International Thoroughbred Solutions yearling sale purchased etched his name into the list of Group One winning two year olds with a scintillating last to first domination of the time honoured G1 Moet and Chandon Champagne Stakes at Randwick on 19 April 2025. In doing so NEPOTISM also staked his claim to be crowned Champion Australian Two Year Old.
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.
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. Nepotism balanced up topping the rise and let down in exhilarating style to defy the track pattern for the day and overwhelm all of his rivals. High class fillies WITHIN THE LAW and TUPAKARA filled the minor placings with G1 placed colts STATE VIST and BUFFALO rounding out the top five. It was a performance that drew praise from all quarters with trainer Wayne Hawkes commenting “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.”
NEPOTISM was having just his 3rd race start and he has met every challenge laid out in front of him by the Hawkes team. Making his debut in the G2 Todman Stakes at Rosehill NEPOTISM met trouble in running and flashed home to finish the most encouraging of thirds. The winner TENTRYIS was coming off 2nd place in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and second WODETON would go on to place 2nd in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes and then 4th in the G1 Sires Produce Stakes. After the race the Hawkes team had no hesitation in accepting him for the Golden Slipper at what would have been just his second start. Clearly they knew they had a colt of the highest quality on their hands! Undaunted after missing the final field NEPOTISM was sent out in the G3 Baillieu Stakes at Rosehill. Unfortunately heavy rain in the lead up to the day saw the races rescheduled for Tuesday 1st April. The heavy track conditions proved to be no concern and NEPOTISM broke his maiden in style, cruising to victory by 1 1/2 lengths and leaving no doubt that he was the horse to follow in future weeks.
Wisely Team Hawkes resisted the temptation to back up into the Sires Produce just 5 days later and they set the colt for the Champagne Stakes. Their decision was vindicated in style. Three starts as a 2yo for wins at G1 and G3 level and a placing at G2 level.
Bred by Rick Jameson's Gilgai Farm at Ngambie in Victoria NEPOTISM hails from the best family in the Australian studbook. By G1 winning stallion BRUTAL he was offered for sale at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Mark recalls "Neil Werrett rang me not long after the catalogues for the sale had been released. He said you have to go and have a look at Lot 148 for us. Looking at the catalogue the reason was obvious. Neil loves the family and he loves horses bred by Rick and raised at Gilgai Farm. By first season sire BRUTAL this colt was out of the unraced Casino Prince mare BRIGITE. She is a full sister to multiple G1 winner ALL TOO HARD, a half sister to the champion BLACK CAVIAR and also a half sister to NATURALE, herself the dam of OLE KIRK."
Neil had raced ALL TOO HARD, BLACK CAVIAR and OLE KIRK with various family and friends. Mark had previously purchased OLE KIRK as a yearling at the Premier Sale for Neil along with Colin and Jannene Madden, Neil's sister Joan and her husband Ash and Brett Bradley with Gilgai Farm retaining a share in the colt as well.

As soon as I inspected the Lot 148 I knew he was destined to race for the same ownership group. As a yearling the colt was a good size, attractive, well balanced. He had a great girth, very good shoulder with strong hindquarters. He was a very fluent mover and there was just nothing not to like about the colt. He scored highly and I can remember Neil saying he is by Brutal so we will get him cheaper. Neil was right and I was over the moon to secure the colt for just $160,000.
Sent to Team Hawkes after the sale NEPOTISM slotted into their system well. Having trained BRUTAL throughout his career it was fitting that Team Hawkes trained his first Group One winner on the weekend.
The ownership team were over the moon with the win and while there is more racing to come NEPOTISM has an intriguing pedigree and will surely find a very attractive home at stud and his chance to further build on the Helsinge family legacy for the Australian thoroughbred.