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“Ridiculous odds”: Punters urged to overlook Nepotism’s first-up failure
Andrew Slevison • September 25th, 2025 2:34 pm
Nepotism presents as a great value play in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.
That is according to trainer Michael Hawkes who has urged punters to forgive the three-year-old colt’s first-up run when he finished at the rear of the field in the Run to the Rose a fortnight ago.
The Rosehill track didn’t play to Nepotism’s strengths on that occasion but Hawkes believes with a fairer playing field the son of Brutal can atone.
Hawkes reckons Nepotism, who won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes two starts ago, has come up “ridiculous odds” - currently $14 with Sportsbet.
“First-up you’ve just got to put a line through it. It was just the way the track played with on-speed runners, and backmarkers had absolutely no hope,” Hawkes said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“He’s drawn well. It’s a cracking field for the small field that it is. It is ridiculous on the quality of horse that is in there.
“But we’ve got a horse with quality. Everyone probably he thinks he can’t win. He’s ridiculous odds in my book, to be honest.
“He’s a Group 1 winner, he’s second-up, he’s heading towards a Caulfield Guineas and he’s on song. He’s got the winkers on for this start, he’s drawn perfect and should have a lovely run.”
Hawkes, who was asked if Nepotism has been disrespected in the market, once again warned punters not to overlook him.
“This day and age people just want winners or losers and that’s all it’s about,” Hawkes added.
“Unfortunately they don’t really look at everything else in between.
“You can’t discard him. He’s a Group 1 winner, he’s only had the four starts and you’ve just got to put a line through his last run because he just basically followed them around.
“Our horses keep improving through the prep. Nepotism was always going to have a long prep of three or four runs. But when they dished up the track they did that day it was a bit disappointing.”
Asked which of the Team Hawkes runners he’d spend $100 on this weekend, he replied: “At the odds I’ve got to go $50 each-way on Nepotism because I think it’s just crazy odds.”
Nepotism is up against Ciaron Maher’s Godolphin star-in-the-making Tempted ($2.80), Chris Waller’s Autumn Boy ($5), stablemate Wodeton ($5.50) and Skyhook ($6).
The Golden Rose jumps at 4:50pm AEST at Rosehill on Saturday.
