By Nick Berney
Selections based on a soft track.
Race 1 – 1:15PM WINDSOR RSL PROVINCIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1300 METRES)
2. Edge Of Reward had excuses first-up at Port Macquarie 13 days ago for his new trainer Nathan Doyle. Further, he raced wide, was not suited to the pace of the race but still made a long-wide sustained run to hit the line for second. The four-year-old will have to overcome the tricky draw, but he has a string of winning ratings and is ready to improve.
A soft track is expected at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Dangers: 9. Lady Gold hit the line hard in a recent trial at Rosehill and can sprint fresh. The three-year-old is racing at her home track and is a key late-market watch. 8. Headstock was $3.5-$3 late in the trade last start at Goulburn and tried hard in defeat in a high-rating race. 5. The Winter Sun is suited over a further distance but will be running on.
How to play it: Edge Of Reward WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 2 – 1:50PM ALPHA CHEMICALS 4YO&UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
5. Kahawaty led at a strong tempo first-up at Canterbury 29 days ago and was honest in defeat. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjusting for age, class, additional factors, and the margins throughout confirmed the quality. The four-year-old is a consistent type, and second-up last prep, she produced her career peak figure. In addition, she maps to have all favours, is proven on the rain-affected ground and can rate to win.
Dangers: The John Thompson-trained 1. Baranof resumes and has trialled well. Moreover, he wasn’t extended in his latest heat and went through the line full of energy. He will need some luck from the draw but has multiple winning figures. Although 4. Bionic was well beaten in his two starts last prep; those races had time/sectional merit. 8. Rangitikei is suited over a further distance but is one for the exotics.
How to play it: Kahawaty WIN. Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 3 – 2:25PM GRANGE GROWING SOLUTIONS PTY LTD 4YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1500 METRES)
Forgiving of 8. Tambourine Man’s debut run last prep at this track where he had excuses. The gelding was heavily backed $3.5-$2.8 late in the trade, raced wide throughout in a strong tempo and nothing went right. He resumes here after two trials, and the blinkers go on for race day. Expect him to be running on hard. Each-way.
Dangers: 3. Fudai wasn’t suited first-up last prep after settling at the rear of the field in a slow tempo but ran on well. He has drawn well and is a market watch. Debutant 9. Vincenzo hit the line hard in a recent trial, and the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou trained runners are historically wound up and ready to run well fresh. Add 11. Painite to trifectas and first fours who brings a fitness edge.
How to play it: Tambourine Man E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 4 – 3:05PM SID KELLY & BRUCE THORNE MEMORIAL MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Debutante 12. Kazou has been impressive at the trials leading into this event and has shown adaptability. The Chris Waller-trained galloper is coming out of time/sectional merit heats and won her latest trial in style, clocking a slick overall time relative to the morning. The wide draw is of little concern as the 1000m start comes out of the back chute with only one turn into the final straight. In addition, she is a nice type and expect a bold showing.
Dangers: 19. Red Card, who resumed at Goulburn 27 days ago, led at a strong tempo and kicked away at the top of the straight in a high-rating race. Moreover, she looked like the winner but was gobbled up over the concluding stages by a smart one. Expect her to roll forward and give a sight. First starter 4. Global Empire has shown brilliant gate speed in its trials and has a favourable map. Add 11. I Am Real to exotics.
How to play it: Kazou WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 5 – 3:40PM CLARENDON TAVERN CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
Forget 1. Onemore Sapphire’s last start in the Coonamble Cup, where he had excuses and was a notable drifter in the market. Prior to that start, he was well-backed when winning at Port Macquarie and hit the line hard to score. The seven-year-old is proven at the distance, and the in-form Sam Clipperton rides for the first time. Each-way.
Dangers: 4. Bak Da Man brings a starting price profile edge over Onemore Sapphire and ran well at Kembla seven days ago. He is an honest type and has a definite chance. 5. Twice On Sunday brings metropolitan form lines and maps to control the pace. Expect her to give a sight. 9. Kozluca is a knockout chance and a key late-market watch.
How to play it: Onemore Sapphire E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 6 – 4:15PM JACFIN EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENTS MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
Open race and leaning towards the rock-hard fit 7. Satness who has been racing consistently this prep and brings a strong starting price profile. The gelding has been beaten by only narrow margins in similar grades this campaign, proven on the rain-affected ground and races well at this track. Each-way.
Dangers: 6. Remus receives a gear change and drops in grade. Moreover, he has a strong record at Hawkesbury for four starts, a win and two placings. 9. Singapura comes through the same race as Remus last start and will be savaging the line. Market watch 1. Caboteur who has the class and 2. Vienna Rain gets the blinkers back on.
How to play it: Satness E/W. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 – 4:50PM TURTLE NURSERY & LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
5. London wasn’t suited to the sit and sprint tempo last start and raced flat after being well backed to start a $2.50 favourite. Before that start, he won easily and savaged the line, clocking one of the fastest final 600m splits of the entire meeting in 34.44. The three-year-old is suited to the anticipated genuine tempo where he produces his best performances, and his career peak figure came at this track/distance.
Dangers: 8. Sweet Mercy resumes and brings strong form lines to this event. The filly raced well last prep against the likes of In Secret and has a solid starting price profile. She maps to have all favours and is a major player. 1. Tocomah is fit and coming off a strong performance last start, where he beat London home. 2. One Way Street will give a sight and add 3. Hey Little Sister to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: London WIN. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5:30PM WINDSOR ROTARY & PINK FINSS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
8. Ellenmac had the bias against last start and ran on well, clocking some of the fastest final 400m/200m splits of the meeting in 22.80/11.52. The mare’s sectional/ratings profile suggests she is ready to peak third-up, and although extra distance would be more suitable, the long Hawkesbury straight will give her time to wind up to hit the line. In addition, she is a real trier and drops in grade.
Dangers: 6. Hoover Lucy is 47 days between runs and had factors against first-up. She brings the strongest form lines to this event and maps to have all favours. 10. Phearson was a dominant winner breaking through for his maiden and can undoubtedly step again. 12. Persevere is a knockout chance and add 1. Stick To Your Guns to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Ellenmac WIN. Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Best Bet: Race 2 # 5 – Kahawaty
Next Best: Race 4 # 12 – Kazou
Best Value: Race 8 # 8 – Ellenmac
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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