Hawkesbury racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 22
| What | Hawkesbury Cup Day |
| Where | Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 |
| When | Saturday, April 22, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:25am AEST |
Hawkesbury Race Club has served up a terrific 10-race program for punters to sink their teeth into this Saturday. A trio of Group 3 features headline this massive card with the Hawkesbury Guineas, Crown and Cup all worth $200,000 in prizemoney. The track is currently listed as a Soft 5 and should stay that way with a forecast of rain on Thursday with a slight chance of rain on race-day. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, with racing set to get underway at 11:25pm AEST.
Hawkesbury Guineas Top Tip: Hawaii Five Oh
Hawaii Five Oh gets the nod in the three-year-old feature as he looks ready to peak third-up in the preparation. He’s been consistent with two seconds to his name since his resumption, the first of which was a runner-up effort behind the eventual Group 1 Australian Derby winner Major Beel on February 4. He snuck up the inside running rail on that occasion and just missed by a half-length. He was then cast wide in his second-up effort to miss in a photo finish behind Watch The Clock at Randwick-Kensington on March 22. He’s had excuses as to why he hasn’t gone on with the job, but we think this is a great opportunity for this son of I Am Invincible to notch up his second career win. Nash Rawiller takes the reins and from barrier four should go close to finding the one-one position throughout the 1400m journey. This looks ideal placement from the Waterhouse & Bott yard, and a win on Saturday would be reward for consistency.
Hawkesbury Guineas
Race 7 – 
#7 Hawaii Five Oh (4)
3yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Nash Rawiller (56kg)
Hawkesbury Crown Top Tip: Bring The Ransom
The Hawkesbury Crown for the fillies and mares has form-lines converging from all the Group 1 features. Only one of these girls comes from the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes on April 8, and that’s Bring The Ransom. She found herself in the deep end based off her exposed form, making her way into Group 1 company over 1600m. She battled on gamely to finish mid-field; however, you get the feeling it was something of a fitness run for this race more than anything else. The 1300m looks ideal for this daughter of Sebring, and with impressive runs this campaign – namely behind Roots in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes – Bring The Ransom looks set for a peak performance on Saturday. She hasn’t had any luck at the barriers either, and a change of fortune drawing barrier two should see her sit much closer in the run. If Tyler Schiller can stalk the speed and produce this six-year-old late, Bring The Ransom is a terrific each-way bet on the Hawkesbury program.
Hawkesbury Crown
Race 8 – 
#5 Bring The Ransom (2)
6yo Mare | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Tyler Schiller (58kg)
Hawkesbury Cup Top Tip: New Mandate
We found it so hard to split New Mandate and Floating Artist as the on-top selection in this year’s Hawkesbury Cup, but we landed with the former at the price. New Mandate is set to have his fourth Australian start and his second of this campaign, after a bold effort in the Doncaster Prelude on March 25. He was wide throughout and never in contention there, and has since been back to the trials. You won’t see a horse more eye-catching at the jump-outs than New Mandate; he got back and powered to the line under zero riding from James McDonald, who elects to maintain the ride on Saturday. He’s an imposing type and looks ready to do something, with all signs suggesting he’s got a winning effort in his second Australian preparation. He’s drawn a reasonable gate to find some cover in this big field, and with some luck, New Mandate is going to take some beating. Floating Artist is the main danger, so if you want some more confidence on the race, we suggest backing both to seek a result.
Hawkesbury Cup
Race 9 – 
#8 New Mandate (9)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (56kg)
Best Bet at Hawkesbury: Estadio Mestalla
We’ll have to wait for the final race on the Hawkesbury card for our best bet, but we’re confident it’ll be worth the wait. Estadio Mestalla makes his return from a 105-day spell, and after a strong initial Australian campaign, we only expect him to get better this preparation. He’s got an unblemished record when first-up with two starts for two wins, and after two barrier trials suggesting he’s primed for first-up success, we think he can replicate his feat from November 16. His debut win in Australia caught everyone’s attention, and he went on to win again and found the minor money on another occasion to make a strong impression for punters, starting favourite in all his four starts. He’ll be starting favourite again here and it’s easy to see why. Joao Moreira gets the steer this time and Estadio Mestalla will be getting back from barrier three; however, with just 54.5kg on his back for the rise in grade from last preparation, he looks beautifully placed by Chris Waller to secure his fourth career win.
Best Bet
Race 10 – 
#12 Estadio Mestalla (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Joao Moreira (54.5kg)
Next Best at Hawkesbury: Fire
Although Fire finished his latest campaign a long way off Coolangatta in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes, this looks a much more manageable task for this gelding by Fastnet Rock. He’s first-up after a 63-day letup and his form previous to that much tougher task reads nicely for BM78 grade, running into the likes of Fox Fighter and Chain Of Lightning, both of whom find themselves running consistently in Stakes races. We think the same will be said of Fire after this weekend; he oozes quality but just hasn’t put it all together yet. His latest barrier trial was sensational when hard held to score at Rosehill, leading them up before bolting clear. Jason Collett will have a choice to either lead or get cover, and we’ll leave it up to him to dictate terms. Regardless of what he elects to do, Fire should be right in the finish in this race – particularly if the Hawkes team has greater aspirations for him moving forward.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#2 Fire (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jason Collett (59kg)
Best Value at Hawkesbury: A Very Fine Red
The Hawkesbury Gold Rush is a Listed race for the sprinters, and we think A Very Fine Red can get up in a very competitive race. She kicked off her campaign down the Flemington straight behind Kallos on March 25 and powered to the line to find third position. The 1000m was simply too short for this Deep Field mare, who will appreciate the step up to 1100m this weekend. Her pattern isn’t favourable by any stretch – she is likely to be towards the rear of the field – but with plenty of speed in this race, we’re confident it’s going to set up nicely for a backmarker. A Very Fine Red has an excellent turn-of-foot, and if she’s able to get the revs up turning for home, she’ll give each-way followers something to cheer about bounding to the line.
Best Value
Race 6 – 
#10 A Very Fine Red (11)
4yo Mare | T: Mark Newnham | Tyler Schiller (53kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Hawkesbury races
Hawkesbury quadrella selections
Saturday, April 22, 2023
- 1-3-7-9-12
- 1-2-5-10-12
- 3-4-7-8
- 3-5-7-10-12
Investment: $500 for 100%