Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
From the fabulous Black Caviar family, G1 Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism will stand his first season at Noor Elaine Farm in 2026. The son of Brutal (NZ) was trained by Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, who also trained Group 1 winning family members Ole Kirk and All Too Hard.
“We are extremely excited about standing Nepotism at Noor Elaine Farm. He has outstanding credentials as a commercial stallion being a Group 1 winner from a proven stallion family,” Noor Elaine Farm’s Daniel El-Fahkri said.
Outstanding ability early on
In a massive leap of faith in Nepotism’s ability, team Hawkes debuted him the G2 Todman Stakes where he finished third to Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}), now a dual Group 1 winner, and the more experienced Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who recently joined the Newgate Farm roster.
He won the G3 TL Baillieu at his second start and the time-honoured G1 Champagne Stakes at his third start.
“He always showed something as a young horse,” John Hawkes said at the time.
“He always showed something as a young horse.” - John Hawkes
“He nearly won the Todman, to start with. Not many horses get to Group 1 level as a 2-year-old, but he got there and he was able to win.”
Nepotism | Standing at Noor Elaine Farm
The Champagne features the resumes of some of Australia’s most exciting young stallions in recent years, such as Broadsiding and Castelvecchio as well as first season sire Captivant. Proven sire Pierro won the race, while in recent years, the filly She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) trained on to win the G1 Victoria Oaks.
“As a specimen, he is an athletic and well-balanced colt with good bone and very strong through the hindquarters with a beautiful long sloping shoulder,” El-Fahkri said.
“He has very good conformation, a strong top line and a good depth of girth. This all translates to a commercially appealing stallion prospect.”
Neil Werrett | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Nepotism raced on at three but was troubled by bone chips and failed to greet the judge again.
“You have to be very lucky to have a horse that never experiences a setback in its career,” part-owner Neil Werrett said. “We are just very fortunate that he demonstrated his potential in a race like the Champagne first.”
“You have to be very lucky to have a horse that never experiences a setback in its career.” - Neil Werrett
Well supported by ownership group
Bloodstock agent Mark Player put together the deal on behalf of owners Neil Werrett, Colin Madden, Gilgai Farm, and partners.
“He’s a lovely horse and he’s from a great family. He was an elite 2-year-old and he deserves his shot at stud,” Player said.
“He’s (Nepotism) a lovely horse and he’s from a great family. He was an elite 2-year-old and he deserves his shot at stud.” - Mark Player
“Rodney Rae and his team have put together a compelling offer that the owners have been delighted to take, so we look forward to him being an important part of the Victorian and Australian breeding industry.”
Bred by Gilgai Farm, Nepotism was sold by them at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $160,000 to Mark Player’s International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA), and his short career earned $930,000 for his connections.
Mark Player | Image courtesy of Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia
The vowed support from his racing connections will be a boon for the young colt, especially that of Gilgai Farm who have nurtured Nepotism’s family for several generations.
Nepotism is the best performed offspring of Brigite (Casino Prince), an unraced full sister to Champion 3YO Colt and Group 1-producing sire All Too Hard and a half-sister to Black Caviar.
Another half-sister is Naturale (Bel Esprit), whose two foals to the track are Champion 3YO Colt and Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk, and the Group 3 winner Gimme Par (Not A Single Doubt).
Nepotism as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nepotism’s unraced grandam Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}) was a daughter of Dorrington Farm’s matriarch Scandinavia (Snippets), a multiple Group winner who produced four stakes winners, including this year’s G1 Blue Diamond Stakes-winning sire Magnus.
Werrett also breeds from this family, having raced Black Caviar, and is now breeding from several of her daughters. Two of Black Caviar’s grandaughters, Ready Forcocktails (Snitzel) and Panchenko (Street Boss {USA}), won recently.
Brutal is a sire on the rise
O’Reilly (NZ)’s son Brutal (NZ), winner of the G1 Doncaster Handicap, has five stakes winners with his oldest crop only 4-year-olds. The choice to send Brigite to him was based on how well the Last Tycoon (Ire) line has already worked with the family, as evidenced by Ole Kirk being by Written Tycoon and Last Tycoon appearing as Casino Prince’s damsire.
In Western Australia, Brutal's 3-year-old gelding Sentimental Legend looks like he might be anything, with four wins from six starts this season, including a last start victory in the G2 Western Australian Derby.
Brutal (NZ) | Standing at Newgate Farm
Savagery Vibe narrowly missed becoming Brutal’s second Group 1 winner when second to Splash Back (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the recent G1 Tatt’s Tiara.
Nepotism will stand alongside proven Group 1 sire Ilovethiscity at Noor Elaine Farm.
