Ron Dufficy’s raceday review: Hawkesbury

TAB BIG BETS: SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers from the Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday.

Danish Twist (bright yellow) continued her good form at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans

SKY Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy dissects the winners and losers from the Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday.

Track: Good (4).

FULL RESULTS: NSW TAB DIVS

STEWARDS’ REPORT: HAWKESBURY

R1: TAB HIGHWAY PLATE (1100m)

1 (1) NOBLE JOEY ($3.10, $1.20): Jumped fast and led easily. Under a hold into the straight and never looked in doubt.

2 (7) BID OF FAITH ($1.70): OK away and settled on the fence behind the leader. Came across heels but was no match.

3 (5) ATOM EVE ($1.20): Slowly away and was forced to sit three deep with no cover. Battled on in the straight.

DOMINANT: A dominant performance by the improving Noble Joey who continues to mature and looks better every time I see him. He is well up to midweek city level.

THE FAVOURITE: Atom Eve is only a small filly who lacks a bit of strength although she battled on OK after a wide run.

BETTING: There was a strong move in the final 30 minutes for Noble Joey with punters landing the money after the Robert Price-trained runner led throughout. As much as $4.60 when markets first opened, it was still $3.80 today and bottomed out at $2.80 before starting $3.20. Atom Eve drifted from $1.90 to $2.30 but was the most popular runner in terms of money taken. BETS: Noble Joey $1,500 @ $3.50, Atom Eve $3,000 @ $2.30

Noble Joey scored a dominant win in the opening race. Picture: Jenny Evans

R2: PROVINCIAL STAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP (2100m)

1 (6) HIPPARCHUS ($3.10, $1.30): Settled towards the tail on the back of Duca Valentinois. Made his move at the 800m and proved too strong in the run home. Big win.

2 (4) DUCA VALENTINOIS ($1.30): Midfield and was forced to start his run when Hipparchus went. Kept finding but beaten on merits.

3 (3) LOVING HOME ($2): Led initially but handed up to tearaway leaders. Came with first two but couldn’t hold them out.

THE FUTURE: Lightly raced import Hipparchus looks a really nice prospect for the future digging in deep to win here. He is only going to get better with experience.

THE BATTLE: This was a great sight with two of our best riders Avdulla and McDonald on the two favourites singling out for a two-horse war from the top of the straight.

BETTING: The two best backed runners in this race fought it out. The majority of punters were siding with Duca Valentinois ($2.30) who sat midfield and came with a withering burst only to be run down late by Hipparchus ($3.20). Between them the pair held over 80 per cent of the investment on the race. BETS: Duca Valentinois $3,000 @ $2.10, Hipparchus $2,000 @ $3.20

R3: CLARET STAKES (1300m)

1 (4) SWEAR ($10.90, $2.90): Second last on settling and still clear last into the straight. Got to the outside and mowed them down.

2 (3) FLOW ($1.90): Third last on settling until Swear peeled of his back. Fought hard and will improve.

3 (1) RADCLIFFE ($1.50): Settled midfield and came with a run but never looked like he had the race.

UPSIDE: The first-starter Swear really savaged the line late to get over the top of them here. He is still raw and appears to have a bright future.

IMPROVER: Similar to the winner, Flow looks to have plenty of upside. This run will stand him in good stead for the future.

BETTING: Swear ($17-$11) flew down the outside of the track to land the money for those that took the each way odds. Radcliffe ($2.30-$3) was the favourite throughout betting and looked a winning hope at one point down the straight but couldn’t hold off the swoopers. Flow, $7 into $5, was one of the better tried runners in the race and came from the rear to finish second. BETS: Radcliffe $3,625 @ $2.60

R4: HAWKESBURY GOLD RUSH (1100m)

1 (7) FURNACES ($2.90, $1.40): Sat second behind Sweet Serendipity getting a nice trail. Came to outside around bend and was strong right through the line.

2 (6) INZ’N’OUT ($2.10): Settled fourth with cover, got to the outside and kept coming but had his chance.

3 (1) KURO ($2.10): Midfield on the rail and was forced to make his run to the inside of runners.

Furnaces returned to his best form with a slick win. Picture: Jenny Evans

BACK IN BUSINESS: Furnaces landed big bets freshened up with a gear change, breaking the track record doing it. He is a talented three-year-old.

IMPROVERS: Inz’n’out and Fine Mist both resumed and looked to have scope to improve. They both look to have come up well.

BETTING: Punters were spot on in this with Furnaces landing some good bets. With $4.60 available earlier this morning the sheer weight of money taken on the son of Exceed And Excel saw it jump at $2.90. Sitting behind the leader until the top of the straight, jockey James McDonald peeled out and hit the front but then had to hold off the fast-finishing Inznout ($3.50-$7) who was unwanted in betting. TAB Rewards horse Kuro ($7-$6) made good ground from the rear to run third and was actually one of the better tried runners in the race. BETS: Furnaces $4,000 @ $3.80

R5: LADIES DAY CUP (1300m)

1 (7) DANISH TWIST ($4.10, $1.40): Jumped well, settled 5th inside, angled out on straightening, came wider when balanced and proved too strong

2 (8) ONEMOREZETA ($2.70): Last all the way, saved ground on the inside, finished hard down the middle.

3 (4) BETTER NOT BLUE ($1.90): Second last to turn, circled wide on bend and finished off well out wide.

STABLE QUINELLA: Kris Lees produced his two mares Danish Twist and Onemorezeta beautifully placed and in great shape to quinella this race.

EXCUSES: Figtree was tight in the straight and never really got balanced. He should have finished closer.

BETTING: Danish Twist ($4.60) was easily the best supported runner in the race. Holding 35 per cent of the total investment, the Kris Lees-trained runner landed some good bets after sweeping down the outside of the track. Rock Forthe Ladies ($3.80-$6) was popular throughout the week and easily the best backed to beat the winner, while Better Not Blue ($8-$5) was also tried. BETS: Danish Twist $2,000 @ $4.60

R6: GODOLPHIN CROWN (1300m)

1 (9) NANCY ($3.90, $1.70): Jumped well, saved ground 5th inside, peeled out on straightening, finished hard.

2 (1) TWO BLUE ($2.50): Went straight to the front and was game in defeat.

3 (11) PRESS REPORT ($8.70): Sat outside the winner in running, out sprinted on straightening.

Kerrin McEvoy gave the thumbs up to Nancy’s performance on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans

THE PUNTERS PAL: Nancy landed huge bets after a perfect Kerrin McEvoy ride. She hadn’t been quite the punters’ pal of late but yesterday she was back in the good books.

BRAVE: Two Blue did all the work up front and battled hard right to the line with her big weight.

BETTING: The heavily supported Nancy landed some good bets in taking out the Godolphin Crown. Starting the day as a $5 chance, the sheer volume of money saw it start a $3.80 favourite and after sitting behind the leader for the majority of the race finished off too strong to get the cash. She was three times as popular as the next best backed runner, Cradle Me ($9.50-$8). Two Blue, which led and battled on for second, was $8-$9.50 while the move earlier in the week for Peace Force ($26-$8-$13) was slightly off after it finished fourth. BETS: Nancy $3,000 @ $3.80

R7: HAWKESBURY GOLD CUP (1600m)

1 (6) AMOVATIO ($14.90, $4.60): Travelled 4th last with cover, tracked wide in straight, finished hard under the grandstand.

2 (2) MIGHTY LUCKY ($2.30): Sat 5th on the inside, presented perfectly in the straight, couldn’t hold off winner.

3 (9) CASINO DANCER ($8.30): Raced midfield three wide with cover, tried hard right to the line.

THE RIDE: Apprentice Rory Hutchings produced an absolute gem of a ride from the outside draw on Amovatio here. It was a lovely patient exhibition from him.

IMPROVER: Tales Of Grimm has needed a few runs and looks ready to defend his Scone Cup crown.

BETTING: It proved to be a strip out for punters with the favourites all failing to figure in the placings. Amovatio rattled down the outside of the track, which is where many of the winners have been coming today. Starting a $15 chance, Amovatio had attracted some support but held just 20 per cent of what the favourite Strawberry Boy ($5-$4.20) did. Sons Of John, who was pressing for favouritism at one point, blew significantly late on and was $5 out to $8 at the jump. Ecuador ($7-$6) had its admirers as did Pajaro ($15). Mighty Lucky, who was $8 into $7, was supported late. BETS: Strawberry Boy $2,000 @ $4.20, Pajaro $3,000 e/w @ $13/$3.82

R8: HAWKESBURY GUINEAS (1400m)

1 (1) SPILL THE BEANS ($6, $1.70): Jumped smartly and led without much effort, kicked away in the straight, found plenty.

2 (10) DENMAGIC ($2.50): Settled well back, went wide on straightening, finished off strongly.

3 (4) SERENE MAJESTY ($3.10): Travelled three wide without cover, battled on gamely.

GOOD LOOKER: Spill The Beans ran right up to his appearance here. He paraded as well as he ever has and was always in control here.

Tim Clark produced a great ride on Spill The Beans. Picture: Jenny Evans

FLOP: The well-tried Handfast was left without any excuses. After finding cover three deep he failed to finish off and disappointed.

BETTING: Spill The Beans ($6) spoiled the party for those who backed the favourite, Handfast ($2.10). Jockey Tim Clark kept him up on the speed throughout and he fought on doggedly while Handfast, who did it tough, faded to finish out of the placings. Handfast, out of the John O’Shea yard, was responsible for well over half of all bets on the race and was probably the best backed runner at Hawkesbury all day. Denmagic, who drifted from $6 to $9.50 ran on to finish second while Serene Majesty ($21-$11) attracted some strong each way money and ran third. BETS: Serene Majesty $1,000 @ $21, Handfast $4,000 @ $2.10, $3,000 @ $2.10

R9: FISHBOY SEAFOODS HCP (1500m)

1 (14) MACKINTOSH ($3.90, $2): Jumped well, worked forward to lead after 200m, controlled the pace, gave plenty in the straight.

2 (2) MAN OF CHOICE ($2.60): Raced four deep from the 800m, kept finding to the line.

3 (15) DREAM LANE ($3.30): Sat three wide from the 800m and tried hard in the run home.

THE PLUNGE: Mackintosh had a huge go late here an never looked in doubt leading all the way.

INSTRUCTIONS: Brenton Avdulla disobeyed instructions to go back here an got the desired result.

BETTING: The move late in betting for Mackintosh ($6-$4.20) paid dividends here. Largely ignored for most part in favour of the favourite Trafalgar ($3.50-$5), the Kiwi-bred now in the hands of Chris Waller led throughout to land some good wagers. Man of Choice, solid for most of the betting, was $6 out to $7 late and kept finding the line while Dream Lane ($9.50-$11) filled the minor placing. BETS: Mackintosh $2,000 @ $4.60

Brenton Avdulla rode a treble, but also copped a suspension at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans

Originally published as Ron Dufficy’s raceday review: Hawkesbury