Top five tips for racing at Caulfield and Hawkesbury
THE Hawkesbury standalone meeting is one of our favourite times of the year to have a punt and the fields haven’t disappointed us.
Punters will have plenty of chances to find value in races such as the Hawkesbury Cup and the Hawkesbury Guineas, but all nine races on the card are worth betting on.
Quality racing from Caulfield and Eagle Farm makes this Saturday a punting feast and we’ve found five of the best tips with form and updated odds.
We start with a short-priced favourite in the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury, which should get the ball on rolling on a cracking Saturday of racing.
Serena Bay – Hawkesbury Race 2
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott line up the talented filly which has looked above average in five career starts to date.
The two-year-old by Sebring won its first two starts, which included a win in the Golden Gift at Rosehill, before running fourth in the Inglis Nursery behind She Will Reign.
That form has been well and truly franked and the extreme heavy track didn’t suit. The same can be said for its last start placing in the Percy Sykes, which came on a heavy track, and the improved conditions at Hawkesbury will help.
It has plenty of natural speed and we’re expecting jockey Blake Shinn to push it forward and set the pace. The rise in distance to 1300m is the only worry, but there is a lack of exposed metropolitan form among its opposition and the $1.90 at Sportsbet.com.au looks spot on the mark.
Mr Sneaky – Caulfield Race 3
This won’t be an easy task for Mr Sneaky, but the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained runner has plenty of ability and race fitness on its side.
The underrated three-year-old scored a top class win at Flemington last start where it defeated Theanswermyfriend by a nose and dropping back in distance would be the only concern for this.
Its form prior included a couple of good finishes in this grade where it was running on well over the sprinting distances. Drawing barrier six is ideal and it gets a weight advantage over many of the other well-favoured types in the race.
Due to the distance decrease it will likely settle closer to the pace, but that’s not a negative and Dwayne Dunn should be able to get it firing at the top of the straight before powering away from the field.
It opened at $2.40 and has drifted to $2.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Doubt I’m Dreaming – Caulfield Race 5
Punters that took the $13 on debut thought they were dreaming when Doubt I’m Dreaming scored an easy win at Moonee Valley.
The odds aren’t quite as juicy as they were when it won the St Albans Stakes by 2.75 lengths, but punters are having no problem dipping into the $1.70 on offer at CrownBet.com.au.
The talented two-year-old couldn’t have been more impressive when it settled back at The Valley before launching around the outside to quickly put multiple lengths into the quality field.
It’s facing some nice types in this and there’s plenty of unknowns, but Doubt I’m Dreaming looks to have a bright future and it should get a great run from barrier five.
It’s another short-priced favourite that we’re tipping, but we’re predicting many punters to feature it in their multi-bets.
Spectroscope – Hawkesbury Race 8
Punters are getting $5.50 at Sportsbet for an international type which wasn’t suited by conditions in the 2017 Doncaster Mile.
Spectroscope is a former European runner which won its first two Australian starts and it won in style. The four-year-old won the Doncaster Prelude with a stylish finish and despite taking on inferior opposition to what it faces here, it beat some nice types home in the Doncaster on a track that didn’t suit.
It has a good record on a dry surface and it has a better turn-of-foot than most thoroughbreds in this race. The only other runner at single figure odds is Fabrizio and that’s coming off a disappointing 12th at Randwick last start.
Everything points towards a strong performance for Spectroscope and it only needs to cope with a change of environment to take full advantage here.
Widgee Turf – Caulfield Race 6
An even betting field has been presented for the Next Payments 3YO Handicap and Widgee Turf is a solid winning chance.
The Patrick Payne-trained three-year-old hasn’t had the best of luck at its last three runs, where it finished second in all three, but its luck could change here.
It finished off well behind Fuhryk in the VOBIS Gold Carat at Moonee Valley three starts back before rattling home behind Oak Door and Knowable since. It has been given a freshen up for this and it should be able to find clear running room from barrier three.
It won its only start on a rain-affected track and conditions look ideal for this Saturday’s run.
$5.50 at Bet365.com is a good value price for a talented thoroughbred.