John Hawkes backing youngster Josh Adams

HALL of Fame trainer John Hawkes is relying on apprentice Josh Adams and Gopana to provide a win in one of the few feature Sydney races to elude him at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day.

Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne, has Gopana entered for the Group Three $125,000 Summer Cup (2400m).

Surprisingly, Hawkes, a nine-time premier Sydney trainer, has never won a Summer Cup. He came closest in 2003 when Ocho ran second to Stadium.

Gopana is Team Hawkes's entry for Sunday's big race and although there were a number of senior jockeys keen to ride the in-form mare, the stable has kept faith with Adams.

After all, the 18-year-old whiz kid has struck a winning rapport with Gopana, guiding the mare to three wins in her last four starts.

"There was no thought to replacing Josh Adams on Gopana," Michael Hawkes said last night. "He knows the mare well and deserves to retain the ride."

Adams is chasing a career-best win on Gopana after finishing a close second on the Hawkes-trained Mentality in the Group Two Villiers Stakes last Saturday.

Gopana is trying to become the third mare in five years to win the Summer Cup after Aqua D'Amore (2005) and Ready To Lift (2008).Trainer Chris Waller is relying on sheer weight of numbers to secure his first Summer Cup with four of the 14 entries - Alexander Of Hales, Bellagio Wynn, Beijing Boy and Strike One.

Waller intends to follow a winning formula and give Beijing Boy and Strike One barrier trial hit-outs at Rosehill Gardens today.

Story: Ray Thomas Daily Telegraph