Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury

A John Sargent-trained mare kicks off her campaign which can lead her to bigger and better races this spring. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Tuesday is at Hawkesbury and Quirindi. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass 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 2, No.10: LEFT REELING

Above-average Dundeel mare who could be in better races deep into the spring. Her race to lose.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.8: BLUE CANSATA

Didn’t run as badly as it looked on paper last start; whatever the case, he wants the mile now

VALUE BET

Race 3, No.9: JUNQUEIRA

Capitalist filly of a USA stakes-winning mare who has more than looked the part in her two recent trials.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,4

Race 5: 2

Race 6: 2,5

Race 7: 1,2,3,5

Champion jockey James McDonald is a short-priced favourite for the Jockey Challenge at Hawkesbury. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

James McDonald is now $1.33 to win the 2022/23 Premiership; he might not be much better than that to win Tuesday’s Jockeys Challenge.

QUIRINDI

BEST BET

Race 2, No.5: IRON HAT

Powerfully built gelding who has had a tidy C.V already including the Starmaker at home at Muswellbrook on a Heavy 8

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.6: PRINCE AKEEM

Todd Howlett-trained galloper who gets back but is blessed with a strong finish. Just has to handle the heavy 10 here.

VALUE BET

Race 1, No.8: CRISTALINO

Daughter of Tarzino from the Kris Lees yard who has placed six times from 10 starts. Gets her big chance to win here.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Blue Canasta is a John Sargent-trained colt by Smart Missile and who is best described as ‘building up to something’. Blue Canasta has had three runs this preparation, 1300m, 1200m then 1300m again and the last run at Wyong certainly suggested that he would be best served over a mile next time and on a bigger track. Inuwashi is an Orbis runner from the Chris Waller stable. This Irish-bred grandson of High Chaparral will go 2000m and more (son) so the mile second-up is the great option. Tracey Bartley-trained galloper Dresden bumped into an obviously Frankel son last start at Wyong.

Bet: Blue Canasta to win, quinella 2,8, box trifecta 1,2,6,8

RACE 2

Left Reeling is another one trained by John Sargent. This mare is likely to be one of the shortest priced favourites on the day but that kind of thing happens when you book James McDonald. Left Reeling is by Dundeel so is on the right stable to get out to 2000m and maybe more and win her owners a stakes race in the spring or the autumn. Santorini Sun was scratched from a very heavy track at Goulburn yesterday to run on an infinitely better surface here. She’s a Choisir mare who is too good to be a maiden for much longer. Waterhouse/Bott entrant Avoidance will be prominent for a long way.

Bet: Left Reeling to win

Tommy Berry rides debutant Junqueira at Hawkesbury on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Image

RACE 3

Junqueira is a Capitalist filly out of an American stakes-winning mare Bibby and was bought for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale in 2020. The John O’Shea-trained three-year-old has looked good in her two recent trials at home at Randwick and shapes to run well albeit in a pretty strong provincial maiden. Diamond Flare, formerly known as Dickson Horse, is a flying machine. The son of Deep field was unplaced behind In The Congo on the Kensington track on debut in May 2021 and has trialled six times since, winning five of them - frequently by big space. Sir Ming, the grandson of Alinghi, has J Mac on and arrives off some crackerjack trials.

Bet: Junqueira to win

RACE 4

Selfie Time was a dual acceptor on the card with trainers Richard and Will Freedman electing to start here. Selfie Time is a daughter of Savabeel out of an O’Reilly mare bred, naturally, at Waikato Stud in New Zealand. She can best be described as progressive’ and is coming off an easy win at Kembla albeit against a small field of inferior opposition. Can take the next step. Mihocek has finished runner-up in his only two prior visits to this venue including at his most recent start. Has a big weight but has been competitive in better races than this one. Upper House is a grand old campaigner for Norm Gardner who has won 10 times in 58 starts. Could pull out something fresh on a good suitably ‘firm’ surface first-up.

Bet: Selfie Time to win, quinella 1,4

RACE 5

Sovereign Express races in the colours of his esteemed relative Sons Of John who got closer to Winx one day than a lot of others never did. This son of Frankel’s three-quarter brother, Bullet Train, has been in fabulous form this preparation, so much so that the lightly-raced five-year-old is on a hat-trick. Racing at home and has ‘a winning draw’. Why not again? Tavistock gelding Turnaround Time is also in sparkling form at present. The John Steinmetz-trained gelding was rewarded for his ongoing consistency with an impressive last start win at Bathurst. Placed at two of three at this same track and distance. Dash Dash Dash is still a maiden but appears closer than ever to a well-earned breakthrough.

Bet: Sovereign Express to win, exacta 2 to beat 9, Daily Double 1st leg (2), 2nd leg (3)

Rory Hutchings (pictured) is looking to make it three in-a-row aboard Sovereign Express. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Communist is a cleverly-named son of the recently crowned Champion First Season Sire, Russian Revolution. The Michael Freedman-trained three-year-old was runner-up to the handy Godolphin galloper Huon on May 25 then came here to Hawkesbury soon after and was too good. Take note that he trialled in the interim and was a bit of an eye-catcher in the Heat. Roma Avenue is a typical Star Witness chestnut from the Mark Newnham stable. This flashy gelding has raced five times for a win, a second and three thirds but best of all, he is a fast last start winner. Worst of all, he has barrier 10 of 10. Wealthofknowledge is another one that has barely put a foot wrong. Best of the test is Tycoon Tiara’s daughter, Zemininka.

Bet: Communist to win

RACE 7

Toto has been plagued by wet tracks this preparation but has raced well at times, nonetheless. The Todd Howlett-trained son of Manhattan Rain gets the surface to suit here and what’s more; this looks like being a fast run race so he could very well play the role of ambusher here and sweep home right over the top of them. Comonic is a talented and lightly-raced ‘nephew’ of a past Hawkesbury Guineas winner in Shazee Lee. You may remember that she was a barnstormer in her day, whereas Comonic is a very fast horse. Smashing trial win at Scone on July 27. Go well. Ceasefire has a big weight but what’s the point in claiming when you get James McDonald?

Bet: Toto to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury