KEY POINTS:
Less than a year after he relinquished his position as trainer for Australia's biggest stable to start again from scratch, John Hawkes took out the first Group One race of the Randwick spring when Mentality won the George Main Stakes at Randwick yesterday.
Hawkes is in business with
sons Michael and Wayne while his ex-foreman Peter Snowden is in charge of the massive team from Woodlands which is now raced by Sheikh Mohammed.
In typical Hawkes fashion he stayed at home leaving Michael to take the limelight on his 33rd birthday. "It's a lovely birthday present," Michael Hawkes said. "At times it has been gut-busting.
"Dad's been at the top and now he's starting from the bottom again.
"Days like these make all the hard work worthwhile not just for us but for the staff, and the wives, especially the wives."
Mentality was one of a handful of established performers who moved with Hawkes from Warwick Farm to Rosehill and although his record over the 1600m at Randwick was superior to the rest of the field he was sent out at $9 with Triple Honour the $2.50 favourite.
Corey Brown had Mentality perfectly positioned midfield and brought him out of the pack in the straight to settle down to fight it out with Theseo ($20). Mentality prevailed by a long neck with Gallant Tess another 1 1/2 lengths third and Niconero ($17) fourth.
For Brown, who won the Sydney premiership when he was the number two rider for Hawkes behind Darren Beadman, the win was more than special.
"I've ridden a lot of Group One winners and Apache Cat has given me my biggest thrills in racing but this one is a high for me," he said. "To win a race like this for these people makes me really happy.
"They have helped my in my career and this is a big thrill."
Trainer Chris Waller said he was baffled by the performance of Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour who had the blinkers back on to try to curb his laying in.
"There is something holding him back but we don't know what," Waller told stewards.
"I've rung my vet and he will go over him thoroughly and hopefully there is an answer."
Jockey Glen Boss said he thought he was in a winning position at the 500m.
"I thought he was the winner but he just disappeared on me."
A decision on whether Mentality backs up in next Saturday's Epsom Handicap will not be made for a few days.
"We will just see how he pulls up," Hawkes said.
- AAP