Team Hawkes is back on course
Former high-rolling trainer John Hawkes has emerged to again become a key player in major races over the Sydney autumn carnival.
It has been just over three years since Hawkes severed his ties with Woodlands Stud and walked away from Crown Lodge.
He formed a training partnership with sons Michael and Wayne, widely known as Team Hawkes, and they are a force again.
Quality thoroughbreds grace their Rosehill and Flemington yards. Rising sprint star Moshe, a brother to unbeaten superstar Black Caviar, will appear over the autumn carnival. Hawkes will also saddle smart stayer Rainbow Styling, Love Conquers All and Gopana to name a few.
Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday will also resume racing in the near future, with his goal to go one better in the great race this year.
Not a bad line-up for Team Hawkes, who were left without a bridle after their split with Crown Lodge.
John Hawkes, who has Wayne running the Victorian operation and Michael based in Brisbane, enjoyed 14 years training for Bob and the late Jack Ingham.
Hawkes and the "Chicken Kings" won more than 4000 races, including 82 Group 1 winners, and tallied $164 million in prizemoney. It all came to an end in November 2007 when an amicable separation took away Woodland's massive backing. To make matters worse for Hawkes, it was in the middle of the EI crisis.
Michael Hawkes, who now runs the Rosehill establishment, admits times were tough, but the family rallied, worked hard and are now reaping the dividends.
"We walked out of Crown Lodge with nothing, not even a head collar. We left everything behind," Michael said.
"We virtually had to rebuild from scratch. We had to find stables, buy saddles. We had nothing, and I mean nothing. It was pretty tough, and although a lot of clients stayed solid, some didn't. We sat down with Dad and talked about how we could try to get a result.
"The three of us are individuals, there's arguments, ups and downs, but we all knew we had to look forward.
"When the crunch comes we pull together, that's our biggest mainstay. It doesn't matter about the hurdles, it's all about family."
Their first winner as an official training partnership came when smart two-year-old Real Saga, who is now at stud, won the 2009 Breeders Plate at Randwick. There was also a lot of joy and nostalgia when Fiumicino saluted that year in the BMW with Darren Beadman aboard, giving the team their first Group 1 winner.
"Real Saga was a real boost. Getting a horse like him gave us a kick along," Michael said. "But to win the BMW, as a training partnership, was definitely a highlight. Darren rode a great race and it was just like the old days."
When training for the Inghams, Team Hawkes had stables in four states and about 600 horses on the books.
They had 30 horses in work in Adelaide, 60-70 in Melbourne, 100 in Sydney and 50 in Brisbane.
Michael said it was now all about quality, not quantity. They have 25 in work in Sydney, the same in Melbourne, 140 all up.
"Our numbers have dropped and we're just trying to train quality horses and chase the bigger races," Michael said. "Someone asked me the other day if I still get excited.
"I light up every morning when I walk in the yard and look at the horses we've got to work with.
"It's been hard at times, but enjoyable. The results show what can happen with hard work and determination."
Moshe will trial in the next fortnight and Maluckyday will also resume soon.
Team Hawkes intends giving Maluckyday a light autumn, but he may also have a shot at the BMW.
The first Tuesday in November is the ultimate goal as the Hawkes family again chases a place in the history books.
Story: Garry Legg The Sunday Mail