3 minute read
Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting. Selections based on a soft/good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
R1 - 12:40PM HAWKESBURY CUP DAY 4 MAY SUPER F&M MAIDEN HCP (1300 M)
Like 1. Summer Soiree who brings a strong profile relative to her rivals and has the all-important race fitness edge. The filly is ready to peak after a solid performance at Newcastle last start when running second, and she beat the rest easily. She maps to have all favours, brings the clear best last start figure and will be hard to hold out with even luck.
Dangers: 7. Outcast Girl resumes off a 152-day break and has trialled well enough. The three-year-old went to the line not extended in a recent heat at Warwick Farm. Key market watch as she can rate to win. 6. Bianco Nero comes through the same race as Summer Soiree, and she will undoubtedly be fitter from that effort and is suited up in the distance. 2. Warm Glow has been off the scene and returns after four trials.
How to play it: Summer Soiree WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 2 - 1:15PM HRC MOTEL MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
1. Royalify is ready to peak third-up, and he sets up well from an inside draw. He had excuses last start at Newcastle when checked/blocked at critical stages, but he closed off well, running solid closing splits, and all key indicators suggest the rise in trip is ideal. He returns to his home track, has a strong SP profile relative to his rivals and maps to have all favours.
Dangers: 2. Highland Eightgee is another runner suited to his home track and gets in well at the weights after the claim for Braith Nock. 3. December Sky drops back in distance, but he is a rock-hard fit and handles all conditions. 6. Himeros is 44 days between runs, but the blinkers go back on.
How to play it: Royalify WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 3 - 1:50PM TAB WE'RE ON MIDWAY MAIDEN PLATE (1400 METRES)
Keen on 2. Good Once, who finds a winnable race and he profiles well for this event. The gelding was caught out on a limb last start around the tight-turning Wyong track, and to his credit, he tried hard in defeat. Further, he was pushed even wider on the final turn but still reeled off solid closing splits relative to the day. He is coming through time/sectional merit races, the bigger track suits, and he handles all conditions. Ready to win.
Dangers: 10. Wild Flash always faced the breeze first-up at Warwick Farm 17 days ago and battled on ok. He's come in on a strong base figure; any improvement from that effort will put him in the finish. Forget 5. Gustav's last start, and he can bounce back with a significant barrier change, allowing him a much more economical run. Before that start, his run was solid at this track. Add 14. Razella, who will run a strong 1400m.
How to play it: Good Once WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 4 - 2:25PM SKY RACING CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Expecting 6. Fiddlers Green to improve sharply back at this track where he holds a strong record. The three-year-old had excuses last start at Newcastle when SPing favourite, and he ran an honest race after being checked/blocked at key stages. He is consistent type and has multiple winning figures with a positive map.
Dangers: 7. Monte Maximus' run last start at Kembla on a testing surface was much better than the form guide reads, and he ran hidden closing splits. He will appreciate getting back onto a drier surface and can be within striking distance with the smaller field suiting. 2. Osman is the only last-start winner engaged, and 4. Dimaggio will control the pace.
How to play it: Fiddlers Green WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 5 - 3:00PM XXXX GOLD F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
6. Worth Avenue is a lightly raced improver, and she has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. The filly has had two hitouts, and she went through the line well in her latest heat at Randwick over 1200m, giving her a solid fitness base. The Snowden galloper was on an upwards ratings spiral last campaign, and she should have won prior to selling. She maps to have all favours and can sprint fresh. Good each-way.
Dangers: 5. Lady Devine is now at optimal fitness, and the mare won third-up last campaign at this track. She is a consistent type, excluding her last start, where she had excuses. Local trained eight-year-old 3. The Crimson Idol was well backed last start at this track/distance, and she raced well. Further, she clocked strong closing splits and drew to have all favours again. 1. Dark Glitter brings strong formlines to this assignment, and she drops sharply in grade with the claim suiting. Add 8. Gendarmerie to trifecats and first fours.
How to play it: Worth Avenue E/W ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 6 - 3:40PM RICHMOND CLUB BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
4. Kingdom Of Logres stepped sharply in distance last start at Newcastle when only second-up, and he was honest in defeat. The gelding pressed forward from an outside gate, controlled the speed and tried hard, but his fitness gave out late. All key indicators suggest he is ready to peak, reaching his ideal distance range, and expect him to be ridden with cover. Additionally, he brings the best last-start figure, and any improvement from his last start will make him hard to beat.
Dangers: 8. Got An Inspiration comes through the same race as Kingdom Of Logres, and he ran hidden closing splits. He is another runner reaching optimal fitness and is over the odds. 10. Ever Was receives a significant barrier change, and he can settle closer to the speed. Add 2. Final Reset and 3. By Nine to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Kingdom Of Logres WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 7 - 4:20PM LANDER TOYOTA MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
Leaning towards 13. Super Zippi, who is coming out of time/sectional merit races, and she profiles well for this with a positive race setup. The filly was solid in defeat last start at Wyong when running second in a high-rating race, and the margins confirmed the quality. She had every chance but sprinted some of the meeting's fastest closing splits and will be suited back to a bigger track. In addition, she can be smothered away from the kind draw throughout transit. Each-way.
Dangers: 4. Snatchreilly was caught three-wide out on a limb throughout when resuming at Gosford, and to his credit, he never shirked his task to the line. He handles all conditions and finds a winnable race. 8. Enhance returns, and he brings strong metropolitan form lines around the likes of Prost and Gatsby's. 6. Kewell can roll forward and market watch on debutante 11. Mizella, who has trialled well enough.
How to play it: Super Zippi E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).
Race 8 - 5:00PM CLARENDON TAVERN PROVINCIAL BM 68 HCP (1100 M)
Hard to go past 2. Bojangles, who is an improving type and prior to spelling last prep, he SPed $4.50 in the Gosford Guineas (1200m), which lines up well here against his rivals. He's had the one trial leading into this following a similar pattern to last prep, where he won dominantly first-up. Further, he ran time that day and did it in style, pricking his ears on the line. He has the key asset of acceleration, and with even luck, expect him to be hard to hold out.
Dangers: 5. Oh Golly Gosh resumes at her home track and she has a strong record at Hawkesbury. Historically, she races well fresh and is a key late market watch. 4. Mr Rock It had excuses last start and receives a senior rider here. Xtra Gear is well-placed if he gets into the field.
How to play it: Bojangles WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).
