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âRidiculous oddsâ: Punters urged to overlook Nepotismâs first-up failure
Andrew Slevison ⹠ September 25th, 2025 2:34 pm
Nepotism presents as a great value play in Saturdayâs Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.
That is according to trainer Michael Hawkes who has urged punters to forgive the three-year-old coltâs first-up run when he finished at the rear of the field in the Run to the Rose a fortnight ago.
The Rosehill track didnât play to Nepotismâs 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 âridiculous oddsâ - currently $14 with Sportsbet.
âFirst-up youâve 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,â Hawkes said on SENTrack & RSNâs Giddy Up.
âHeâs drawn well. Itâs a cracking field for the small field that it is. It is ridiculous on the quality of horse that is in there.
âBut weâve got a horse with quality. Everyone probably he thinks he canât win. Heâs ridiculous odds in my book, to be honest.
âHeâs a Group 1 winner, heâs second-up, heâs heading towards a Caulfield Guineas and heâs on song. Heâs got the winkers on for this start, heâs drawn perfect and should have a lovely run.â
Hawkes, who was asked if Nepotism has been disrespected in the market, once again warned punters not to overlook him.
âThis day and age people just want winners or losers and thatâs all itâs about,â Hawkes added.
âUnfortunately they donât really look at everything else in between.
âYou canât discard him. Heâs a Group 1 winner, heâs only had the four starts and youâve just got to put a line through his last run because he just basically followed them around.
âOur 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.â
Asked which of the Team Hawkes runners heâd spend $100 on this weekend, he replied: âAt the odds Iâve got to go $50 each-way on Nepotism because I think itâs just crazy odds.â
Nepotism is up against Ciaron Maherâs Godolphin star-in-the-making Tempted ($2.80), Chris Wallerâs Autumn Boy ($5), stablemate Wodeton ($5.50) and Skyhook ($6).
The Golden Rose jumps at 4:50pm AEST at Rosehill on Saturday.
