Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail true

5. West Of Swindon is a very promising colt by a boom sprint sire resuming with a gear change for the Ciaron Maher stable, having been scratched from the opener at Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here. Hasn’t started since being well beaten as a two-year-old in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, but looked good through the line in the second of two lead-up trials. 3. Writego is lightly raced with plenty of ability, and significantly pulled up lame after dropping out from the front at Canterbury in a strong Super Maiden. Can bounce back hard here. 4. Sam The Rocket is a big market watch on debut for the Michael Freedman stable behind two handy trials. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: West Of Swindon to win

1. Ridgeback is a locally-trained and emerging four-year-old primed to strike at just his second start in what is a tricky and open race. Held on okay when debuting behind a domiannt winner at Kembla, and fitter now on another wet track, he’s better placed over a furlong further parking just off the speed. 4. Autumn Heir is fit and honest finishing just behind the place-getters in his last three, and gear changes are a key pointer. 2. Headstream is an improver trained on the course, and can run into the minor money second-up at good odds also with significant gear changes in play. The market will tell a story with resuming 8. Mikki Vain who has been fitted to run this trip out fresh. 5. Jade Sunset who was luckless on debut at Wyong is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Ridgeback to win

5. Ruination looks a smart colt in the making, and another one by Wootton Bassett stepping out for the first time for the Michael Freedman stable in a race likely to be dominated by the new ones. Has been given three progressive trials, and was strong through the line in winning the most recent on a Heavy 9 rating, circling from the 600m under a good hold and well off the fence. 10. Rajwa, a talented stablemate of the top selection by prolific I Am Invincible, is also on debut behind two eye-catching trials, and the leading jockey takes the ride. 8. Fireball Miss is a rival first starter by top class sprinter Bivouac from the Maher camp starting behind a heavy track trial. 6. Curie, a first starter by Anders in the Bjorn Baker stable who has trialled well but drawn wide, and 11. Wangi Wangi, a debutant filly by Exceel And Excel in the Waterhouse-Bott stable; can both add value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Ruination to win

13. Enviable, a filly by UK superstar Frankel, is well placed to strike second-up at only her third start in what is an open but weakened maiden after a couple of the better fancies were preferred at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Did her best work late when resuming at Warwick Farm after being shuffled well back early, but more comfortable on this bigger track over a furlong further. Draws to find cover, bred to thrive in the going, and also scratched from Warwick Farm to be saved for this. 1. Bendrodt returns for the leading trainer-jockey combination off two trials from a wide draw, although that might be some advantage if the track drops well into heavy range. 11. Valedictorian who wasn’t beaten far first-up at Kembla, and lightly raced 12. Dundeel Flyer resuming for her first run since autumn; are both knockout chances.

How to play it: Enviable to win

3. Jacob’s Ladder is a lightly raced four-year-old who can return for a second prep with a bang. Hit the line hard into a place when on debut at Warwick Farm before landing this maiden at Canberra as a hot favourite, then tackling metro CL1 company in Qld. Prepared with two trials, finding the line strongly in the latest on a Heavy 9. 2. Clancy drove home late to score on debut at Warwick Farm despite drifting in betting. Finished in front of the top selection from the previous race that day, and another one bred to relish these conditions with an important 3kg claim. 7. Leading Impact is a home track three-year-old reloading 25 days after a tough all-the-way country maiden win in heavy going. 10. Balmain Darling was also impressive on debut, surging home to win a Super Maiden at Newcastle. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Jacob’s Ladder to win

7. Rajnish is a smart country-based six-year-old who can make it three wins from his last four on his preferred heavy ground, having by-passed a stronger race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Twice finished too well from off the speed at Tamworth before doing his best work late from the back at Canterbury in deeper grade. Up in weight, but that run augurs well for this lineup, and he’s bursting for the longer trip at this stage of the prep. Way over the odds. 5. Clubman is a progressive five-year-old who found the line well resuming off a five month break at Kembla. Bolted in second-up last prep, and has a clear liking for wet ground. 9. Luskaire is banging on the door fourth-up for a leading city stable having run home into a place in his last couple. 14. Shanoni despite being the only maiden in the field is also tracking nicely to strike third-up for the Waller yard over a suitably longer journey. 1. Dr Evil is a hard fit wet tracker who ran home well against similar opposition 12 days ago. Can figure in the minor money despite drawing wide.

How to play it: Rajnish to win

7. Etna Rosso is a tough and consistent Waller-trained stayer well placed resuming at big odds in the Listed mile feature. Hit the line from midfield to beat all bar the winner in three consecutive outings up to the Group 2 Brisbane Cup over two miles last campaign, and he normally comes to hand early in the prep. Gets in only 1kg over the limit weight, and doubt the wide draw will be any disadvantage by this stage of the meeting. Big watch on high class stablemate 3. River Of Stars, a sparingly raced & imported mare who resumes over a middle distance for only her third Australian start. Went close to winning a Group 1 in Europe late last year before heading Down Under. Dropped out after leading first-up in the Group 1 Tancred in autumn before a much improved run when fitter, beaten just over three lengths in the Group 1 Sydney Cup. Given two trials up to 1200m, and will be strong late. 4. Estadio Mestalla is very honest, and bursting to win again deep in to the prep. Led all the way at huge odds to claim a Listed Saturday feature before two fair efforts from just off the speed in similar company. Not convinced he’s comfortable, though, in this testing ground. 6. Coco Sun is a smart Victorian mare freshened after finishing down the track in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in late June when resuming off a break. 8. Valiant King, a progressive stablemate of the top selection resuming off two trials, 12. Aberlour a month between runs via a dominant trial win; and 13. Hasty Honey a locally-trained mare who has won two of her last three; are all capable of running into the money.

How to play it: Etna Rosso each way

1. Hulu comes to the city under a very big weight, but she’s never raced better having won two of her last three up to BM 84 country level. Finds a thin race for this grade after two of the clear fancied runners were both preferred at Warwick Farm, and the heavier the surface the better she goes. 9. Mamushka is a lightly raced and talented mare resuming off two progressive trials. 11. Socrazyinlove is also first-up behind two trials; while 2. Dimitrov third-up heads the rest.

How to play it: Hulu to win

BEST BETS:
R5 3. JACOB’S LADDER
R8 1. HULU

BEST VALUE:
R4 13. ENVIABLE

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting