Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury

A promising filly from the Peter and Paul Snowden yard can kick off her three-year-old campaign on a winning note at Hawkesbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Autumn Bloom an kick off her three-year-old campaign with a win at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry s gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Hawkesbury.

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!

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 10: AUGUST BLOOM

The Team Snowden-trained filly was good in all three starts in her first preparation including a Group 3 third behind Steel City. Trialling nicely and can kick off with a win.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 4: MONFELICITY

She was doing her best work over the last 100m when resuming over 1500m at Rosehill. Will relish the step up to 1800m and drop in grade.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 6: RIVER SNITTY

Returns from an extended break and hasn’t been knocked about ion his trials. Showed handy ability last time in including a first-up win.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 6 No. 3, 8

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 4

Race 6: 3, 8

Race 7: 1, 2, 8, 10, 12

Race 8: 3, 6, 8, 16

James McDonald heads to Hawkesbury with several good chances. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald has some nice rides for the day including Coco Dreaming and River Snitty.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Bonita Queen is an I Am Invincible filly from the Bjorn Baker stable making her debut. Has won both trials and in her latest at Canterbury, she rolled to the front before sprinting clear inside the last 200m to score by over four lengths. Dear Prudence is another first starter. The Joe Pride-trained filly is by Proisir was held together for a close fourth in her Warwick Farm trial behind Ceolwulf on Aug 4. Hampton Queen is also on debut. The Team Snowden-trained daughter of Russian Revolution wasn’t knocked about in her latest heat at Warwick Farm on Aug 4. Midnight Harry was third to Thunderlips on debut here in April.

Bet: Bonita Queen to win

RACE 2

Betsy’s Flag started favourite on debut when a length and a half third behind Jewellery at Canterbury last November. Now with Joe Pride, she has trialled nicely in both heats, the latest a close second to Launch Control at Warwick Farm on Aug 4. Champ De Mars was held up for a few strides when third to Ferrari Girl at Goulburn. Led when beaten by Ring Me Up and Manhattan’s at Kembla last start. Hell Of A Show was backed to start a $2 favourite on debut when sixth to Coco Dreaming. Will be better for the experience and drawn nicely. Reine Of Nine was a close second on soft ground at Goulburn two starts back. Keep safe.

Bet: Betsy’s Flag to win

RACE 3

Stanczyk got shuffled back along the fence and worked to the line steadily when a two length second to Rangatira at the Sapphire Coast on July 30. Nice second at Grafton when resuming prior to that. Braven was a little slow out before picking up and making ground along the fence when a two and a half-length fifth to Zarrose over 1350m at Wyong on Aug 3. Looks suited by the extra distance. Threw covered ground first-up when fifth at Nowra before a fair fifth here last start. Lady Townson will strip fitter for her first-up sixth at Newcastle on July 29.

Bet: Stanczyk to win

Tom Sherry rides August Bloom for Peter and Paul Snowden. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

August Bloom showed good ability in her first campaign in much stronger company than she meets here and she can resume on a winning note. Was just under a length from Lazzago in the Sweet Embrace then ran home from last to finish third to Steel City and Blanc De Blanc in the Magic Night. Trialling well. There There is better than her last start eighth to How Dare You at Canterbury. Just beaten by Pereille first-up. Fiddler’s Green, a son of Merchant Navy on debut was a close second in his Warwick Farm trial on Aug 4 after racing wide. Etched In Time was game in defeat when second to Mirra Impact at Newcastle on debut after racing three-wide.

Bet: August Bloom to win

RACE 5

Monfelicity will appreciate the drop in grade off her first-up run at Rosehill on Aug 5. She drifted back on the rails and made steady ground late out wide when seventh to Amor Victorious over 1500m. Drawn to settle closer and will appreciate the step up to 1800m. Xcited pulled up mildly lame when finishing down the track behind Napoleon Solo over an unsuitably short 1400m at Kembla when resuming on July 27. Won over 1800m second-up last campaign. Nyota found her best form last start with a fighting win over this track and distance on Aug 8. She hasn’t missed a place at Hawkesbury. Invincible Dash is worth including in the exotics.

Bet: Monfelicity to win

RACE 6

Coco Dreaming had to go back from the wide gate before running on strongly in the straight to score a length win from Serafima on Wyong on debut. Looks a mare capable of going on with the job and gets James McDonald to guide her from barrier 8. Thief By Night raced a little keen first-up and didn’t get much room in the straight when fifth at Scone. Drawn the pole and will be strong late. Flying Destiny had a good first campaign with a debut win and placings in his next four starts. Everyone’s A Star won first-up here over 1000m and hasn’t been far away in three starts since.

Bet: Coco Dreaming to win. Quinella 3, 8

Coco Dreaming is looking to make it two from two at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 7

Tazaral ran a couple of handy races in his first Australian campaign but has come back a better horse this preparation with two terrific wins at Randwick. Drawn out which isn’t ideal but hard to go past. Ruby Flyer jumps up a couple of grades but he is in superb form. Won four from five this campaign with three of them at this trip. On his home track and drawn to get an ideal run in the rails. Protagonist won the Sky High Stakes first-up in the autumn for William Haggas. Now with Kris Lees and was good in his Gosford trial win. Polly Grey has drawn out and has 60kg but she will relish the wet conditions.

Bet: Tazaral to win

RACE 8

River Snitty has been off the scene for over a year since finishing a short head second to Departing Bullet at Newcastle on June 4, 2022. Was narrowly beaten here the start prior. Won his maiden first-up last campaign and followed with a third to Loch Eagle at Warwick Farm. Has been held together in his two recent trials. Typical You fought on well for a half-length second to Oakfield Mahogany at Kembla first-up. Gets in well with the 3kg claim of Molly Bourke. Pennypacker pulled hard when seventh to Napoleon Solo at Kembla last start. Previous two runs were good. Little Baia was only beaten two and a half-length by King Of Naples at Randwick last start. Back in grade and drawn well.

Bet: River Snitty each-way