2022 Hawkesbury Cup Day features ten talent-rich races and will be contested on Saturday, April 30th.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (7) range.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 11:20pm – Clarendon Stakes (1400m)
The Clarendon Stakes has been won by some talented two-year-olds during its existence, and there’s a case to be made for several again this year, including Basquiat.
Basquiat showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and hit the line well at Warwick Farm last month for second.
He’s been back to the trials since that performance, and he is drawn to receive a lovely run this week under James McDonald.
Race 2 – 11:55pm – Highway Handicap (1100m)
I’m Not Slew makes her return to the races in this week’s Highway Handicap, and she rates as a winning chance.
The Sooboog filly was excellent during her debut prep, finishing second on debut before recording consecutive wins at Scone and Wyong.
She’s had the benefit of a couple of trials in the lead-up to her return, and something like this doesn’t look beyond her.
Race 3 – 12:30pm – Midway Handicap (1500m)
French Bonnet won a Midway Handicap at her last appearance, and she looks capable of another at Hawkesbury this week.
The daughter of Puissance De Lune finished down the order in a Provincial Championships Qualifier when resuming, but enjoyed big improvement into her last-start win.
Fitter third-up and further out in trip, she’ll be right in the finish again.
Race 4 – 1:05pm – Blakes Marine BM78 Handicap (1800m)
Born A King can win second-up on Hawkesbury Gold Cup Day.
The Frankel gelding returned some nice efforts last time in, winning in BM72 company at Rosehill most notably and finding form around some above-average gallopers.
He clearly needed his first run back this time when fourth, beaten more than three lengths here at Hawkesbury, but his second-up record is outstanding, and the booking of James McDonald certainly doesn’t hinder his chances.
Race 5 – 1:40pm – Living Turf BM78 Handicap (1100m)
This is an excellent races, and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was one of the program’s features!
That being said, I am a big fan of Najmaty, and she is the one that I want to be with again.
Najmaty has contested black type races more often than not during her nine-start career, and she returned to the races for an easy win over 1100m at Caulfield.
She’ll take plenty of improvement into this race and is drawn to receive every chance under Tommy Berry.
Race 6 – 2:15pm – Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m)
Eleven Eleven is the one that I want to be with in this year’s Hawkesbury Gold Rush.
The Fastnet Rock gelding has been nothing short of outstanding throughout his career. He’s a three-time winner at the Magic Millions, and he’s picked off several other good races along the way.
He hasn’t been seen since defending his crown in the Magic Millions Cup in January, but he boasts a class edge over a lot of these, and his recent trial at Randwick was excellent.
Race 7 – 2:50pm – Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m)
Mr Mozart has found career-best form this time, and he’s the one to beat in the Hawkesbury Guineas.
The Team Hawkes-trained colt burst back into the winner’s stall with a dominant performance in the Group 2 Phar Laps Stakes two back, and he repeated that effort and result in open company in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude last time.
He’s a month between starts, but drops back to three-year-old grade, and he is my best bet of the day.
Race 8 – 3:30pm – Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m)
This is a strong edition of the Hawkesbury Crown and there is a case to be made for several gallopers.
She will require luck in running after drawing wide, but I thought it looked a really nice race for Jump The Broom, and she has now gained a start with the early scratching of Robodira.
Jump The Broom won each of her first four career starts, including a BM78 race at Mornington when resuming this time, and she suffered her first defeat at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
Fitter third-up, I think that she can bounce back, and we can have an each-way play at around the $14 mark.
Race 9 – 4:10pm – Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m)
A talented and capacity field of milers has been taken for the 2022 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, including Brutality.
He has mixed his form a little this time, but Brutality has been good since joining the stable of Joe Pride, and he has tasted success at Group 2 level within the last year.
He’s found form around some quality types this time, he’s rock-hard fit, and he’s another whom we can have something on each-way at $9.
Race 10 – 4:45pm – Voir Grand Classic BM78 Handicap (1300m)
Norwegian Bliss will take plenty of beating in the last on Hawkesbury Cup Day.
The El Roca mare recorded four wins from as many starts during her debut prep, and she picked up where she left off with a nice win over 1100m here earlier this month.
She’ll only improve for that effort and James McDonald keeps the ride.
