Hawkes Happy To Start Over

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday August 10, 2007

John Schell

John Hawkes decided it was time but he believes the winners in cerise will still flow, reports John Schell.

THERE was no fanfare at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning when John Hawkes walked into the racecourse, customarily early, for another session of trackwork.

The trainer for the huge team of Bob Ingham, as well as a growing number of outside-owned horses, has just more than three months left in the coveted post after shocking the racing world on Wednesday by announcing his resignation from the stable. "There is nothing sinister in it, it is just time to move," Hawkes told The Form. "I'll keep training in Melbourne and Sydney if I can get some stables. If I can't get stables I will go on the dole."

Around 4.30am, Hawkes stands in the trainers' tower at Warwick Farm, alone, pouring over his trackwork sheet. The names and numbers on that yellow piece of paper play an integral part in the success the Hall of Fame trainer has enjoyed for the Inghams over the past 14 years at the Warwick Farm base of Crown Lodge.

Despite his looming split from the Ingham camp, his commitment is still evident as he watches his star-studded spring team go through its paces.

Fellow trainer Gary Portelli wanders up the stairs to what he calls "Hawkesy's tower" and exchanges pleasantries. "At least I'll get the tower to myself when he's gone," Portelli laughs.

Hawkes has three stopwatches on hand, clocking his horses as they go about their work. Then there is the walkie-talkie which keeps him in constant contact with his trusted foreman, Peter Snowden, who at 51 will take over the helm of the stable on Hawkes's departure.

"Me moving on gives Peter an opportunity to step up," Hawkes said. "He has worked hard for years and has done a great job as my right-hand man. I hope he's successful."

Hawkes churned out 153 winners in the metropolitan area last season, giving him a ninth premiership from 14 full seasons in Sydney. He is also the Commonwealth record holder for number of winners in a season and has prepared champions Octagonal, a horse he rates as his favourite, and Lonhro during his tenure.

Snowden has been there every step along the way, having been at Crown Lodge since its inception, and Hawkes has no doubt the winning run of the stable will continue. "Peter has got to sort out how he will handle the position," Hawkes said. "He's his own man and he's got to run things the way he thinks they should be run.

"Hopefully I've taught him a few things that he can use to his advantage. I've got the upmost confidence in his ability and Bob [Ingham] does as well. He wouldn't be given the job if that wasn't the case."

Another Warwick Farm trainer, Greg Hickman, worked at Crown Lodge before branching out on his own and said he thought the transition for the stable without Hawkes would be all smooth sailing. "The show will go on and they'll still be hard to beat whenever their horses hit the track," Hickman said. "The stable is extremely professionally run. The procedures are already in place for that to continue."

Snowden said his role when taking over as head trainer "won't differ that much to what I do now" but he knows he will have to make some adjustments.

"If anything, I will have to take a step back a bit and get more of an aerial view of what happens," he said. "I've always been very hands-on but there is more to being a trainer than that. It is not just about managing horses but also staff and there is the administration side as well. I haven't had time to let it all sink in yet but it has always been a dream of mine [to train for Ingham] so I'm very thankful I've been given the chance."

Hawkes, who will be joined by sons Wayne and Michael in his new venture, conceded that despite the records next to his name, it would not be a walk-up start to become established again under his own steam.

Michael has been running Ingham's Tenor Lodge in Brisbane, which will be closed due to its financial viability, while Wayne is in charge of Ingham's Melbourne team based at Flemington's Carbine Lodge. "Having the boys working with me will be great because anywhere we go we will have to start from scratch," Hawkes said. "We have nothing in Melbourne or in Sydney and getting stables is not an easy thing to sort out.

"It could be especially hard here in Sydney with the Pope's visit to Randwick next year stretching training facilities as it is."

Overseeing such a large team for Ingham meant Hawkes would usually sit at home on race-day to watch the action with runners in up to four states. But he said his decision to part ways with the owner would mean "I'll probably have to go back to the races".

Hawkes paid tribute to Ingham and his wife, Norma, saying: "They have been fantastic to work with. The whole family has been great to be involved with. It's just bad luck that Jack [Ingham, who died in 2003] is not with us any more."

Hawkes had little doubt that his leaving Crown Lodge would not have a massive impact on the stable, and has confidence that Snowden can match it in the premiership battle with main rival Gai Waterhouse. "At the end of the day, the fact that I'm leaving isn't a big deal," he contended. "Rest assured, there'll still be plenty of winners in the cerise [Ingham's racing silks]. Just because I'm going that is not going to stop."