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By John Curtis

No matter the weather, Steve O’Halloran will bounce out of bed in the morning with a spring in his step.

The experienced Hawkesbury horseman for the first time in his training career will saddle four runners at the same meeting - and at his home track to boot.

Buoyed by a move earlier in the year to a larger stabling set-up, O’Halloran now can accommodate 35 horses (nearly double his previous number) and currently has 29 in work.

His four representatives on Thursday are Little Rascal (St Johns Park Bowling Club Midway Maiden Plate, 1200m-$26 on TAB), Aliza (Fowler Civil Contracting Maiden Plate, 1000m-$51), Benamera (Blakes Marine Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1100m-$23) and Nymphadora (Irresistible Pools & Spas Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1300m-$10).

Benamera (Koby Jennings) parades at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

O’Halloran, with six winners so far this season, needs one more to equal his previous two seasons’ number.

He has opted to take blinkers off both Benamera (Chad Lever) who is resuming, and Nymphadora (Mitchell Bell) who drops back from Saturday city class to provincial grade.

“Benamera (a Cosmic Force three-year-old) went out a winner, breaking through at Bathurst over 1400m in late January,” O’Halloran said.

“As he is kicking off at 1100m, I felt it best to take the blinkers off to let him find his feet.

“I’m very happy with him. He trialled really well at home over 1000m on June 10 when third to two of Brad Widdup’s good horses Phearson (dual Group 3 winner) and High Dandy.

“Nymphadora was placed at both Hawkesbury and Kembla Grange before going to town for a Saturday Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 14.

“She often seems to be a horse where nothing goes right in a race, but that was definitely a forgive run last time.

“Nymphadora never got on the track, and was the widest runner making the home turn.

“Unfortunately, she has drawn the outside barrier tomorrow, but Mitchell (Bell) is my most successful rider and I’m sure he will give her the best possible run.”

O’Halloran has one two-year-old Little Rascal (Brock Ryan) ready to begin his career and another (Aliza, Jay Ford) lining up for her second start and first from a break.

“Little Rascal (by Yes Yes Yes) is well named as he was a little rascal before being gelded,” O’Halloran said.

“He gives the impression he wants ground and eventually will manage 1600m, but this is a good starting point at home and will be good education for him.

“Aliza (by Prague) was kicked behind the gates when she debuted at Bathurst in the Gold Nugget (1100m) on ANZAC Day, but was still declared a starter.

“I stopped with her immediately, and she had a good break with Blundell Bloodstock at their Paringa Stud in the Hunter Valley.

“Aliza has come back well and won an 800m trial at home earlier in the month without being pushed out. She will have a tongue tie on going back to the races tomorrow.”

This isn’t the first occasion O’Halloran has had four runners the same day – but they were at separate meetings at Wyong and Goulburn on November 11 in 2023 with excellent results.

Jaex won and Razella ran second at Wyong and Feel The Magic won and Irradiance also ran second at Goulburn.

Racecourse manager Digby Nuthall this morning posted a Good 4 rating for the meeting which begins at 12.50pm. The rail is 3m out from the 1100m to 450m and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

This is Hawkesbury’s third last meeting of the season with only July 3 and 20 remaining, and the current premiership tables are:

TRAINERS
B. Widdup 12
A. & R. Archibald 12
G. Ryan & S. Alexiou 9
J. Thompson 9
C. Waller 9
J. Cummings 8
J. O’Shea & T. Charlton 7

JOCKEYS
Zac Lloyd 16
J. Ford 10
T. Schiller 9
K. McEvoy 7
J. Collett 7
T. Clark 7
C. Lever 7
Zac Wadick (a) 7
Andrew Adkins 7

APPRENTICES
Zac Lloyd 8
Zac Wadick 7
B. Nock 6
A. Roper 4
M. Bourke 4
M. Fitzgerald 3
O. Chambers 3

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here