Hawkesbury preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, December 15, 2024

Consistent local gelding Lady Shenanigans is on a quick back-up looking to go one better than his narrow second last week.

Lady Shenanigans is chasing a deserved win after a close second last weekend. Picture: Bradley Photos

Local trainers Mitchell and Desiree Kearney are hoping for an early Christmas present from their ageless gelding Lady Shenanigans.

The son of Zoustar has been a real warrior for the husband and wife team who also own the gelding.

Lady Shenanigans has recorded seven with and 19 minor placings for the pair including a victory at Randwick last December.

A win in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at start 70 is a real possibility and would push his prizemoney past $300,000.

“He has been a great horse for us and continues to race well,” said Mitchell Kearney.

“We paid $1,750 a few years ago off Inglis Digital as an unraced horse who had only had one barrier trial.

A boilover at Randwick! Lady Shenanigans wins first up after a spell! pic.twitter.com/zin253oM3C

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 26, 2023

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“My wife Des and I own him ourselves so he has been a great horse for us.

“Being so honest, you either go home happy or very happy with this horse.”

Lady Shenanigans is on a quick back-up after finishing a nose second behind Dreams Of Thunder over the same track and distance last Sunday.

Prior to that, he was fourth at Hawkesbury over 1100m, fifth at Wyong over 1000m, seventh at Orange in a Benchmark 82 over 1300m and third to Sumo Star and Missile Seeker at Hawkesbury on November 28.

“He is always knocking on the door but just seems to run into one or two better,” Kearney said.

“He doesn’t put in many bad runs and quickly bounces back with another good effort.

“He is ready to win another race. His form is good and he was just beaten here at Hawkesbury last weekend.

“I think 1100m is his pet trip where he gets a chance to travel a little bit where if they run a long a bit over 1000m, he can be chasing all the way.

“Hopefully he gets a nice tempo this week where he can travel nicely on the bit.

“He gets in well with 53kg and if he gets a nice run, he should be right in the finish again.”

Kearney is looking forward to the debut off recent acquisition I Am Vengeance in the Maiden Plate (1300m).

Another leader home at @hawkesburyrc as Dreams Of Thunder and jockey Jenny Duggan hold Lady Shenanigans at bay 💪 pic.twitter.com/gkUSQZidcV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 8, 2024

The son of I Am Invincible was initially purchased for $400,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Sale and after three trials, was bought by stable client Peter Knight for $6,500 from the Inglis Digital Late November Sale.

The latest of those trials was for previous trainer Kris Lees at Scone on November 13 when a two length third behind Cresta Run.

“We gave him a galloped him for the first time about five of six days after he arrived and he was very green,” said Kearney.

“The next time he worked, we put a set of blinkers on and he was pretty sharp so they will be on him this weekend.

“I think he’s a nice each-way chance.”

The Kearney’s third runner for the day will be Defying in the Maiden Handicap (1600m) providing there are enough scratching for him to get start.

The son of Star Witness has finishing down the track in two starts for the stable over 1100m at 1300m.

Kearney is hoping a step up in distance can see him show his best.

He is a horse one to get a gauge on. In trackwork, you think ‘wow, what have we got here?’ then at the races, you leave disappointed with him.

“I think they may have just been a bit sharp for him last week over the 1300m when they quickened.

“He is going up to the mile this week. Hopefully he can bounce, be handy again and grind it out.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 1: Prince Of Sorts

In good form and coming off a nice win at Newcastle. Extra trip looks ideal.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 4: Heir Jordan

Narrowly beaten at Canterbury over 1550m before a strong closing third in the Country Classic at Rosehill over 2000m.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 8: Lady Shenanigans

Backing up from a nose second overt his track and trip last weekend.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 2: 6, 8

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2

Race 5: 4, 6

Race 6: 1, 3, 4

Race 7: 4, 6, 8

Olivia Chambers looks a good chance to land a couple of winners. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Apprentice Olivia Chambers looks a good chance of riding a race-to-race double.

INSIDE MAIL – HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

She Conquers ran a handy third on debut behind Island Dec over 100m at Kembla before finishing down the track on a Heavy 9 at Canterbury over 1200m. Sat outside the leader to win both recent trials well. Tokyo Lady has placed two from seven but has contested some handy maidens including a third to Fugitiva over this track and distance. Won both her latest trials in nice fashion. Sooo Crazy is a half-brother to The Face on debut. Trials have been good with a win here and a closing second to Extreme Courage at Wyong.

Bet: She Conquers to win

RACE 2

Simply Just went to Newcastle where he led before finishing a three-quarter length second to Hyperbolic who had the advantage of race experience. Will be better for the run. California Waves debuted with handy fourth at Kembla in July when fourth after racing wide for most of the race. Resumed with a third behind Hyperbolic and Simply Just at Newcastle. Will be prominent again. I Am Vengeance is an I Am Invincible gelding on debut. Was okay when third to Cresta Run in his Scone trial on Nov 13.

Bet: Simply Just to win

The fav Squeezebox is too good for them at @hawkesburyrc! @jeanvovermeire | @JamesCummings88 | @godolphinpic.twitter.com/LLlaZV5mfi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 7, 2024

RACE 3

The Beast debuted with a nice second to Cashburn over 1400m at Nowra before a safely held second to Squeezebox over 1600m here on Nov 7. Stepped up to 1900m at Canterbury and was wide early before easing to midfield and battling away for sixth to Tastula. Freshened and drops back to the mile with a better gate. Better Break Out resumed with a fourth to Candlewick and First Mission at Wyong before a fifth to Hyperbolic at Newcastle when held up early in the straight. Koojan is a first starter by Ocean Park. Was doing is best last when sixth in his recent Canterbury trial.

Bet: The Beast to win

RACE 4

Prince Of Sorts broke his maiden with a two length win at Dubbo at his second start in August before a break. Returned with two handy efforts when third at Port Macquarie and second at Wyong before leading all-the-way to beat Aroha Stone over 1400m at Newcastle. Should have no trouble stepping up to 1500m. Gets a 3kg claim and drawn gate 1. Powerful Dragon ran home well for third to Rennata at Scone before going back-to-back at Kempsey and Muswellbrook. Blinkers go on for the first time. Mahogany Girl is racing very well in her comeback including a win here.

Bet: Prince Of Sorts to win

RACE 5

Heir Jordan gets his chance to break through for a deserved win. Followed a third behind Louie’s Legacy in a Bm75 at Canberra with a short half head second to Inquiring Minds at Canterbury. Ran home strongly from well back for thirds to Belvedere Boys in the Country Classic at Rosehill. Like Lukey stormed home for a close third at Scone first-up before a four length win at Scone. Went back-to-back with another big win at Muswellbrook. Subarctic kicked off his campaign in Victoria with an Echuca win followed by a second at Bendigo. Returned to NSW with a handy win over 1850m.

Bet: Heir Jordon to win

Belvedere Boys races away with the TAB Country Classic! 👨‍🌾@mattydunnracing | @nashhot | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/jfCdQq3JTU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

RACE 6

First Mission has improved with each run and followed a second to Candlewick with an all-the-way win from Swift Gun here last start. Can go back-to-back. Shelstein may not have appreciated racing in the heavy rain when last at Canterbury at his most recent outing. Previous form was good including a first-up win from Gorbachev at Kembla and a third to Aye Aye Captain at Rosehill. Drawn well and gets a 3kg claim. Wild Gypsy will be better for her first-up fifth at Wyong. Won second-up over 1400m on the Kensington last campaign.

Bet: First Mission to win

RACE 7

Lady Shenanigans is a consistent performer knocking on the door for a deserved win. Was third behind Sumo Star and Missile Seeker over 1100m here on Nov 28 before a nose second to Dreams Of Thunder over this track and distance last weekend. Drops to 53kg after the claim. Perigean resumed this campaign for a new stable with a half-length win over this trip at Goulburn. Had solid form in Queensland last preparation. Drawn well. Russian Assassin has placed in each of his four runs last campaign and kicked off this preparation with a second at Gundagai. Drawn the inside and will be prominent again.

Bet: Lady Shenanigans each-way