Peter Snowden will be eyeing a record eighth Hawkesbury Crown when he lines up a trio of runners this Saturday

The Daily Telegraph Racing Editor Ray Thomas runs his eye over the meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Snowden will be eyeing further feature race success at Hawkesbury on Saturday

Champion trainer Peter Snowden is chasing a record eighth win in the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) with talented mares Coco Jamboo, Flying Thinker and Tashi at the stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Coco Jamboo is returning as the defending champ and is attempting to join former stablemate Aerobatics (2013-14) as the only dual winner of the big Hawkesbury fillies and mares race.

Snowden has also won the Crown with Nancy (2016), Kanzan (2011), Serenissima (2010) and Sung (2008).

In fact, the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting has been a happy hunting ground for Snowden ever since he started his training career with Darley in 2008.

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Snowden has also trained the winners of a record five Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) with Exoboom (2021), Military Zone (2019), Limes (2013) and Free Wheeling (2012). He will have Media World and Fearless in the three-year-old classic on Saturday.

In fact, Media World is no stranger to Hawkesbury stand-alone success himself having won the $160,000 Clarendon Stakes (1400m) for two-year-olds last year – giving Snowden another training record with his fifth win in the race after Creator (2019), Meursault (2014), Kanzan (2009) and Fravashi (2008).

Coco Jamboo will be chasing back-to-back Hawkesbury Crown titles this Saturday

Media World, a superbly bred colt by Written Tycoon out of Meryl, resumed with a fighting win at Warwick Farm against older horses earlier this month.

“I thought Media World did a super job in a very fast run race at Warwick Farm,’’ Snowden said.

“He came off the bridle a fair way out but stuck to his task really well.

“He will back up in the Hawkesbury Guineas and if he runs well on Saturday then we will look at the Fred Best Classic in Brisbane.’’

Fearless, a Group 1 placegetter, has been improved by two runs from a spell and Snowden is expecting a competitive effort in the Hawkesbury Guineas.

Snowden said Fire Star, winner of four city races in succession when last in work, has trained on well since his first-up fifth to Pisanello at Canterbury and could take his place in the Listed $200,000 Hawkesbury Rush (1100m).

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Trainer Anthony Freedman will nominate runaway Randwick winner Punch Lane for the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1400m).

“We will see where we go but I might throw him in at Hawkesbury even because it will be wet, I think,’’ Freedman said after Punch Lane won by more than four lengths at Randwick last Saturday.

“Whether he can take three runs in a row, I don’t know, but I’ll probably nominate and see how we go.

“He has backed up in Queensland and won but three in a row might be a test. We will nominate and give ourselves three or four days to think about it.”

Punch lane scoring at Randwick on Saturday Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller will assess what Hawkesbury Gold Cup handicap likely topweight Osipenko will receive before deciding if the multiple stakes winner of more than $1.3 million prizemoney runs at the stand-alone meeting.

Osipenko resumed with a very competitive effort for ninth behind Jimmysstar in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and his possible presence in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup field will add a liberal dose of class to the race.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Speedy filly Sunrise was trimmed from $1.95 into $1.75 pre-jump but punters could’ve snared $2.80 through the week with TAB.

The favourite held around 65 per cent of total outlays on Sunrise, headlined by bets of $9900 at $1.80 and $1.75, $5700 at $1.75 and multiple $2000 outlays at prices between $1.85 and $1.75.

Memoria (race 7) went up at $11 with TAB but drifted to $14 during race day. Some steady each-way outlays actually saw it start as the fifth best backed runner in the race while the best win bets were $800 at $13, $500 at $12 multiple times and $500 at $10 multiple times.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

Akaysha (race 1) followed her debut win in fast time at Kembla Grange with a very game effort at Randwick to beat all but the promising Grand Eagle. Akaysha surged to the lead halfway down the straight only to be collared late by Grand Eagle. The Peter Snowden-trained Akaysha has obvious ability and can be placed to advantage.

Sunrise (race 2) also came off a brilliant Kembla Grange win where she smashed the 1000m track record and adapted to the soft conditions at Randwick to lead throughout and win the Midway comfortably. She’s a talented three-year-old filly with abundant speed and won’t be out of place in the Denise’s Joy Stakes at the Scone Cup carnival next month.

Al Mubhir (race 8), formerly trained by English maestro William Haggas, showed he is going to more than pay his way in Australia for new trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald with his good third under a big weight at Randwick. Al Mubhir was wide without cover for most of the race but kept working to the line behind to finish in the minor placing behind the impressive Punch Lane.

Know Thyself (race 10), winner of the Country Championships Final, showed his class to shoulder 61kg and run down Fukubana in an exciting finish. Know Thyself was racing in restricted room around the turn but once he got into the clear he showed great determination to reel in the leader. He would be a lightweight chance in a Scone Cup if he squeezes into the field.

CRUNCH TIME

Miss Icelandic (race 4) sprinted her final 600m in 34.32s, which was the best of the meeting, and a closing 200m sectional of 11.86s.

Step Aside (race 6) produced the best closing 200m of the day when he powered home in 11.83s to score an impressive comeback win.

Grand Eagle (race 1) came from last and sprinted a 600m final sectional of 34.39s with a closing 200m split of 12.11s to score an impressive win.

Joiselle (race 3) ran her final 600m sectional in 34.65s with a closing 200m of 11.98s which were among the best of the meeting.

Miss Icelandic wears down a game Passeggiata to win Race 4 at Randwick! @[e-mail]/kSZesVxWD2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025

WHAT THEY SAID

“It wasn’t really the plan to lead. But there was no stopping him, he was already full of running. It wasn’t really until we cleared Rachel (King, Queues Likely) and got two (lengths) in front that he pricked his ears and gave himself a bit of a rest. From that point he was able to give a really good kick,’’ said jockey Nash Rawiller after his win on Punch Lane.

“That’s why you use him, you get the unexpected,’’ said trainer Anthony Freedman of Nash Rawiller’s spectacular winning ride on Punch Lane.

“I had her in a Listed race in Brisbane today but she drew 13 and Randwick looked a far better option. But we might take her to Scone and see if she is up to that level. If she can pick up some black type before she turns four that would be a great,’’ said Mitchell Beer, trainer of Sunrise.

Sunrise goes whooshka! Way too good in Race 2 at Randwick. @[e-mail]/Zoba6Yg07o

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025

“Step Aside is a good, honest horse and he’s a lot sharper than his pedigree suggests. He was purchased as a potential Derby horse but we now feel anywhere between 1200m to a mile (1600m) is his distance range,’’ said Charlie Duckworth, racing manager for trainer Chris Waller.

“Nash (Rawiller, jockey) has worked him out and the colt has responded really well to being ridden quietly early in his races. He’s going to develop into a good three-year-old next season,’’ said Gerald Ryan, trainer of Grand Eagle.

STEWARDS SAY

Speedy Henry (race 3) was slow to begin and did not muster any early speed so, as a consequence, settled towards the rear of the field. Speedy Henry did not respond to riding through the middle section of the race but closed off the race satisfactorily. His rider, Reece Jones, told stewards Speedy Henry was not comfortable racing among other runners and will be better suited when being able to lead and dictate its races.

Zealously (race 4) raced wide without cover throughout the race.

Saganti (race 5) raced wide and without cover until the 1200m when allowed to stride forward to obtain a position outside the leader, Roma Avenue. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to be displaying heat stress.

Lonhro’s Queen (race 7) was hampered at the start then near the 1100m was steadied when crowded between Super Bright and Pajanti, which shifted in slightly. Lonhro’s Queen was under pressure in the home straight and did not respond to riding. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Lonhro’s Queen to be displaying a poor recovery.

Acappella Sun (race 7) approaching the 300m made contact with Trafalgar Square when attempting to improve between that runner and Martini Mumma. When unable to do so, Acappella Sun then was held up for a short distance before again being held up behind Martini Mumma approaching the 100m. Acappella Sun was not able to be fully tested in the straight.

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY 

Punch Lane relished backing up and running his rivals ragged with a confident Nash Rawiller ride doing it both ends. He is a horse that really excels when the sting is out of the track.

Punch Lane kicks clear and runs away with Race 8 at Randwick! @[e-mail]/lCQI6OzlFo

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025

FORGET THEY RAN 

The inexperienced Spione may have had a hard luck story after having to change course at a vital stage in the straight and might have won with a better passage.

He is only early in his preparation and could well have more to offer going forward.

THE BLACKBOOK

Another Team Hawkes runner Furious captured the attention first-up working through the line. He looks a horse that may have been held up with a few issues along the way that might be able to win some races over the off season months.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Braith Nock has not been riding in town too long but he looks a real prospect to win a very competitive apprenticeship title this season. For such a young man he seems to have an incredible judgement of speed as was evident with his polished ride on Massira in the Tab Highway.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday: Goulburn

Tuesday: Ballina, Quirindi

Wednesday: Canterbury Park

Thursday: Wyong, Wagga Wagga

Friday: Wagga Wagga (Gold Cup), Muswellbrook

Saturday: Hawkesbury, Newcastle

Sunday: Dubbo, Sapphire Coast

Originally published as Peter Snowden will be eyeing a record eighth Hawkesbury Crown when he lines up a trio of runners this Saturday