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āHeās unbelievableāā¦ but Hawkes keeping a lid on Briasa
Andrew SlevisonĀ ā¢ Ā October 16th, 2025 1:41 pm
Michael Hawkes is absolutely up and about ahead of this weekendās $20 million Everest at Randwick.
Hawkes, alongside father John and brother Wayne, will saddle up Briasa in the worldās richest race on turf over 1200m on Saturday and there is excitement aplenty in the air.
Briasa is a five-year-old gelding who has had 12 career starts for eight wins and one second. He is in prime form having saluted in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes over 1200m at Randwick a fortnight ago.
He is considered one of the main dangers to Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising and co-trainer Hawkes certainly feels he is going well enough to truly challenge.
āIām excited because what heās shown from day dot since he came into our stable - people have asked me - but you canāt describe it,ā Hawkes said on SENTrack & RSNās Giddy Up.
āWhen people have good horses they know that feeling but I suppose with this bloke, heās a five-year-old, heās had 12 starts in his life and heās just gone through the grades beautifully. Even when he was winning races at Kembla it was amazing.
āWhen he put paid to them at Newcastle that day when he sat three deep the entire, facing the breeze, and he really hit the line strong. That was the day he put his hand up to say I want to be a part of it.ā
Despite his enthusiasm, Hawkes is attempting to keep a lid on his excitement given what is at stake.
The son of Smart Missile continues to improve with racing and that suggests to Hawkes he should be taken seriously.
āYou try to keep the lid on it, youāre not trying to say too much and youāre trying to let the horse do the talking,ā he continued.
āItās easy to gob off and tell everyone how good they are, but youāve got owners and expectations and you want people to see for themselves how these horses really keep improving.
āThe thing about this bloke is heās just kept improving. I donāt know his ceiling, I really donāt. He just keeps improving, itās exciting, it gives you spine-tingling goosebumps and theyāre the sort of feelings you get.
āAnd then you go in a $20 million Everestā¦ and weāve got a live chance.
āHeās unbelievable. Iām trying to keep a lid on it, itās exciting, the feelings and emotions are kicking in.
āThatās what itās about, itās about taking that next step and being there for his Grand Final.ā
Hawkes was asked what heād do with $100 for his stable runners this weekend and his effusiveness would only allow him to circle back to Briasa.
āI cannot back down, Iāve got to go $100 straight out on Briasa,ā he added.
āI know heās got the superstar (Ka Ying Rising) to run down but the horse is peaking, third-up, heāll get plenty of room and I just hope he can take that next rise which I feel he can because I know heās got it in him.ā
Briasa is currently rated a $15 chance with Sportsbet for the Everest which jumps at 4:15pm AEDT on Saturday.
Tyler Schiller, who has partnered with the sprinter for six wins from nine starts, will be in the saddle.
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