Tom Haylock’s Hawkesbury tips

Best Bet: Race 7 No.3 Ellsberg

Best Value: Race 8 No.2 Archedemus

Quaddie

Leg 1: 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11,12

Leg 2: 3,10

Leg 3: 1,2,3,6,7

Leg 4: 1,4,6,7,8,9

Race 1 – 11:50AM ST JOHNS PARK BOWLING CLUB 2YO CLARENDON STAKES (1400 METRES)

Small field to kick off the day for this 2YO Handicap. GLENEAGLES and ASLAV are both coming off Hawkesbury wins at 1000m and 1100m respectively. The jump to 1400m will be a big one for both of them but the way they both finished off their races in winning suggest they have the ability to be right in the thick of things. GLENEAGLES has some good form lines and although it was only 1000m, he still managed to run the quickest last 8, 6, 4 and 200m of the day in winning fresh. If he runs out a strong 1400m I think he wins and at the odds, I’m happy to take that risk. HOOVER LUCY the clear leader. She gets Tim Clark on and she could be the one left in front and go okay. 

1. GLENEAGLES

2. ASLAV

4. HOOVER LUCY

5. CARARTIE

Race 2 – 12:25PM BLAKES MARINE BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

Open race this. LUVOIR went around a crazy price first-up and won well. He’s won 4 of his last 7, including at this track and distance back in September. He’s drawn well, can improve here again second up and maps to be up on speed. Happy to be with him. RUBY TUESDAY has to be in the mix coming off a recent track and distance win here two weeks ago where she led throughout. Tim Clark will be positive on her if she jumps with them and if that occurs she has to be in the mix. STEELY gets a positive jockey change and looks suited third up. KIRWAN’S LANE off a solid trial win next.

6. LUVOIR

10. RUBY TUESDAY

9. STEELY

1. KIRWAN’S LANE

Race 3 – 1:00PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

GOLDEN GORGE hasn’t won for over a year but what he did in the Wagga Town Plate Prelude last start suggests he’ll relish the 1400m and be hard to beat. He’s been well found in betting through the week and looks a major player but not sure the price is overly appealing given his winless streak. CHARLTON PARK returned off a 22 week break last start and won emphatically. Her form prior to that left a bit to be desired but her return effort can’t be ignored. Similar story with TIPPING POINT who only comes off an Orange Maiden win, but she did come from last and looks stylish in winning. She has upside. SOOROOJ could well be the best horse in this race and gets Tim Clark on here. She looks ready to peak in what is a weak Highway. THE DEEPEST SECRET has a good SP profile and can run a good race from barrier 1. 

1. GOLDEN GORGE

12. CHARLTON PARK

5. SUROOJ

9. TIPPING POINT

Race 4 – 1:35PM LIVING TURF BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

The favourite here YANGTZE RAPIDS is an extremely hard horse to assess. He has a few key positives (off a win where he showed speed and led, up in distance, and down sharply in weight), but also a couple of significant negatives (McDonald off, gifted the race last start and was a seven start maiden prior). He’s never been one of mine and don’t really want to be with him today but am wary. Might lean to BROWN THOMAS off a dominant win last time and he can go on with it. LUNCIES can improve up to this distance.

7. BROWN THOMAS

12. YANGTZE RAPIDS

1. LANCIES

5. SAVOURY

Race 5 – 2:10PM KILLAHY EQUINE HAWKESBURY CROWN (1300 METRES)

ATHIRI is still a horse on the way up and she looks a major player. She can get map favours from her low draw and find a positive position in running which will suit. One trial leading in over the 1000m was sharp. SWEET DEAL really improved last start when ridden cold. A repeat of that run would see her figure here. She’s drawn perfectly to find cover, and she reunites with Rawiller who has a good affinity with her. Winner at the track at her only attempt here. AIR TO AIR and JEN RULES were also fantastic from the back. The three of them ran the fastest last 600s of the day. AIR TO AIR commands respect but she needs to utilize a low draw and get luck. WANDABAA flying but gee she needs a win after 8 top 4 finishes in a row without breaking through.

5. ATHIRI

12. AIR TO AIR

2. SWEET DEAL

8. WANDABAA

Race 6 – 2:45PM HAWKESBURY XXXX GOLD RUSH (1100 METRES)

Big field and arguably the race of the day. Plenty of speed engaged here and it might set it up for a couple in behind to finish over the top. VARDA looks suited first up. She’s a very good mare on her day, flies fresh and looks a major player. SPECIAL REWARD also has a good first-up record and can find a nice position in race here. INANUP another that can charge late.

6. VARDA

1. SPECIAL MISSILE

10. INANUP

3. ADELONG

Race 7 – 3:25PM BLACKTOWN WORKERS CLUB GROUP HAWKESBURY GUINEAS (1400 METRES)

The Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas. Speed looks decent here with ONCHAO, CALGARY QUEEN and ELLSBERG all having good early toe. Even ELIZABEEL led her last start. ELLSBERG was a dominant winner of the lead up. He is worse off at the weights but hard to see any of those behind him turning the tables. RAINBOW CONNECTION came from well back there and ran the fastest last 600m but have to love how strong ELLSBERG was through the line, running the fastest last 200m of that event. ELIZABEEL brings different form and could well represent value. She’s been up for a long time now but continue to races well, coming from some strong races. She maps to get a lovely run and she’s right in this.

3. ELLSBERG

10. ELIZABEEL

5. RAINBOW CONNECTION

6. EXOBOOM

Race 8 – 4:05PM EVERGREEN TURF HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP (1600 METRES)

The Hawkesbury Gold Cup and there looks to be plenty of speed, and speed in numbers. This looks a real target race for ARCHEDEMUS third up on a quick back up. He improved significantly from his second up to third up runs last campaign, running second in a listed race over this track and distance. He then went on to win the $1m Gong in impressive fashion, highlighting his ability. A repeat of that will have him winning this. Barrier/map the main concern but backing the in form Parr in to rate him well. ROYAL CELEBRATION continues to race well. He was luckless first up and was wide/tough last time. From a perfect draw, he looks a major player. PURPLE SECTOR is third up and looks well placed. GREYSFUL GLAMOUR gets conditions to suit on a dry Hawkesbury deck but gee she’s been disappointing in 3 of her 4 runs this time in. She is becoming a bit fickle and hard to trust but she has the ability to win.

2. ARCHEDEMUS

7. ROYAL CELEBRATION

3. PURPLE SECTOR

1. GREYSFUL GLAMOUR

Race 9 – 4:45PM HAPPY 70TH EVELYN BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

GRANDE RUMORE won impressively at her local debut and can go on with it. She was off fence at Canterbury too which adds merit to that effort. Have her on top but not getting carried away at the price. MCCORMACK is a winner at Hawkesbury in the past and is 3 from 6 first-up. Recent trial was fine. OPACITY might need the run and possibly further, but he’s a nice horse on his day and thought he did enough in his trial leading in.

6. GRAND RUMORE

4. MCCORMACK

1. OPACITY

9. OCEAN EMPEROR