Briasa confirmed his arrival as a top-tier sprinter on Saturday with a thrilling win in the $3 million T J Smith Stakes at Randwick, giving the Hawkes training team another Group 1 feather in their cap.

Trained by Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, the promising four-year-old earned his first Group 1 success at just his ninth start, overcoming a field stacked with Australia’s elite sprinters.

Briasa edged out Group 1 winner Overpass by a head in a gripping finish, with Headwall a further 1-1/4 lengths behind in third as part of a tightly packed field.

It was the seventh victory of Briasa’s career, which began just over a year ago in a Kembla Grange maiden. According to Michael Hawkes, the stable knew early that the gelding was special.

“I’ve just loved him from day one,” he said.

“I’m just lost for words. This is the moment that we dream of with a horse like this.

“We’ve had our ups and downs, we’re not big anymore but we’ve got quality.”

The win was redemption after Briasa’s fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy, where he stormed home from last in one of the day’s standout performances. This time, jockey Tyler Schiller had him in a better position throughout from a favourable barrier draw.

“It makes a difference when you draw a barrier and he’s probably missing one first-up but second-up it’s great to get a barrier,” Schiller said.

“Randwick is more forgiving, and he’s just a very good horse.

“The Hawkes team have maintained him perfectly, they know how to win this race, especially with a grey, I still don’t know his ceiling but he’s got oodles of talent.”

This marks the fourth T J Smith Stakes triumph for the Hawkes stable, who previously won three straight with another grey—Chautauqua—from 2015 to 2017.

Meanwhile, Newmarket Handicap winner Joliestar, sent out as the $3.30 favourite, couldn’t find clear running and finished ninth, just two lengths off the winner.