Sebonack might look like good value at $13 to win the Inglis Sprint on Saturday, but co-trainer Michael Hawkes is not placing any pressure on star young jockey Michael Dee.
The three-year-old gelding is third-up in the 1200m sprint worth $750,000 at Flemington and fought hard to finish seventh last start in the Zeditave Stakes – three lengths behind winner Recommendation – at Sandown on February 25.
Opal Ridge is the $6.50 favourite and is first-up after the three-year-old filly’s memorable 2 ½-length win in the Tapp-Craig for Luke Pepper on October 8 last year.
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But if Sebonack brings his best form he will be tough to beat, while stablemate Semillon has the potential to surprise as a $41 outsider with online bookmakers.
He will be second-up, after his 10th-place finish in the Group 2 Rubiton at Sandown on February 11, which was 4 ½ lengths behind impressive winner Lofty Strike for Julius Sandhu.
“Semillon and Sebonack are both well. They’ll be up the straight there and we can’t fault them,” Hawkes told HorseBetting.com.au.
“As long as they’re running good and they hit the line strong we’ll be happy.”
Catahoula – a two-year-old filly – will make her debut in the $175,000 Furphy Trophy at Listed level over 1000m.
“She hasn’t got the race craft, but she’s done everything right,” Hawkes said.
“She’s a nice filly going forward, but (Saturday) is a testing point.
“But we can’t fault her.”
Saturday will be a big day for the John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes stable, with a handful of good runners also set to line up at Randwick.
Their stable stars Remarque ($4.20) and Electric Girl ($11) are good chances in the respective Challenge Stakes and Canterbury Stakes.
Hawkes said his staff worked hard to have all their horses in good condition for this weekend.
“You try to do your best, put them in the right races,” Hawkes said.
“And hopefully all the dots align and you cross your Ts and dot your Is, and everything goes to plan.”
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