Hawkesbury Cup betting, form and free tips, Saturday April 29
HAWKESBURY hosts its stand alone meeting which features the Hawkesbury Cup, Hawkesbury Guineas and the Godolphin Crown.
The quality meeting is filled with stunning fields which have held up well after the Sydney autumn carnival and races like the Hawkesbury Rush and the Clarendon Stakes will attract plenty of attention with punters.
The meeting kicks off with the Richmond Club Provincial Stayer’s and punters can get triple rewards points for every race on the Hawkesbury card this Saturday.
Race 1 – Richmond Club Provincial Stayer’s Handicap (2100m)
Lookin’ At You scored back-to-back wins in preparation for this and its most recent win came at Hawkesbury. The Cummings-trained gelding defeated a moderate field of stayers last start and it’s likely to improve from that outing. The $3 is a touch short with bookmakers, but this isn’t the best staying field.
Great Glen is the current second favourite at $4.40 and it has international form. The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has had two runs in Australia for a fourth and a fifth. It has been steadily rising up for this distance which suits and dropping down in weight to 54kg is ideal. It looks a solid chance given the run of European form.
My Giuliano hasn’t been overly impressive at its last two runs, but it has placed in two from three starts second up. The Waller-trained gelding has great form on rain-affected tracks, but with conditions improving it will likely be a good track. Best chance if rain comes.
Race 1 tip: Great Glen to win ($4.40) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 2 – Clarendon Stakes (1300m)
Serena Bay is the class horse of the field having won three from five starts. The two-year-old filly won the Golden Gift at Rosehill before running fourth behind She Will Reign in the Inglis Nursery. That form is red hot and despite rising in weight to 59kg, it has been solidly backed into $1.90.
The next best in the market is Icon Of Dubai for Peter and Paul Snowden. The son of High Chaparral finished sixth on debut at Canterbury and has since run well in a trial. It has the right owner behind it and the $5.50 suggests it should go close.
Tangled was a stylish winner last start at Wyong and it looks a nice improving type. The Snitzel colt won only at midweek level, but it’s bred to be good and there are more wins in store. Bookmakers are offering $6.50 to win and that’s a fair price.
Race 2 tip: Serena Bay to win ($1.90) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – Tab Highway Handicap (1100m)
Ruthless Agent has won half of its six career starts and it wasn’t far behind them last start. The Kurt Goldman-trained gelding hasn’t quite lifted its game during the Highway Handicap series, but it has the talent and Goldman has trained his fair share of talented sprinters. Hugh Bowman rides and is paying $4.80 to win.
I Am A Cool Kid won with style on debut and it was quickly put away. The Gayna Williams-trained gelding ran as the $1.55 favourite at Bathurst and it was never tested. This is a much harder affair, but it drops in weight to 51kg with the apprentice claim from Andrew Adkins and the $4 is a good price.
Major Sharpe is a last start winner and despite running last in a Highway Handicap in November, it could spring an upset. The five-year-old runs best on dry ground and the $17 could be worth taking as an each way quote.
Race 3 tip: I Am A Cool Kid to win ($4) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 4 – Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m)
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Felines likely needed both runs back from a spell and it won its only start on this track. The Kris Lees-trained five-year-old finished fifth behind Russian Revolution in The Galaxy and that form is great for this level of racing. It’s another plum ride for Hugh Bowman and the $4.60 will likely be snapped up by punters.
Clearly Innocent is a talented thoroughbred which didn’t show up last campaign. The Lees-trained gelding faced some tough rivals, but it under-performed in all three runs. That campaign followed a brilliant win in the Lustin Star Stakes at Scone where it defeated subsequent group one winner Music Magnate. Follow any positive betting moves.
Old North will get better with time this campaign, but there has been specking at double-figure odds. The John O’Shea-trained gelding showed its best form over 2000m when winning the Tulloch Stakes in March last year and it has won fresh up in the past. It opened at $12 and has been backed into $10 so respect.
Race 4 tip: Felines to win ($4.60) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 5 – Blakes Marine R85 Handicap (1300m)
Invinzabeel has stayed steady in the market at $7.50 following a disappointing run for seventh at Randwick last start. The Waller-trained five-year-old performs best on dry tracks so conditions should suit and it usually comes back from a poor showing. It has drawn well for this and it should feature in the placings.
Liapari scored back-to-back wins this campaign, but didn’t get close last start. The Waller-trained gelding scored a rating 90 win at Randwick two back before running sixth at Flemington last start. Going left handed didn’t help, so coming back to Hawkesbury should be a positive. Bowman rides and the $6 is a value price on offer.
Astara is a former Kiwi runner which showed plenty of ability in New Zealand. The former Logan/Gibbs-trained runner won the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie before running fifth in the 1000 Guineas behind La Bella Diosa. Kiwi form has been strong this season and this filly has plenty of pace to show.
Race 5 tip: Astara to win ($5) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 6 – 2017 Godolphin Crown (1300m)
Daysee Doom is a professional winner of five from 10 starts. The Ron Quinton-trained mare finished second in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill last start and that form will take it a long way. It has form on all tracks and it should be putting in the big bounds late here. $4.60 with bookmakers.
Money has come for Artistry which opened at $3.70 and has firmed into $3.40. The Snowden-trained five-year-old ran on well behind Secret Agenda last time out which followed back-to-back wins at Flemington and Rosehill. It’s a seven-time winner on a good track and conditions will be ideal for this. It is another cracking ride for Hugh Bowman.
Prompt Response has been supported at $9 at the bottom of the field. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly boxed on well in the James Carr Stakes at Randwick and it showed enough ability when winning the Twilight Glow Stakes to suggest it could take this out.
Race 6 tip: Artistry to win ($3.40) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Blacktown Workers Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m)
Spright has class on its side and three runs under its belt this preparation. The Garry Frazer-trained filly was making good ground last start in the Arrowfield and it looks well-suited to running at Hawkesbury. The three-year-old has remained steady in the betting at $5 and that’s a fair price for a runner of its quality.
Calanda is a three-year-old in form after winning at Canterbury last start and it has been nicely backed. The Snowden-trained gelding opened at $5 and is currently at $4.80. It won the Inglis Sprint prior to its spell last preparation and it placed on this track when running on debut. It has the speed and talent to take this out.
Good Standing is currently at $8 and represents each way value. The James Cummings-trained colt has won and placed from three fresh up starts and it will find this easier than taking on the likes of Astern, Impending and Divine Prophet. The wide draw won’t help, but it looms as a chance.
Race 7 tip: Spright to win ($5) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 8 – Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m)
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Spectroscope is a classy import which scored back-to-back wins at Rosehill before running 10th in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. The O’Shea-trained son of Medaglia D’oro didn’t handle the extreme heavy track and the drop in class will be a big bonus. $5.50 for a quality four-year-old is a great price and we’re expecting a big run.
Fabrizio loves running from in front and despite showing nothing when resuming at Randwick, it can bounce back quickly. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding is twice a winner second up and three times at this distance. It gets plenty of favours from the inside barrier and it should prove tough to beat at odds of $7.
Duca Valentinois went close to winning last start and it should build nicely off that. The O’Shea-trained gelding hasn’t won for some time which is a concern and it will have its work cut out from barrier 17, but it has talent and should be considered at each way odds of $10.
Race 8 tip: Spectroscope to win ($5) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 9 – All State Shopfitting Handicap (1500m)
Broadside is a quality gelding from New Zealand which has won twice since arriving in Australia. The five-year-old goes well in all track conditions and it would have needed the resuming run when it finished sixth at Warwick Farm. It’s a top chance at $7.50.
Ziganui ran on well in the Provincial Championships Final at Randwick last start and although it’s facing some strong metropolitan form here, it should go close. The four-year-old is a winner of four from 11 starts and Hugh Bowman is sticking with the gelding. That’s a good sign and the $8.50 is a good each way price.
So Willie brings in winning form and that should be respected. The Waller-trained gelding won at Warwick Farm last start over the talented Stampede and it could show up at odds in this. It opened at $14 and has stayed steady throughout the week.
Race 9 tip: Broadside to win ($7.50) at CrownBet.com.au