By Brad Gray
RACE 1 – 11.25AM ST JOHNS PARK BOWLING CLUB 2YO CLARENDON STAKES (1400m)
2. Zardozi is the only last start winner in the field and it was by a dominant margin. The Kingman filly won narrowly on debut at Gosford over 1200m before putting two lengths on her rivals over this same track and trip a couple of weeks ago. The barrier is a little tricky in the context of there being no obvious leader in the field but as she proved last start, she possesses the turn of foot to overcome that. The other bonus is that she will handle any track Hawkesbury throws up on Saturday having won on a soft 5 and a heavy 9 already. The upside with 1. Quasimoto is getting out beyond 1100m for the first time. Like the way he closed off to run second in the Wellington Boot last start. There’s good depth to his form lines from last preparation too. 5. Rimbaud didn’t look comfortable in the heavy conditions in the Kindergarten Stakes last start. He showed speed to lead over 1000m on debut.
How to play it: Zardozi to win.
Racing heads to Hawkesbury on Saturday.
RACE 2 – 12PM TAB HIGHWAY HCP (1100m)
2. Dollar Magic ran second to Mogo Magic first up, one of the most impressive Highway Handicap winners we’ve seen this year, before winning at Scone second up. Dollar Magic is four weeks between runs but that appears to be by design with the daughter of Shamus Award appreciating being kept fresh. She is also versatile in terms of where she can settle in the run having won from in front and from further back. That’s significant given her tricky draw. 10. Titration is also a proven Highway performer. This gelding went down narrowly first up and has trialled well since. Will roll forward and make his own luck. 19. Sister Moon is an intriguing runner should she make the field. Keith Dryden is happy to aim up at this company on the back of a strong win at the Sapphire Coast last start, making it two from two to launch her career.
How to play it: Dollar Magic to win.
RACE 3 – 12.35PM MIDWAY HCP (1100m)
If not for a wobble down the straight 13. Shadows Of Love would have beaten Olentia last start at Hawkesbury. She lost on protest. Olentia won a G3 race 10 days later, taking the scalps of Magic Time and Opal Ridge. Shadows Of Love is flying this time back and she is no stranger to Hawkesbury, having raced at the track three times already in her five start career. She also maps nicely, with the barrier giving Brenton Avdulla options. The early market may have her too short but expecting that to correct itself come closer to jump. 7. Tidal Impact never saw daylight first up at Warwick Farm. She parked in behind the speed but didn’t get out of first gear. The four-year-old could be a sharp improver second up. 2. Miss Kojiki looks to be most explosive over 1100m at the moment. The kind draw will see her cuddled up on the fence and saved for the last shot.
How to play it: Shadows Of Love to win.
RACE 4 – 1.10PM BLAKES MARINE BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1800m)
4. Unspoken surged to the line in his first Australian run for Peter and Paul Snowden, running second to tearaway leader Luvoir. The runner up 6. Pretty Amazing, who Unspoken meets again here, since won herself, franking that form line. The lightly raced import won out to 2000m in the UK before appearing on our shores. There is a touch more depth to this BM78 than the one he contested four weeks ago at the midweeks but you’d think he can only improve off the back of that performance given he has just the one trial going into it. 13. Hometruths ran out of room in the Epona Stakes at her first Australian run. It was a much better performance than the form guide suggests. Like the way she flattened out through the line despite being beaten well over eight lengths. Was given an easy time in a trial since. 3. Biscayne Bay is ready to win. The mare has put together two fantastic runs at the midweeks.
How to play it: Unspoken to win.
RACE 5 – 1.45PM THELAWN SHED BENCHMARK 78 HCP (1100m)
2. Fire found the G1 Lightning Stakes at weight-for-age a little too hot last start but he won’t have to worry about Coolangatta or I Wish I Win back in BM78 company. The four-year-old has been back to the trials since then, with nine weeks between runs, and looked sharp. This is more his level for the time being and he is a proven fresh performer. The speed looks frantic over the 1100m and the barrier gives Jason Collett licence to play stalker. A role both horse and jockey excel at. 11. Red Card is a quick filly and she put that speed to use last campaign, winning three on the bounce. All from in front. Her trials have been sharp, as you’d expect, and she’ll take catching. Would prefer this to be 1000m first up, which might leave her vulnerable to be picked off late. 8. Mabel will be one of those looking to pounce on the leaders.
How to play it: Fire to win.
RACE 6 – 2.20PM HAWKESBURY XXXX GOLD RUSH (1100m)
3. Andermatt should have been in the finish of the G1 Galaxy last start. It was a bunchy finish and he carried just 51kg but that run highlights the purple patch of form this sprinter has hit. Prior to that he charged home over the top of Midwest to win at Rosehill. His closing splits have been exceptional at his past three starts. Like the five weeks between runs as the five-year-old has always been an explosive fresh horse. There is a stack of speed on paper which should hopefully see the field break up enough for James McDonald to weave a path clear from barrier one. It’s weather watch with 6. Juan Diva. It always is. The drier the better. Like the way this mare has trialled on two occasions ahead of her return and not too dissimilar to Andermatt, she possesses a big finish with the right set-up. She too will relish a fast run 1100m.
How to play it: Andermatt to win.
RACE 7 – 3PM BLACKTOWN WORKERS CLUB GROUP HAWKESBURY GUINEAS (1400m)
2. Kote went too fast in front in the Arrowfield Stakes last start. The wide gate forced the tactics change and it backfired with the enigmatic chestnut refusing to settle. His two runs prior to that were brilliant. On both occasions he was ridden with cover. That’ll be the challenge for Josh Parr having his first ride on Kote, to get him to drop his head in the run. 9. Razeta’s form through a deep edition of the Surround Stakes read well for the South Pacific Classic last start and she ran right up to her best to win by a space. It was on the back of a perfect Dylan Gibbons ride, with the apprentice sticking with the filly. Drawn to get the right run again. 1. The Fortune Teller is the class runner but has to cope with a drop back from a slogging win at a mile to 1400m on a drier track. Throw into the mix a wide gate too.
How to play it: Kote to win.
RACE 8 – 3.40PM PIONEER SERVICES HAWKESBURY CROWN (1300m)
18. Air To Air is dangerous if she makes the field. The six-year-old is racing out of her grade but she is no stranger to black type races and was only beaten a couple of lengths by Hope In Your Heart last campaign. She had her first run for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at the midweeks four weeks ago and although the margin was only narrow at the finish, it was an enormous win. She covered ground throughout. The mare has been back to the trials since and looked sharp. Most significantly, she jumped well to settle outside of the leader. Wish this was 1400m instead of 1. Princess Grace but the American-raced mare was excellent in her first Australian start, running third to Zapateo. That Sapphire Stakes looks a key form reference for this. She can only improve off that and again looks well placed under the conditions here given what she has already achieved.
6. Written Beauty also brings Zapateo form into this.
How to play it: Air To Air to win.
RACE 9 – 4.20PM RICHMOND CLUB HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP (1600m)
8. New Mandate looked to box on fairly first up in the Doncaster Prelude to the eye but the race turned into a sprint home. He was deceptively fast. As was the rest of the field given the lack of early pressure. That set up was never going to suit the import, who is in his second Australian preparation under Chris Waller. In his first he ran in the Five Diamonds and Ingham. He wasn’t beaten far in either. What really make you pay too attention to this five-year-old’s chances on Saturday was how well he trialled since then. 3. Floating Artist was 74 weeks between runs when fourth at Bendigo first up three weeks ago. His start prior was in Verry Elleegant’s Melbourne Cup win. The Maher and Eustace stable appear to be bullish about how the seven-year-old has returned despite the lengthy lay off. 10. Lord Ardmore perhaps needed the run at Warwick Farm last start to top him off for this third up target.
How to play it: New Mandate to win.
RACE 10 – 4.55PM CLARENDON TAVERN BENCHMARK 88 HCP (1500m)
5. Wicklow hit the line powerfully at Rosehill first up despite being horribly suited by a lack of pressure up front. That BM88 won by Tamerlane has proven to be a hot form race since. The five-year-old has been back to the trials and was given an easy time, bridging the four-week gap between runs. Wicklow also has a fantastic second up record (3:2-0-1) and handles all track conditions.
3. Spangler may have been flattered by a brilliant James McDonald ride last start and the heavy track, but he was dominant. His stablemate 7. Loch Eagle chased a lost cause but he didn’t shirk his task. He didn’t have the luxury of cutting the corner. French import
10. Pervade adds plenty of interest having his first run in Australia for Chris Waller.
How to play it: Wicklow to win.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
