Helsinge Family Strikes Again in G1 Champagne

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 19

From a clear last at the top of the straight to what seemed an unlikely first at the winning post, exciting Brutal colt Nepotism produced a scintillating performance to win the $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Nepotism wins the G1 Champagne Stakes - image Bradley Photography

Trained by Team Hawkes and ridden by Tyler Schiller, Nepotism won the Group III ATC Baillieu Stakes at his second start with connections electing to bypass the Group I ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes in favour of the Champagne with happy results.

Drawn out wide, Nepotism was eased back and settled at the tail of the field, but Tyler Schiller had plenty of confidence in the colt and had no hesitation taking him out around every other runner in search of a clear passage and Nepotism did the rest.

He accelerated all the way to the line to edge out honest Lucky Vega (IRE) filly Within the Law in a three way thriller with another filly by Trapeze Artist in Tupakara in third place.

“It’s very hard for any horse to do that.. come from last and come to the outside, especially a two-year-old having his first racing prep,” said Wayne Hawkes.

“There wouldn't be too many hard luck stories behind him for the run that he had. He's a special colt and he's out of that special family, isn't he? All Too hard, Black Caviar and Ole Kirk, all his dear relations, so Gilgai Farm have bred another one! “

The victory is one that means a great deal to the Hawkes team as they trained his sire Brutal to win the Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap in 2019 and have now prepared his first Group I winner as a sire.

“Brutal won a Doncaster at his seventh race start and he was the youngest and least raced horse to ever win a Doncaster,” Hawkes reflected.

Advertisement

“So he's the first G1 winner for Brutal and it’s like having a son out there.”

Nepotism and his happy owners - image Bradley Photography

A $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Gilgai Farm for International Thoroughbred Solutions, Nepotism runs for an ownership group that includes some of the Black Caviar owners and his breeder Gilgai Farm, which comes as no surprise given this talented colt comes from the same Helsinge female family that produced Black Caviar.

Nepotism has the overall record of two wins and a placing from three starts with prizemoney in excess of $748,000.

Nepotism was a $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Gilgai Farm.

He is the first stakes-winner among three winners from four foals to race from unraced Casino Prince mare Brigite, a full sister to Champion 3YO Colt All Too Hard and half-sister to world champion sprinter Black Caviar, as well as the dam of Champion 3YO Colt Ole Kirk.

It’s a hugely successful family that doesn’t just produce G1 winners… it produces champions and Team Hawkes know a bit about it having trained both All Too Hard and Ole Kirk.

Brigite has been a tricky breeder of late and has not had a foal since Nepotism.

Nepotism is the first Group I winner and second stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s young O’Reilly stallion Brutal, who was a popular choice with breeders last spring covering 154 mares and is priced this year at $16,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes Gr1 1600m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:36.72
1
Nepotism
- 2c Brutal (NZ) x Brigite (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $160,000
Seller: Gilgai Farm, Nagambie
Buyer: International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA)
2
0.2
Within The Law
- 2f Lucky Vega (IRE) x Contract Signed (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $30,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Darby Racing
3
0.2
Tupakara
- 2f Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Catchulata (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
Trapeze Artist
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $150,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: TFI/Kia Ora Joint Venture
4
2
State Visit
- 2c Wootton Bassett (GB) x Celebrity Queen (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
5
2.9
Buffalo
- 2g Written By (AUS) x Contributing (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: D I Atkins Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
6
3
Federalist
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Arcadia Queen (AUS) (Pierro (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
7
3.1
Spicy Lu
- 2f Tagaloa (AUS) x All Salsa (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: N J Olive Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
8
4.5
Michelangelo
- 2c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Waltzing Wodka (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56.5
9
6.4
Bellazaine
- 2f Zousain (AUS) x Benella (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
10
8.4
Is It Spectacular
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Is What It Is (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Sara Ryan Rdr: M Zahra 56.5
11
12
Lady Pankhurst
- 2f Capitalist (AUS) x Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Craig Williams 54.5
12
17.2
Next Jen
- 2f Ole Kirk (AUS) x Fashion Sniptz (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: C Schofield 54.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Kaha Nui Swoop on Pinhook Prospects
Successful pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm were to the fore at Karaka on Thursday, and were rewarded with the crown of leading buyer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Weanling Sale
Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto’s outstanding season carried on in the Karaka sale ring on Thursday, where his weanling colt fetched a sale-topping $190,000 in the opening hour of the NZB National Weanling Sale.
Brutal Colt Wins G3 Baillieu
Well related Brutal colt Nepotism turned heads when charging to the line for a close third on debut to Tentyris in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes last month and he confirmed that potential when defying a betting drift to win the $250,000 Group III ATC Baillieu Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Tuesday.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Gilgai Farm Bred and Sold Nepotism Another Inglis G1 Star
Outstanding colt Nepotism (Brutal) scored one of the most remarkable G1 wins by a 2YO on an Australian racetrack in recent memory, coming from last to secure a last-stride victory in today’s Champagne Stakes at Randwick.