By Neil Evans
The early market suggests it’s the strongest and widest Summer Provincial Series Final yet, but two rival Novacastrians are tracking to fight out the finish.
The mile showdown for provincial gallopers at Thursday’s feature Hawkesbury meeting could see several runners jump under $10, yet nothing shorter than $4, underlining just how many in the 15-strong field can win the race.
Thursday’s Summer Provincial Series Final at Hawkesbury is wide open.Credit:Getty
Plenty of horses are on a campaign peak just 10 days out from Xmas, with four last-start winners, three from recent qualifying heats.
All being equal, big-striding Wyong-based grey and 1600m specialist Bethencourt looms as the quality benchmark behind his dominant heat win at Gosford 26 days ago, and he’s been kept ticking over nicely via a metropolitan trial win.
But rising to 60.5kg from a wide draw is a big ask in a capacity field, and he threatens to go around under the odds.
Yet part of a strong Newcastle invasion, two runners drawn right alongside have big claims.
Consistent mare Galaxy Belle in the Kris Lees stable has a near 30 percent winning strike rate from 23 starts, and lines up off a dominant heat win at home where she charged late from midfield.
That was a timely confidence boost after two runs in tougher city grade where she finished at the back both times, and significantly heat-winning jockey Aaron Bullock retained the ride.
Mounting his own bid for the provincial title is Jason Deamer-trained six-year-old Awesome Lad who swept past a field of four in his heat win before disappointing in the Benchmark 94 Mudgee Cup 13 days ago.
Back in late October, Awesome Lad went down narrowly in the feature Four Pillars (1500m) at Rosehill, and given he has won both previous starts at Hawkesbury, connections will be confident he can bounce straight back into the winner’s stall.
The best local hopes will seemingly come from the Brad Widdup-trained pair of consistent heat-winning mare Showtime Lady, and heat runner-up Sonic Tycoon who draws the fence, and will race without blinkers for the first time.
Kenbla’s leading chance could well be improving mare and last start home heat winner Burning Need from the Ross McConville yard, while long-shot five-year-old Made By Khan is the only Gosford-trained runner in the race.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
