The Hawkes brothers Michael, John and Wayne have navigated varied success in recent outings.
A Kilmore maiden victory earlier this month stands as their most recent in Victoria, paired with Gangsta Granny’s Stakes win in Sydney on March 7.
Renowned for robust presence in Melbourne and Sydney carnivals, the stable enters three of the five Group 1s at Rosehill.
Caulfield’s William Reid Stakes (1200m) on Saturday concludes Melbourne’s Group 1 programme, featuring Hawkes representatives Airman and Devil Night.
Nearing 18 months without a win, Airman paid the price for landing the Group 2 Premiere Cup (1200m) at Randwick in October 2024.
Wayne Hawkes believes Airman has the credentials for a bold showing Saturday and has hit the line strongly in trials before his November layoff ends.
“He won the Premiere Stakes which is two weeks before The Everest and which is the best lead-up race to The Everest,” Hawkes said.
“You know he is up to that class of race, but he hasn’t won for 18 months, but I wouldn’t discard him.
“He’s going pretty well.”
Devil Night’s lone win from seven comes from dominating Melbourne’s flagship juvenile, the Blue Diamond Stakes, at attempt two.
The three-year-old’s spring was inconsistent, but Hawkes drew attention to his fourth-placed finish to Giga Kick in the Schillaci Stakes to close.
Autumn opener saw Devil Night second to Pallaton in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month, plus a soft Flemington trial.
“He’s going super and this is the race we’ve picked out for him,” Hawkes said.
“He was getting beaten in the spring behind Giga Kick, which isn’t bad for a three-year-old and Giga Kick is an Everest horse, and the bottom line is, there’s your form.
“Beau Mertens had a sit on him in his trial and I’m happy with the horse and how he’s going.”
On picking a standout, Hawkes gave Devil Night the nod.
“He’s the fitter one,” Hawkes said.
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