3 minute read

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting. Selections based on a good track.

13. Time To Leave is interesting first-up on the back of a couple of pretty handy trials. She wasn't disgraced on debut behind a G2 winner then had excuses at Randwick on Boxing Day. She's drawn well here and no surprise if she shows up.

Dangers: 10. Seductive has had a number of trials over the last 12 months, winning a couple, and arrives here after a hitout at Randwick on August 2 over 742m. In top stable and Bowman has ridden her in her past two trials. Keep safe. 1. Aimpoint is another to keep an eye on making his debut after two synthetic trials. Any support would be significant. 3. Quinlan failed on debut down the straight at Flemington when in the market. Latest trial was the best of his two leading into this and he's not to be discounted.

How to play it: Time To Leave E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

1. The Poacher showed some promise in his first prep then only had the one start last time in for an easy maiden win. Trialled strongly with Belluci Babe before an easy second trial on the synthetic. Looks hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Acappella Sun had a good grounding last time in before going into a Listed race at Scone and handling it quite well running a close fourth behind In Secret. Easy trial winner, has the claim and should be on speed. Threat. 2. Allusionist was a shade disappointing when favourite and just missing a place at Goulburn second-up. Consistent type who has been a bit costly but perhaps a firmer track will assist. 3. Savoir Faire won like a handy horse at her debut then didn't reproduce it in three subsequent starts before a change of stable. Hard to line up trials given Eduardo won the latest of her hitouts. Likely to find this short but should be hitting the line.

How to play it: The Poacher WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

12. Sumatra is a very well bred filly whose four starts have been in Victoria. Her debut effort was very handy but didn't run up to it after that albeit she wasn't disgraced. Did it easily in her latest trial and from the good gate will get every chance.

Dangers: 1. Gigantic has placed once in four starts, that was first-up last time in, but he might be worth keeping very safe after a very impressive trial win at Randwick a couple of weeks ago. Each-way hopes. 6. Peace Officer took on stakes company in three of his four starts as a two-year-old and while he didn't place he ran a few promising races. Hasn't been tested in his trials and first time back into maiden company has to be respected. 5. Kapakiri is a full brother to Kirkeby who has trialled twice and particularly in the latest wasn't asked to do anything. Finds an inside gate and James McDonald so has to be respected.

How to play it: Sumatra WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

13. Miss Thatcher was a real eye catcher on debut at Kembla, she drew wide and went back to last before charging down the outside to be beaten two lengths. Up 300m and drawn handier, she's open to improvement and should run well.

Dangers: 5. Extreme Freedom is the logical horse to beat. Fought hard when challenged on debut on a heavy track in a solid performance. Given an easy trial leading into this last week and sure to be in the firing line. 2. Avvertimento has struck form again in his last couple albeit on heavy tracks. Yet to race on good ground so it'll be interesting to see if he can hold his form. 6. Zedly might find this a bit short of his best but he improved with racing last time in to be placed at a mile before a spell. Expect he'll get back from the wide gate and work home, and he could be placed.

How to play it: Miss Thatcher WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

12. Renosu started favourite first-up on a heavy 10 and stopped quickly after leading. Zoukerino won that race. Forget that, he clearly didn't love the wet and he's trialled very well since. Entitled to another chance.

Dangers: 1. Boston City looks very close to a win with placings at his past two starts on this track. Just nabbed in the last few strides last start, drawn well and sure to be competitive again. 10. Magic is the wild card. The $2.5 million colt was placed in the Silver Slipper and Pago Pago at his first two starts before failing in the G1 Sires'. Always out the back and not tested in his trial won by Malkovich. Draw wide so he'll go back and look to round them up. This is a maiden so he's entitled to feature. 11. Motion Legend has improved with each trial and while he was asked to win his latest at Kembla he did it quite well. Expecting him to look to be on the speed and could take running down.

How to play it: Renosu E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

5. Matlock should roll towards the front and give a good sight based on his latest effort when a close second to Regal Pom at Kembla. If he gets a nice run on pace this is no harder than last time so expecting him to be in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Good Omens ran well on a good track here three starts back, last couple have been on heavy ground including her Goulburn win a month ago. Another on pacer and well worth another chance back out of city grade. 3. Time Raid struck some form when he led over this course fourth-up and boxed on for third. Needs to repeat that effort but chance he could on another good track. 1. So Sneeky is back on top of the ground after a couple of heavy track runs including a handy second at Warwick Farm a few weeks ago. Honest type who can't be left out of the main hopes.

How to play it: Matlock WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Hard to go past 2. Cross Talk who was awesome in his all the way win in the Winter Challenge. All the form around him is strong, he does have an extra 4.5kg to carry here but you know what you get, he'll be going forward and he's the one they have to beat.

Dangers: 8. Durston was beaten six lengths by Cross Talk but he was first-up and has since added some fitness with a tickover trial. Interested to see what he can do on top of the ground and while even further will suit he's a likely improver. 4. Oscar Zulu backs up after a sound enough third behind Surefire at Rosehill last weekend. Placed both attempts at the mile and he's capable of adding to that tally. 7. Monegal is rarely too far away in these races and she wasn't disgraced in the Winter Challenge, running fifth, before a close fourth in the Coffs Harbour Cup. No surprise if she fills a placing.

How to play it: Cross Talk WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

8. The Himalayas is coming through the grades this preparation and backed up an easy first-up maiden win with a similarly strong effort over this course at the end of June. Freshened up but looks progressive and has strong claims.

Dangers: 5. Mahagoni is a big watch first-up since two promising Midway efforts on heavy track in the early autumn. While his trials aren't anything to rave about he could be a sharp improver on good track. 11. Navajo Peak is racing in good form and was just touched out as favourite at Wyong in this grade a few weeks ago. Has a wide gate to contend with but hard to leave out of the main chances. 7. Duke Of Buckingham trialled quite nicely for a first-up run and while he will relish a bit further his last win was at 1400m so he can sprint well fresh.

How to play it: The Himalayas WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.