3 minute read
Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting. Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 - 1:35PM HRC MOTEL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
3. Tycoon Hallie is coming off a maiden win at this track but in doing it she ran down a smart type who has won easily since. Shapes as though a mile won't be any issue second-up based on her first prep and she should be hard to hold out again.
Dangers: 2. Dark Rebel has contested Group races since he won on debut at Warwick Far in May so he can be expected to fire right back in class. Not disgraced first-up in the Ming Dynasty where he was specked in betting. Big threat. 1. Alvin The Bold measured up in city company after winning his maiden here on July 1 but hasn't raced for six weeks. Has trialled and if he does everything right he can be in the finish. 8. Sea Treasures improved on his debut effort to win comfortably as a short priced favourite at Mudgee over 1500m. On the way up, draws well and has James McDonald to ride so keep in mind.
How to play it: Tycoon Hallie E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 2 - 2:10PM TAB PROV & CTRY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
1. Three Wise Men has found a very good race to break through first-up. Placed at Rosehill two starts ago then thrown in the deep end in a Group 1 in Brisbane where he wasn't quite up to it. Fitter for a recent trial and has strong claims.
Dangers: 4. Uncle Al Pal was a shade disappointing at Gosford last time but his previous two runs were sound. Blinkers go on and no surprise to see him improve sharply. 2. What A Prince was a drifter in betting but made an even debut here behind Tycoon Hallie and will be better for it. Each-way claims. 3. Oh Golly Gosh ran a promising race on debut then spelled after failing here back in March. Wide gate an issue but nothing wrong with her latest trial and she could run into the placings at least.
How to play it: Three Wise Men WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 3 - 2:50PM SKY RACING CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1100 METRES)
6. Kallos looks poised to post his first win resuming since a Listed placing, beaten narrowly, back in February. Charged at the line under his own steam in his latest trial and, while a short price, this really does look like his race to lose.
Dangers: 11. The Poacher could be the wild card, he's looked handy in both trial wins including here on August 23. Trained locally and is the one to keep a close eye on. 10. Russian Standard had excuses first-up where he missed the start badly and was only beaten three lengths then led them up and boxed on for a close third over this course. Always shown a bit and is one of the chances. 12. With Your Blessing performed well in some strong two-year-old races earlier this year but was too bad to be true in his first-up failure here a few weeks back. Since trialled and on his best form he's a definite hope.
How to play it: Kallos WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 - 3:25PM INDEPENDENT LIQUOR GROUP PLATE (1100 METRES)
12. Your Too Good showed promise in her first prep earlier this year, narrowly beaten by De An Andretti here on debut then a solid third at Warwick Farm. Her trials have been sound and she's drawn ideally. Hard to see her no featuring in the finish. Read trainer Mark Newnham's comments here.
Dangers: 9. Naples was only fair first-up but attacked the line nicely here three weeks ago to finish a close second. Slightly better gate this time, if she runs up to that effort she's a good chance. 10. Riduna has a wide gate but was only beaten two lengths in the same race as Your Too Good here in April and her two trials have been good. Likely she'll press forward and is one to keep an eye on. 13. Bella Rouge was well in the market at her only start at Warwick Farm, finishing just behind Your Too Good, and she trialled quite nicely at Rosehill two weeks ago. Will need a bit of luck but is worth including.
How to play it: Your Too Good WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 5 - 4:05PM XXXX GOLD BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
8. Marshall Dillon is a very interesting runner resuming since making a mess of a maiden field at Grafton back in February. His two trials in the state's north have been excellent and he wouldn't be here if he wasn't impressing the stable. Go well.
Dangers: 4. Coco Cuber hasn't been far away of late and wasn't really in the race at Kensington last start after drawing wide. Find this easier and if he's going to win a race this prep he has a good chance here. 5. Gidgee Guy is racing very well of late without winning and is an each-way chance again. He hit the line nicely at Gosford last start and has placed in three of four starts at this track. 6. Bullet Rider is now with Mark Newnham and hasn't raced since winning a maiden in January. Trialled okay behind Swift Witness a month ago, he's another to keep an eye on.
How to play it: Marshall Dillon WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 6 - 4:40PM LANDER TOYOTA BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
5. Sunborn was quite dominant winning here two starts back then a game effort at Kensington up in class to hold third. Back home, drawn a lot better this time and racing in great form. Hard to go past.
Dangers: 1. Armatree chased Sunborn home two starts back and meets her better at the weights. No match at Kensington behind Brookspire in a strong race last time and looms as the major threat again here. 13. Stellar Performer improved with each run last prep culminating in a strong finishing win over a mile at this track in February. Will be better for the run but fresh at 1400nm she has the chance to catch the eye. 12. Dalchini is eligible for a maiden but there was merit in her debut third at Wyong behind what looks a smart one in Arthur Francis. Drawn nicely and wouldn't shock if she measures up.
How to play it: Sunborn WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 7 - 5:15PM LIVING TURF BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
8. Kypreos is close to a win and did a very good job chasing when third at Gosford in a race where the winner strung them right out but he was still strong at the finish. Much easier assignment here and should take beating.
Dangers: 4. Shadow Girl should be an improver on an even performance when resuming at Newcastle. Beaten 2.5 lengths and stepping to 1800m is much more to her liking. Might need this run before she's ready to win but she's worth entertaining. 13. Timely Shadow is down in class after a fair effort at Kensington last week but she was close up at her first two runs back so with a soft draw in a winnable race she's an each-way chance. 2. Command King scrambled home three starts ago then not disgraced behind Off Shaw at Kensington. Forgive last run on a heavy track and if he has any luck he's capable of featuring.
How to play it: Kypreos WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.
