Michael Hawkes believes Gopana's competitiveness will stand her in good stead when she makes her first stakes appearance at Randwick on Boxing Day.The Hawkes racing team has taken a patient approach with the daughter of Galileo, but the time has come to give the mare her chance in the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m).It took a similar approach with stayer Maluckyday earlier this year which almost reaped a Melbourne Cup victory when he was runner-up to Americain."The thing with her is that she's a

Michael Hawkes believes Gopana's competitiveness will stand her in good stead when she makes her first stakes appearance at Randwick on Boxing Day.

The Hawkes racing team has taken a patient approach with the daughter of Galileo, but the time has come to give the mare her chance in the Group Three Summer Cup (2400m).

It took a similar approach with stayer Maluckyday earlier this year which almost reaped a Melbourne Cup victory when he was runner-up to Americain.

"The thing with her is that she's a real racehorse," Hawkes said of Gopana.

"She's tough, she's strong, and she's kept climbing that ladder.

"If she won on Sunday it would be the icing on the cake and I think she'll be hard to beat."

Gopana has won three of her six starts including her past two in midweek company.

Her latest effort saw her chase gamely from back in the field to defeat The Verminator by a head over 2000m at Rosehill on December 8.

Despite only tackling midweek races leading into the summer staying feature, Hawkes said this race was always in their sights.

"She obviously had to take the steps to get there but she's done that," Hawkes, who trains in partnership with his father John and brother Wayne, said.

"If she wasn't 100 per cent she wouldn't be running."

Hawkes admits Sunday's race is easily Gopana's toughest challenge to date but says there has been enough merit in her performances to indicate she is capable of holding her own against her more proven opposition.

The Summer Cup will feature most of the Listed Christmas Cup field including winner Bellagio Wynn and the placegetters Rock Kingdom and Jungle Rocket.

"This is her toughest assignment but I can't fault her," Hawkes said.

"There was a lot of merit in her win last start at Rosehill. She got a long way back and she attacked the line which is what she has just kept on doing.

"She has kept improving with every run and she has improved again, I feel."

Apprentice Josh Adams has retained the ride for the Summer Cup having partnered the mare to three wins and a second in her past four starts.

Adams almost combined with the Hawkes team for victory with Mentality in last weekend's Group Two Villiers Stakes.

The honest campaigner was denied by Dances On Waves in the 1600m feature, finishing second.

"Barriers win races," Hawkes said.

"When barrier 18 came out (for Mentality last week) I was dreading it because you're half-beaten before you start.

"In saying that he's a tough campaigner and Josh rode him 12 out of 10. He put him in the right spot from a bad gate.

"We're happy to put him on and there was no hesitation in putting him on Gopana on Sunday.

"He's got on well with her and he's riding in good form."

Adams is equal with Brenton Avdulla at the top of the Sydney apprentices' premiership with 21 wins.