Nepotism is the latest colt from the famed Hawkes Racing system to announce himself, and co-trainer Michael Hawkes believes he could be something special.

The colt will step out first-up in Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill, with the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) firmly in sight as his primary target this spring.

Hawkes Racing has produced stars like All Too Hard and 2020 Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk – a close relation to Nepotism – but Hawkes says the son of Brutal is a different type. “He’s a baby. He is maturing,” Hawkes said. “He is different and different in a good way because what you saw was just raw ability.”

Nepotism’s resume includes the Baillieu (1400m) and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), with his only blemish coming on debut in the Todman Stakes (1200m). Hawkes insists that run was unlucky. “To be fair, he should nearly be unbeaten,” he said. “Wodeton came in on him up the straight and he should have at least run second. With a bit more luck and if he’d had momentum, he probably nearly wins the race.”

His stablemate Devil Night, a Blue Diamond winner, also takes his place in The Run To The Rose. After a fast-finishing fifth in the San Domenico Stakes, the colt could stretch beyond sprinting distances. “He was in behind them and they just outsprinted him and took that bit of an edge off,” Hawkes said. “Personally, I thought the last fifty and through the line the next fifty was ridiculous. He could be in a Golden Rose. He could be in a Caulfield Guineas. We’re leaving our options open with him.”

In Saturday’s draw, Devil Night has barrier one and Nepotism barrier five, giving both every chance to stake their spring claims.