Race-by-race tips and previews for Hawkesbury on Saturday

Race 1 – 11.20AM ST JOHNS PARK BOWLING CLUB 2YO CLARENDON STAKES (1400 METRES)

1. Tenenbaum is very short in betting on the back of an impressive first-up win at Wyong over the Black Opal runner-up, so there’s a bit of depth to that win. Ticked over well winning a trial and 1400m on his home track looks ideal. The one to beat, but the market tells us that anyway. 2. The Roaring Sun made a nice debut at Warwick Farm a month ago, running on from well back to beat all but Seraphox. Appears the danger if there is one. 3. Nations League showed improvement into his second preparation making some late ground in third at Warwick Farm just over two weeks ago at 1200m. He’ll love the extra ground and should run well. 8. Fondness found it a bit sharp at 1100m on debut, but has experience at the track and the form out of the race is handy so far.
How to play it: Tenenbaum to win.

Race 2 – 11.55AM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

6. Oakfield Alaska easily accounted for a handy filly on debut, then produced a big performance to come from well off them and score under 60kg at Muswellbrook. That bit of weight relief and an extra bit of ground are both in his favour. Imagine he can be that bit closer, and it would surprise if he doesn’t measure up. 1. Olympian brings the best form into the race if he does line up with 62.5kg and a wide gate. He was a shade unlucky in the Carbine Club, but disappointed when well in the market in the Frank Packer Plate. Back from group 3 to a class 2 is a decent fall in grade. Must respect. 5. West Head probably cost himself third when resuming at Mudgee and has been back to the trials for an easy win on his home track. Obviously this is harder, but gets weight relief and a trip that suits. Each-way value. 14. Ulysses Blue will be big odds but is capable in this grade if the runs come for her. Placed over this trip in January in a Highway and could run into the money somewhere.
How to play it: Oakfield Alaska to win.

Race 3 – 12.30PM MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

5. Swift Legend made a handy return chasing home Ready To Shine at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks back over 1200m. Put a couple of wins together up in distance last time in, like where he’s drawn and given he’ll have improvement off that fresh run, he’s a good chance. 4. Audrey’s Lane is racing well at this level with a couple of placings since a first-up all-the-way Midway win. Stretched out in trip now but sure to run well on the home track. 13. Viewpoint is an up-and-comer that was way too good for benchmark 64 company when winning first up at this track for his second win from as many attempts here. Challenge is where he gets to from the wide gate. He has pushed forward in the past. 1. Tambeloa was competitive fresh in this grade in December and was then placed at group 3 level. Rarely runs a bad one and has each-way claims. Must also include 3. Iceman, which has been placed in all four runs this time in.
How to play it: Swift Legend each way.

Race 4 – 1.05PM THE LAWN SHED BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

4. Aix En Provence has been solid in two runs back and may have found the right set-up with a distinct lack of tempo, on paper at least. He ran well behind Formal Display fresh then had to duck back to the fence in a Midway at Randwick two weeks ago. Good each-way chance. 5. Centenario is a consistent middle-distance type resuming, and while he’s yet to win first up, he ran third over 1550m at Canterbury to kick off his last campaign and, technically, he’s not first up given he last raced two months ago. Keep safe. 3. Tazima also comes here off a bit of a gap between runs since his runaway win at Rosehill in mid-March. Lightly race and sure to be competitive. 1. Starzintheireyes is an import first up, and he’s won up to 2011m at Newmarket. Stuck on well in a good trial at Rosehill two weeks ago and could run a cheeky race.
How to play it: Aix En Provence each way.

Race 5 – 1.40PM BLAKES MARINE BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

2. Golden Straand is a little short in the market, but he is the horse to beat after that impressive fresh win at Warwick Farm where he sat off the pace and stormed down the middle. Can only be fitter, is building a nice record and no reason he couldn’t win again. 17. Harry’s Evidence ran a handy third behind Call Me Gorgeous before being well backed when beating one home at the Farm two weeks later. However, he didn’t get a shot at them at any stage, so he can’t be condemned on it. Looks a threat. 3. Sweethearted chased Golden Straand home at Warwick Farm and meets him 2kg better for it, so he has to be included in the chances once again. 4. Wanaruah is a big query first up for almost a year and in a new stable. Easy trial winner leading in, 1100m could be short of his best, but he has some quality about him.
How to play it: Golden Straand to win.

Race 6 – 2.15PM ELITE SAND & SOIL HAWKESBURY GUINEAS (1400 METRES)

6. Regal Award beat himself second up in the South Pacific, and he did a big job to finish as close as he did when beaten just over a length after blowing the start. Trialled with a barrier blanket and looked to jump OK, he’s at peak now and if he gets it right he can atone. 4. Buffalo was enormous in the Provincial-Midway Champs Final, jumping from the outside and coming from last at the 400m to run fourth. He’s got the outside gate again, but it’s a smaller field and he’s back to his own age. He’s talented and a major threat. 1. Skyhook ran well in the Darby Munro first up before holding his ground behind Tempted in the Arrowfield. Only run at this trip was a fourth in the Golden Rose and there’s naturally less depth here. Has to stand up now in this company. 9. Karinska was badly held up for runs in the James Carr and should have finished closer than she did in running third. Must be included in the chances.
How to play it: Regal Award to win.

Race 7 – 2.50PM PIONEER SERVICES HAWKESBURY CROWN (1300 METRES)

11. Chidiac is coming off her Country Championships win, which was particularly strong after sitting on the speed and surging at the end of the 1400m. This is harder, no doubt, and she’s not very well weighted, but she has race fitness on her side, is in form, is drawn to get a nice run and it’ll come down to how she measures up. 4. Oh Diamond Lil is the likely leader, and she’s always dangerous when she can get some control on the speed. Looked ready in winning her recent trial, and she’s sure to give a sight. 17. Surfin’ Bird was a beaten favourite in a group 3 before a spell following a hat-trick in Victoria. Asked to finish off her most recent trial, which she did under some riding. Can go forward and has to be respected. 1. Infancy does not have the greatest racing pattern, but she was hard to miss steaming home from last in the Sapphire to run into second. She’ll be running on as usual.
How to play it: Chidiac to win.

Race 8 – 3.25PM RICHMOND CLUB HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP (1600 METRES)

9. Taken is extremely well placed to take advantage of a draw that puts him right in the first few in the run. He’s been dictated to by wide gates in his past two starts, for very close seconds, while in his last win he was able to sit on the speed and kick away. Gets in well for a progressive horse with a good winning record and looks difficult to beat. 5. Vivy Air was enormous in placing in the Coolmore Classic first up, and you can overlook her Doncaster effort after the door was shut on her on the turn. She only worked home after that. She’s been quite consistent and is well placed in this company, drawn well and she can perform to her best. 3. Amor Victorious might find some favours on the speed, and he resumes at a suitable trip for the first time in his career. Ran a gutsy race in the Ingham before winning in Brisbane at a mile. Trialling up well and no surprise if he takes catching. 14. Captain Furai has charged through the grades in a hurry this preparation, winning a benchmark 100 two weeks ago. Probably at his best with some sting out of the ground, particularly taking on this level now, but he’s in career-best form.
How to play it: Taken to win.

Race 9 – 4.05PM HAWKESBURY XXXX GOLD RUSH (1100 METRES)

11. Gumdrops is probably at the bottom end of her preferred distance range, but with plenty of speed on here, a horse that’s strong at the finish comes in handy. She does have a good fresh record and her two trials leading in have been excellent, particularly the first in good sprinting company. If she gets a shot at them late she could feature prominently. 16. World Alliance is another that can find a late surge when he’s in form, and he does have a strong fresh record. 5. Catch The Glory was excellent winning the Birthday Card first up, but was a shade disappointing in the Sapphire, from which she had a slow recovery. Best is more than good enough to be competitive. 7. Zealously is not helped by the wide gate, being a speed horse, but happy to keep him in the mix in case all the speed influences come out. Handy sprinter on his day.
How to play it: Gumdrops each way.

Race 10 – 4.45PM CLARENDON TAVERN BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

19. Estremo is a group 3-winning colt that was more than acceptable when resuming at Randwick on a day you needed to be closer in while he made his bid down the middle. A little tight in the closing stages, but still an excellent return and with a bit better luck, he can be a major player. 16. Our Queen finished just ahead of him in that race and also made her run wide, producing some very nice late sectionals to run fourth. She’s fourth up here, so right at her top. Not sure where she goes from the gate, but she’s close to another win. 15. Surfin’ Bird goes in the mix as well first up if she runs here. She’s well weighted with the claim down to 53kg. 7. Hyperbolic was close up when resuming in a Provincial-Midway Champs heat, but disappointed failing at Randwick after that. She’s trained here and her form from back in the late spring and early summer would have her close to favourite. Question about how she’s going, but this is a good chance for her to bounce back.
How to play it: Estremo to win.

Supplied by Racing NSW.