Tips and race-by-race preview for Hawkesbury on Thursday
By Neil Evans
Track good 4 and rail true.
Race 1: MAIDEN HCP (1500m)
Competitive opener, but home-tracker 2. Irish Anthem is terrific value fourth-up with winkers back on. Has been hitting the line well all prep as the distances have slowly risen, especially here three weeks ago charging home from near last to be beaten under two lengths, and the winner of that race then saluted again at the track last Saturday. Gets a 2kg weight drop, and can settle a little closer in the run from a lower draw.
There is a bumper card at Hawkesbury on Thursday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: Lightly raced filly 6. Literature Tycoon is the immediate threat at her third start from a soft trailing draw. Motored home late to miss by under a length in that same race as the top selection. Must keep safe emerging local mare 4. Shine Like It Does who led until the final strides over a mile at Wyong when coming off a four week break. Another local 5. Torie’s Rose is very fit and banging on the door after rushing home to miss narrowly here last time; while 9. Suay Mam’selle heads the rest fourth-up from the inside draw, both coming through the same form line behind Noises.
How to play it: Irish Anthem to win.
Race 2: SUPER MAIDEN HCP (1300m)
Lightly raced mare 1. Darling Downs is ready to rock first-up since autumn in only her fourth start. Was right behind the placegetters in two runs against metro opposition last prep and fitted for this with two improving trials. Drawn to get the right run just off the speed with cover.
Dangers: Big market watch on 3. Rugby who also returns via two trials after an eye-catching and closing debut at Canterbury in early winter. Include in all exotics 7. Viktor, a colt by superstar Frankel on debut for the Bjorn Baker stable, and 10. Sheriff’s Star, improving into his third start.
How to play it: Darling Downs to win.
Race 3: COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Again not much separates the leading contenders over the shorter trip, but first starter 4. Chiba looks an exciting prospect on debut for the Waterhouse-Bott yard at Randwick. Bolted in a heavy track trial before again showing natural speed over 1045m to lead a handy trial line-up, only collared in the final strides by one who was pushed out. By prolific sprint sire Exceed And Excel, and can start his career with a bang.
Dangers: Debutant four-year-old 2. Istolea Merc by Winning Rupert has shown plenty of natural cruising speed in winning two trials, running a slick final 600m in both, and draws well enough. Godolphin first starter 7. Motorbike, by Epaulette, won the second of two trials at this track in smart fashion; while 1. Generous Harry can improve second-up with a gear change after a disappointing effort at Wyong when backed from $2.30 into $2.05.
How to play it: Chiba to win.
Race 4: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
Now a weakened girls’ edition, and it shapes to be at the mercy of progressive and lightly raced Godolphin three-year-old 3. Celerity second-up. Hit the line hard into a place when resuming at Warwick Farm and was considered good enough to start her career in the autumn in black-type company. Suited in a set-weights race, and has that lovely bloodline mix being by speedster Exceed And Excel out of a mare by super tough Testa Rossa.
Dangers: Watch the betting closely on 6. Fleeting Spirit, by Per Incanto from the Ryan-Alexiou yard, having her first run behind two trials. 8. Gangsta Granny has to overcome a wide draw off a four-week freshen-up after an even debut effort on the Kensington track. Gap to the rest headed by another debutant 9. How Rude at big odds, who starts in blinkers behind two forward trials.
How to play it: Celerity to win.
Race 5: CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)
Promising four-year-old 2. Copacabana is primed third-up over a furlong further. Settled just better than midfield at Newcastle before sweeping home for an effortless win as a hot favourite a fortnight ago. From a nice cover draw, he should go on his merry way.
Dangers: Progressive stallion 1. Passima finished off well first-up in deeper company at Warwick Farm. Rises in weight, but bred to handle a sharp rise in distance, and beat a handy metro maiden field over this trip in March. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Cristal Clear reloading 18 days after a country maiden win.
How to play it: Copacabana to win.
Race 6: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (2000m)
Progressive mare 5. Fakhra can make it two straight over a little more ground. Tracked the speed before sweeping home for a dominant maiden win at Newcastle, and the second placegetter from that race then bolted in his next start in a class 1 at Canberra.
Dangers: 1. Highborn Harry is in the mix third-up over a furlong further after finishing close-up here against similar opposition, while 2. Majorian and 10. Whisker To Whisker are capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Fakhra to win.
Race 7: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m)
One of the more open battles on the program; but it shapes best for lightly raced metro mare 11. Opal Fields resuming off two trials. Had four spaced runs earlier in the year, starting with an impressive maiden win powering home from well back at Newcastle. Can settle back off the speed here before driving down the middle late.
Dangers: 2. Oryx will find this more to his liking after a string of inconsistent efforts in deeper city company, and draws to get an economical run just off the speed. Watch for sharp second-up improvement from 3. Boss down 2.5kg in weight from a softer draw. At bigger odds keep safe ex-Kiwi 9. Sunrise who didn’t do much first-up for the new provincial stable.
How to play it: Opal Fields to win.
Race 8: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)
Progressive 5. Threatening can make it two wins from his last three with blinkers being added. Was heavily backed before sweeping home from midfield to claim his maiden here before being ridden quieter and finishing off late at Kembla. This is a little tougher, but he has plenty of scope for improvement.
Dangers: Despite the big weight, 1. House Of Cards is a threat third-up from a soft trailing draw, although wouldn’t be diving into too short a price given his lack of conviction when hard in the market. That said, he easily accounted for a similar field here when first-up before only average in a tougher metro grade when backed from $3.20 into $2.70. Honest 7. Carpaccio has been in the placings all three runs this prep, and ready for the rise in trip. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Threatening to win.
BEST BETS
Race 3: (4) Chibar
Race 4: (3) Celerity
BEST VALUE
Race 6: (5) Fakhra
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au