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By Ray Hickson

Dylan Gibbons doesn’t want to spoil Hawkesbury Race Club’s party but says a bit of rain would enhance his chances of claiming at least one of the Group 3 features on Saturday.

Dylan Gibbons (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Among his mounts the star jockey rides superior wet tracker Willinga Beast in the $250,000 Pioneer Services Hawkesbury Crown (1400m), Konasana coming off a heavy track win in the $250,000 Workers Club Group Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) and Berkshire Shadow in the $250,000 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

While the barrier gods have played against him with that trio Gibbons said any rain, with some forecast up to race day, might even the playing field and even swing things in his favour - particularly when it comes to Willinga Beast.

“If it’s wet a few of my rides look pretty good,’’ Gibbons said.

“Willinga Beast has only won the one race but she’s raced in some high quality races, she’s a valuable mare for connections and it’d be good for them if she can win a race at black type level.”

The Kris Lees trained mare, $8 with TAB on Thursday, won on debut on a heavy track and while she's been winless in 15 starts since she has recorded three Group 2 placings on heavy ground.

She looked set to be a major hope in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final when she was beaten 2.5 lengths in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes a week before the $1 million feature.

But when it came to the Final, everywhere jockey Tim Clark looked for a run one didn’t eventuate and she was a case of what might have been as she finished 3.5 lengths off the winner Territory Express.

Gibbons ride the four-year-old in the TJ and said she’s going well enough to post a breakthrough win if he can get some luck from a wide gate.

“She surprised us all (in the TJ), she smoked up the rise and when she was letting down everyone was letting down just as well as her but she did a very good job to hold her own,’’ he said.

“You could say she had two trials in a row. She would have been there (in the Provincial-Midway Final) but it puts her in good stead for Saturday.

“She can be a bit casual away and needs a bit of luck to get a spot from the alley.

“You’d think she would be in the running line somewhere and if it’s wet it brings her right into the race.”

Ciaron Maher’s import Berkshire Shadow caught Gibbons’ eye when he watched the replay of the Doncaster Mile and is interested to see what he can produce in the Cup from his outside barrier.

The gelding ran 14th behind Celestial Legend and certainly wasn’t concerned by the heavy track on the day.

“I think it was a bit of a hidden run and he had a bit of a checkered passage so I think there’s more in store,’’ Gibbons said.

“He’s well credentialled so if he can find any of his overseas form he could really show up in a field like that.”

Chilli Filly has come up with an inside alley for her return in the Clarendon Tavern Handicap (1100m) and whether that’s a help for hindrance remains to be seen.

Willinga Beast's run in the Provincial-Midway FinalVroom’s first-up win last preparation at Canterbury

Both her wins have come on soft ground and while Gibbons hasn’t ridden her this preparation he said all reports are she’s in good order.

“I think she’s come back well, I haven’t sat on her a hell of a lot but I rode her plenty last prep,’’ he said.

“With no weight on her back and a nice draw, it might not be a great draw on the day but it’s still a help, hopefully we can see her bounce back to her form of last prep.

“She’s a big girl and she will appreciate any sting out of the track.”

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