Wild Atlantic is set to debut in the San Domenico Stakes, aiming to replicate the achievement of his sire, Exceedance.
Exceedance secured the sprint race in 2019 on his third career start for Team Hawkes. If Wild Atlantic can emulate this success, he might be pointed towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
A $320,000 Magic Millions purchase, Wild Atlantic’s physical likeness to his sire impressed his trainers.
“He was a lovely colt, and he actually looked a lot like Dad,” Michael Hawkes stated. “He’s done everything right. He’s just taken a bit of time, probably a bit like Dad as well. He’s had some nice trials, a good grounding. Yes, he’s in the deep end on Saturday. If anything, he lacks the race craft because he is obviously unraced, where a lot of these have started and they’ve won numerous times. But he’s definitely got the ability to be there. Everyone has seen that with his trials, and we have too. It’s more about him having the right run in transit. He’s drawn a good barrier to get that now, and he’s going to have his chance.”
While Wild Atlantic lacks race experience, he has completed five trials, winning four. His most recent trial demonstrated a strong turn of foot, leading to significant market support, moving from an opening quote of $26 to $7, behind the $2.10 favourite Blue Door, Golden Slipper winner Guest House ($5), and Warwoven ($5.50).
Hawkes expressed enthusiasm for the colt’s race debut, emphasizing that the stable would only enter him in a Group race first-up if they believed he could contend for the win.
This mirrors their strategy with Nepotism, who debuted at $41 in the 2025 Todman Stakes, finishing placed before winning the Baillieu (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in his subsequent starts.
“He’s a colt with a lot of raw talent and it’s exciting that he’s stepping out,” Hawkes said. “First and foremost, you’ve got to know whether they’ve got the ability or not. It’s not just throwing them in the deep end, it’s knowing if they’ve got that ability. We did it with Nepotism at his first start, and he arguably should have nearly won. He placed at massive odds then ended up coming out and winning a Group One mile at Randwick.”
Tyler Schiller will partner Wild Atlantic from barrier four, aiming for his maiden win in this three-year-old feature. Hawkes Racing is aiming for its fourth San Domenico Stakes victory in the past 25 years, having previously won with Nostradamus (2014), Star Turn (2016), and Exceedance.
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