Stable watch: Ray Thomas gets the inside mail for Hawkesbury on Saturday

TAB BIG BETS: TRAINER David Pfieffer is relying on talented mare Cradle Me and underrated filly Denmagic to snare a brace of feature race wins at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

TRAINER David Pfieffer is relying on talented mare Cradle Me and underrated filly Denmagic to snare a brace of feature race wins at Hawkesbury on Saturday.

Cradle Me, a winner of two Listed races over summer, lines up in the Group 3 $175,000 Godolphin Crown (1300m) then Denmagic contests the Group 3 $200,000 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

Cradle Me and Denmagic have both raced competitively in stakes races over the Royal Randwick autumn carnival and if they bring that form to Hawkesbury, Pfieffer could be leaving the picturesque provincial track with a Group 3 double.

R1: TAB HIGHWAY PLATE (1100m)

CANBERRA trainer Norm Gardner is adamant unbeaten Canberra filly Atom Eve has returned a better and stronger horse this campaign.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way she is coming up,’’ Gardner said of Atom Eve, who is resuming after winning her three starts over summer including a TAB Highway at Randwick. “She is working so much better than before, she is more focused on the track now.’’

TAB market movers: Noble Joey $4.60 - $4.40

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: Who will go forward and who will get back?

TRACK: Rail is in the true position and most horses should get their chance suggesting tempo is more likely to dictate the outcome of each race.

SPEED: Genuine with Noble Joey looking for the lead but expect Professor Marx to kick up underneath him along with a fresh Atom Eve while Wordly Wise should press forward from a wide gate. RUN-ONS: Hard to nail anything in this category but we’re expecting Bid Of Faith to take a sit and possibly finish off.

R2: PROVINCIAL STAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL (2100m)

LOVING Home and Hipparchus give trainer Chris Waller a strong hand in the stayers feature.

Bookies have both Waller runners prominent in early betting. Godolphin’s Duca Valentinois is the favourite. Form jockey Glyn Schofield rides Loving Home and believes the imported gelding will prove hard to beat.

“Loving Home is always a chance in these sort of races,’’ Schofield said. “He hasn’t had a run for a month but he did have a nice barrier trial at Randwick last week. He should run well.’’

TAB market movers: Duca Valentinois $3.50 - $3.20, Hipparchus $4.40 - $3.80

NIC ASHMAN’S race analysis: SPEED: Moderate. Reiby The Red, Loving Home push forward to share lead with Award Season on their backs. Duca Valentinois may settle closer from soft gate and that should make him very hard to beat. RUN-ONS: Hipparchus can power down the outside and looks Duca Valentinois’s big danger.

R3: CLARET STAKES (1300m)

LUBITON, a nicely bred filly by Snitzel, is shaping as worthwhile opposition to Godolphin’s trio of Radcliffe, Angharad and first-starter Flow plus Team Snowden’s Ajani in the feature juvenile race. Trainer Bjorn Baker said Lubiton had done so well since her debut win at the Beaumont track eight days ago that he decided to run her at Hawkesbury.

“I was going to give her a longer break between runs but she recovered so well from her first start win and you can’t ignore the prizemoney,’’ Baker said. “She’s a tough filly, suited around Hawkesbury and drawn the right barrier.’’

Lubiton won her two barrier trials prior to her strong debut win. In her second trial, she defeated subsequent Group 1 placegetter Divine Prophet and last week’s brilliant Rosehill debut winner Impending.

TAB market movers: Ajani $6 - $5.50, Flow $8 - $6 ($700 @ $8), Lubiton $15 - $9.50 ($300 @ $13, $400 @ $11)

NIC ASHMAN’S race analysis: SPEED: Moderate. Lubiton looks for the lead with Angharad handy although cautious she is having second run at trip and may race more dourly. Expect Ajani to race closer to the speed than last start. RUN-ONS: Radcliffe the big finisher here but keep an eye on first starter Flow.

R4: HAWKESBURY RUSH (1100m)

BRILLIANT sprinter Kuro, one of the most striking racehorses in training, is back with trainer Joe Pride and primed for a winning comeback after a brilliant barrier trial at Hawkesbury last week.

Kuro has returned to Joe Pride’s stable after two campaigns in Melbourne. Picture: Jono Searle

“Kuro has been in Melbourne his last two preparations but it is good for have him back and he did go very well in the trial,’’ Pride said. “Furnaces is the only horse I’m worried about. At the weights, Furnaces does look hard to beat so Kuro needs to be at his best.’’

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Scorching! Sweet Serendipity, Furnaces, Skip Course and Kuro all go forward with Coolring, Fine Mist and Alberto Magic making sure they don’t loaf. RUN-ONS: Wouldn’t It Be Nice but don’t be surprised if Coolring takes a sit this week and charges down the middle.

R5: BENCHMARK 85 HCP (1300m)

KRIS Lees maintains there is little between his two mares, Danish Twist and Onemorezeta — provided they are racing on a firm track on Saturday.

“I’ve felt Onemorezeta had been going well all preparation without much luck but she did run very well to run second (behind Well Hardley Ever) at Canterbury,’’ Lees said.

“Onemorezeta needs a dry track and if we get that then there is not much between her and Danish Twist. I don’t think the three weeks between runs makes any difference to Danish Twist as she has thrived since her Provincial Championships Final win at Randwick.’’

TAB market movers: Gamblestown $15 - $8 ($500 @ $9.50), Danish Twist $6 - $5

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Moderate but not slow. Ryker and Mohave push forward with Nite Rocker applying pressure out wide. Danish Twist gets a nice trail in behind them. RUN-ONS: Rock For The Ladies through the middle looks the one while Better Not Blue and Gamblestown just need luck at the right time to figure. Figtree resumes without a trial but stable are notorious for pulling a win off in these circumstances.

R6: GODOLPHIN CROWN (1300m)

CRADLE Me can claim her third stakes win this season if she gets reasonable luck in running, according to trainer David Pfieffer,

“She came from near last at Randwick and was getting to the post probably better than any other runner,’’ Pfieffer said of Cradle Me’s fast-finishing fifth behind Two Blue in the Sapphire Stakes last start. “Again her closing sectionals were first rate and should she get a decent passage during the run she’ll launch late at them.’’

TAB market movers: Two Blue $15 - $9.50, Artistry $11 - $9.50, Peace Force $26 - $12, Cradle Me $11 - $8 - $9.50, Nancy $6 - $5 ($1000 @ $6, $500 @ $5)

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Moderate but wary this is a big field stacked with mares looking for valuable black-type. Two Blue and Role Model look the only potential leaders. RUN-ONS: Artistry back in trip will suit and she should be strong on the line. Cradle Me down the outside with Ammirata. Nancy and Fitou through the middle late.

R7: HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP (1600m)

TRAINER David Vandyke won’t be surprised if Less Is More runs a competitive race in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

Less Is More could run a cheeky run race in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup. Picture: Peter Wallis

Less Is More resumed after a 14-month injury-enforced lay-off and ran well for seventh behind Mighty Lucky at Randwick over 1400m.

“He was only beaten three lengths and had a good blow after the race,’’ Vandyke said. “He is up to 1600m now which he will appreciate, and I expect him to run a cheeky race.’’

TAB market movers: Strawberry Boy $7 - $5.50 ($400 @ $7), Sons Of John $15 - $8, Shoreham $35 - $17

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Genuine with Strawberry Boy coming across from deep with Ecuador pushing up underneath him. Great Esteem and Medcaut just behind them. RUN-ONS: This is the kind of race where Amovatio charges down the outside to win.

R8: HAWKESBURY GUINEAS (1400m)

GODOLPHIN’S Handfast reeled off some swift sectionals to win the South Pacific Classic last start to continue his form surge this campaign.

“He’s going very well and has come into his own this preparation,’’ said trainer John O’Shea of Handfast, winner of three of his past four starts.

“He took a big step forward at Randwick last start when we added blinkers for the first time just to help him focus. That was a good race and he won with a lot of authority so we’re looking forward to giving him his chance at Hawkesbury.’’

TAB market movers: Handfast $2.60 - $2.50 ($1000 @ $2.60), No More Tears $8 - $7, Serene Majesty $15 - $12 ($500 e/w @ $15/$3.66), Red Extension $51 - $15 ($400 @ $26, $500 @ $21, $600 @ $17), Denmagic ($500 @ $6)

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Fair. Spill The Beans looks for the lead with Suspense, Reneged, No More Tears handy leaving Handfast to get a beautiful trail. RUN-ONS: Red Extension down the outside with Sir Plush through the middle but Handfast is the one.

R9: BENCHMARK 77 HCP (1500m)

TRAFALGAR, who defeated older horses impressively when resuming earlier this month, can recoup his $160,000 purchase price with another win on Saturday.

The promising Chris Waller-trained three-year-old has won three races (two placings) from five starts, collecting just under $100,000. He is racing for $77,950 at Hawkesbury as he is eligible for a $20,000 BOBS bonus on top of the first prizemoney.

“If he can run well again then Chris is looking at races like the Rough Habit Plate, Grand Prix Stakes and Queensland Derby,’’ said successful syndicator Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds.

TAB market movers: Trafalgar $4.20 - $3.80, Mackintosh $10 - $7.50, Santa Rocks $9 - $8

NIC ASHMAN’s race analysis: SPEED: Careless and Mackintosh come across from out wide with Marple Miss pushing up underneath them. RUN-ONS: Man Of Choice and Santa Rocks down the outside while Trafalgar will look for a run through the middle.