Hawkes Racing's spring team has received a boost with the arrival of Group One winner Atlante.

Top trainer Murray Baker prepared Atlante to win the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in November but wet tracks prevented the Fastnet Rock colt from showing his best form during the Sydney autumn carnival.

Atlante ran second in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes but was unplaced in three subsequent starts.

The rising four-year-old remained in Australia to spell after failing in the Group One All Aged Stakes.

John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes will oversee Atlante's spring preparation with the two-state operation providing the flexibility to run the miler in either Sydney or Melbourne.

"That gives the horse options on decent tracks - we'll leave it up to them, they're the expert," Bruce Perry, bloodstock manager for Atlante's part-owner Lib Petagna, told the NZ Racing Desk.

"He will target the good spring mile races and it's too difficult to get him back here and then get him ready because he needs good ground."

Hawkes Racing has been in tremendous form in recent months, highlighted by Mossfun's Golden Slipper victory.