| What | Hawkesbury Cup Day |
| Where | Hawkesbury Race Club – 1 Racecourse Rd, Clarendon NSW 2756 |
| When | Saturday, April 22, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:25am AEST |
|
Visit Ladbrokes |
|
As the Autumn Racing Carnival in Sydney comes to an end, Metropolitan Racing now looks to some less traditional hosts for some massive race-days.
The first of which is Hawkesbury Race Club who has served up a terrific 10-race program for punters to sink their teeth into. Three Group 3 features headline this massive card with the Hawkesbury Guineas, Crown and Cup all worth $200,000 in prizemoney on offer. The track is currently listed as a Soft 5 and we expect it to 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
The first of the Group 3 features is the Hawkesbury Guineas and it’s for the three-year-olds. Hawaii Five Oh gets the nod for us and 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 an award for consistency for Hawaii Five Oh.
Hawkesbury Guineas
Race 7 – 
#7 Hawaii Five Oh (4)
3yo Colt | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Nash Rawiller (56kg)
$6 with Betfair
Hawkesbury Crown Top Tip: Bring The Ransom
The Hawkesbury Crown is for the fillies and mares with 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 more of a fitness run for this race more than anything else. The 1300m looks ideal for this daughter out of Sebring and with impressive runs this campaign – namely behind Roots in the Group 2 Emanicipation Stakes – Bring The Ransom looks set for a peak performance on Saturday. She hasn’t had any luck at the barriers either and with 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)
$19 with Unibet
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 his most recent campaign after a bold effort in the Doncaster Prelude on March 25. He was wide throughout and never in contention, and since being sent 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 based on what we’ve seen, 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)
$9 with Ladbrokes
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 went on to win again while finding 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, Estadio Mestalla looks beautifully placed by team 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)
$3.90 with Bet365
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 out of Fastnet Rock. He’s first-up after a 63-day let up 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 which find themselves running consistently in Stakes level 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 have greater aspirations for him moving forward.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#2 Fire (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Jason Collett (59kg)
$2.80 with Neds
Best Value at Hawkesbury: A Very Fine Red
The Hawkesbury Gold Rush is a Listed level race for the sprinters, and we think A Very Fine Red can find best in a very competitive race. She kicked off her campaign down the Flemington straight 1000m 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 was already look for the 1100m, which is exactly what she finds on Saturday. Her pattern isn’t favourable by any stretch with A Very Fine Red likely to be towards the rear of the field, however, 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.
Next Best Again
Race 6 – 
#10 A Very Fine Red (11)
4yo Mare | T: Mark Newnham | Tyler Schiller (53kg)
$7 with Palmerbet
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%
More horse racing news
