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“He’s unbelievable”… but Hawkes keeping a lid on Briasa
Andrew Slevison • October 16th, 2025 1:41 pm
Michael Hawkes is absolutely up and about ahead of this weekend’s $20 million Everest at Randwick.
Hawkes, alongside father John and brother Wayne, will saddle up Briasa in the world’s 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.
“I’m excited because what he’s shown from day dot since he came into our stable - people have asked me - but you can’t describe it,” Hawkes said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“When people have good horses they know that feeling but I suppose with this bloke, he’s a five-year-old, he’s had 12 starts in his life and he’s just gone through the grades beautifully. Even when he was winning races at Kembla it was amazing.
“When 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.”
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.
“You try to keep the lid on it, you’re not trying to say too much and you’re trying to let the horse do the talking,” he continued.
“It’s easy to gob off and tell everyone how good they are, but you’ve got owners and expectations and you want people to see for themselves how these horses really keep improving.
“The thing about this bloke is he’s just kept improving. I don’t know his ceiling, I really don’t. He just keeps improving, it’s exciting, it gives you spine-tingling goosebumps and they’re the sort of feelings you get.
“And then you go in a $20 million Everest… and we’ve got a live chance.
“He’s unbelievable. I’m trying to keep a lid on it, it’s exciting, the feelings and emotions are kicking in.
“That’s what it’s about, it’s about taking that next step and being there for his Grand Final.”
Hawkes was asked what he’d do with $100 for his stable runners this weekend and his effusiveness would only allow him to circle back to Briasa.
“I cannot back down, I’ve got to go $100 straight out on Briasa,” he added.
“I know he’s got the superstar (Ka Ying Rising) to run down but the horse is peaking, third-up, he’ll get plenty of room and I just hope he can take that next rise which I feel he can because I know he’s got it in him.”
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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