Hawkesbury preview: In-form mare Fugitiva to continue a superb campaign with a fourth victory

Progressive mare Fugitiva broke through for her maiden win at Hawkesbury in July and returns chasing a fourth win for the campaign.

Fugitiva is chasing a fourth win for the campaign when she heads to Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

Fugitiva faces her stiffest test to date as she steps up in grade with a big weight but trainers Robert and Luke Price don’t see any reason why she can’t collect a fourth win for the campaign.

The four-year-old has had a terrific campaign so far going from a maiden win at Hawkesbury second-up in July and following with two victories from her next three starts on her home track of Kembla.

Fugitiva’s only failure was her sixth behind Rip Off at Newcastle two starts back but she had excuses according to Robert Price.

“She came into season on the trip up and performed accordingly. You can’t fault her for that,” said Price.

Fugitiva (right) nabs Jawharat Dubai to break her maiden at Hawkesbury in July. Picture: Bradley Photos

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“This time of year you are going to see that happen this time of year with mares.

“She redeemed herself by winning quite impressively at Kembla last start and Luke and I are thinking she will be highly competitive again this week.”

Her latest win came in a Benchmark 64 over 1400m where she carried 59kg.

The daughter of Supido gets the same weight when she steps up in grade in the Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1500m.

“It’s never easy when you go up in grade and still carrying a big weight,” Price said.

“We were going to go to Warwick Farm on Wednesday with her but it just didn’t look right so we have taken the easier option.

“She is in form though and she is possibly a metropolitan type mare. Whether she does it this preparation of next, she is certainly up to Midweek city grade and might even make it to Saturday grade at an easier time of year.”

Former New Zealand gelding Lucky Bay was always going to find the 1200m first-up too short for his liking but the Prices were happy with his Australian debut effort when sixth to Let’s Go Again at Kembla on September 28.

The son of Sweynesse will appreciate stepping up to his pet distance of 1600m in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap.

“He will be much better suited over the mile but he needed to kick off in something a bit shorter.

“We attempted to go over 1400m first-up but it was easier to place him where we did the other day.

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“He kept sticking his neck out and even through the line, he kept trying.

“He will race on the speed, has drawn a good gate and I can see him being in the fight for quite a while.”

Another who Price feels will be much better after her first-up run is Monte Supreme who contests the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).

The four-year-old finished seventh behind Ravenclaw when resuming in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill on October 2 but Price was happy enough with the run.

“I see her being much more competitive in this race although her run was pretty solid the other day at Rosehill,” he said.

“She will appreciate the track being soft. There’s no doubt about that.

“She has drawn wide which is a good thing for her. She gets easily distracted in the gates so drawing out means she won’t be in there too long.”

The stables other runner for the day is Noble Ruby in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).

She was runner-up on debut at Moruya in March and resumed with a fifth to Let’s Go Again there on September 17.

“First-up this preparation, she took a step backwards when the gates opened and got back off the speed,” Price said.

“She has drawn a nice gate, Keagan (Latham) trialled her the other day and was happy with her.

“We would like to see a forward showing from her.”

EXTRA DISTANCE AND IDEAL DRAW ENHANCE GELDING’S CHANCES

Trainer Gerald Ryan feels a step up in trip and the wide draw is a positive for Enhance as the gelding chases his maiden win.

The three-year-old was gallant in finishing second behind Force Red when resuming at Newcastle on October 1 over an unsuitably short 900m.

Enhance settled three back along the fence and was spotting Force Red three lengths at the 600m and finished two-and-a-half lengths behind him on the line.

“They were a bit sharp for him over the 900m. He was supposed to resume over 1000m at Hawkesbury the Thursday before but the meeting was called off,” said Ryan who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.

“He bumped into a smart horse of Ciaron Maher’s and they ran sensational time. They broke 51 seconds for the 900m and broke 33 seconds for the last 600m.

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“Enhance was good to the line and he did have to change course in the straight.

“He was going to come out around a horse and it rolled out so he had to go back to the inside.”

The son of Exceed And Excel will appreciate stepping up to 1100m when he contests the Suntory -196 Mixed 10pk Maiden Plate.

“Stepping up to 1100m around Hawkesbury should suit him,” Ryan said.

“I don’t mind them drawing out at the 1100m start at Hawkesbury because there is only one corner.

“From out there, he can take his time and find his rhythm rather than have to be ridden along to hold a spot.”

Ryan and Alexiou’s other runner for the day is Gai’s Artist in the Tooheys Ultra Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).

The three-year-old sister to Ryan’s former Group 1 winning sprinter and now successful sire, Trapeze Artist, will have the blinkers back on in a bid to help her find her best form.

The filly finished just over two lengths behind Seascape and Maori Chief first-up at Canterbury before a safely held sixth to Spirit Of Wealth at Warwick Farm.

“I have been a bit disappointed with her this time in,” he said.

“On her work and her trials, she should have gone to the races and performed better.

“She has drawn a nice gate, has the blinkers, Tim has ridden her in a trial and she is stepping up in journey so hopefully everything can come together on the day.

“If she runs up to her work at home, she should be competitive.”