ability.

"He had a tendon injury, hence the time off. They gave him time and they were happy for us to win a couple of races with him, help the mare out. He showed the ability but he was green."

But then again, when it comes to thoroughbreds, things can change in an instant. Take Gopana which goes around in today's Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill. At her first campaign, Gopana won three from six outings and was sent to the paddock coming off two victories in town. Going out on a high, it was all looking good. "She didn't come up in Melbourne last preparation nor the one before that," Michael said.

"The preparation before that, she strung a number of wins together. Her recent trial suggests she is where she was in the past."

Then you've got Rainbow Styling in today's Parramatta Cup. He races in the Fiumicino colours, those of "spud king" Nick Moraitis of Might And Power fame.

Moraitis has been a great supporter of the Hawkes family and Rainbow Styling has been a mainstay. Rarely a preparation goes by when the seven-year-old doesn't return to the winner's stall.

"He went super first-up at Rosehill then went to Caulfield and won," Michael said.

It was decided to send Rainbow Styling, which has also won in Queensland, to Tasmania a couple of weeks ago. "Forget he went around in the Hobart Cup, he didn't handle the track," Michael said. "It was too tight, it was uphill, he is a big horse, needs a big track and he'll get that at Rosehill. This is the right distance and he has drawn a good barrier [2]."

Rounding out the day for the team at Rosehill is Magic Weekend. He is another galloper the Hawkes crew have put back together after several issues. Patience is the key; the six-year-old will have start No. 23 in the final event.

"He won well first-up and then last start had a big weight [59.5kg] and didn't like it [the slow track]," Michael said. "His record might show he handles it but I don't think he does. He has drawn a bit awkward this time, he is up in grade but down on the minimum weight. I'm hoping he'll run well in it."

As for Fiumicino and Dao Dao, all is good. "Fiumicino has had his ups and downs and is heading to The BMW. He has been a fantastic old warhorse that still loves his work. It is a bit similar with Dao Dao, the day they show us they've lost interest is the day they retire."

Story: Craig Young SMH