Hawkesbury preview: Watt confident a wide draw will play into the hands Rapt in the Prov-Midway Championship Qualifier

The outside barrier is a blessing not a curse for progressive mare Rapt in the Provincial-Midway Championship Qualifier at Hawkesbury according to Dynamic Syndication’s Adam Watt.

Rapt can book her place in the Provincial-Midway Championship Final with a win in the Hawkesbury Qualifier. Picture: Bradley Photos

Dynamic Syndications Adam Watt remains bullish about the chances of talented mare Rapt qualifying for the $1 million Provincial-Midway Championship Final despite a wide draw at Hawkesbury.

The Jason Deamer-trained mare has drawn barrier 14, the outside gate in the Championship Qualifier (1400m) but with her one-dimensional racing pattern, a wide draw is more advantageous to Rapt according to Watt.

“The barrier is no cause of concern for us. I prefer her drawn out there than a soft gate because she has shown she is a horse who has to be left alone early,” said Watt.

“The best way to ride her is to get her to the outside and the draw allows Tim (Clark) to ride her that way.

Connections will be rapt with that! An easy win to Rapt at Randwick! 💪@clarkyhk | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/XXARlsuV7r

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 21, 2024

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“We saw that when she won the Grafton Guineas last preparation and we saw that when she won the Midway at Randwick two starts back.”

Rapt came from last when fourth in the Listed Just Now Stakes at Eagle Farm first-up before unleashing that brilliant sprint to win a Benchmark 72 Midway at Randwick on December 21.

She returned to Queensland for the Magic Millions The Wave which was transferred to the Sunshine Coast on January 4 where a very slow tempo played against her but she still finished less than two lengths from the winner, Miss Joelene.

“There should be a good tempo this week and there are a couple of horses in this race who go well that will be back in the ruck so hopefully she gets the chance to cart up on the back of them,” he said.

“With 55.5 kilos on her back, she won’t know herself and if the predicted rain comes, then coming down the outside will be the place to be.”

After a mixed preparation so far, Watt is confident Red Hot Lizzie has found the right race in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) to bounce back to winning form.

The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old was good first-up at Canterbury then suffered cardiac arrhythmia second-up on December 6.

She returned with a very good third to Manuscript at Canterbury on New Year’s Day but luck hasn’t gone her way in two starts since when sixth to Idle Flyer on the Kensington and sixth to Don Pedro at Warwick Farm.

“She has had an unfortunate prep to be honest,” Watt said.

Red Hot Lizzie salutes in the first for @cmaherracing with a nice ride from @clarkyhk! pic.twitter.com/cImCmGapLL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 24, 2024

“She was very good first-up in a good race at Canterbury beaten just over a length. We thought she would be very competitive second-up on the Kensington but pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia.

“Unfortunately, she has got a long way back in her last two and was desperately unlucky on the Kensington when a checked run over the concluding stages then at Warwick Farm, they walked but she got home well.

“Coming back to provincial grade really suits her. She gets in well in this race and Tim knows her well.

“I would expect her to be pretty hard to beat.”

Watt is also looking forward to seeing Starboard back at the races after long lay off when he resumes in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) for colts and geldings.

The son of Astern hasn’t raced since finishing third behind Metallic Ruler at Newcastle on October 14, 2023 after winning his maiden by near four lengths at Bathurst three weeks earlier.

“He’s been off the scene for a heck of a long time but he is a horse we have always had a huge opinion of,” he said.

“He’s been given a long build up into this and we would expect to see him run well and improve deeper into his campaign.”

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Local trainer Terry Croft looks a great chances of landing a home track double with full brothers as he edges closer to a training milestone.

Croft current sits of 147 winners and can add to his tally with Royal Commodore and Royal Bombadier.

Royal Commodore is a little unlucky not to be unbeaten after going down narrowly on debut by Turf Fever at the Gosford meeting that was transferred to Port Macquarie on December.

The three-year-old bounced back with a tenacious victory from Blanc De Noir at Randwick-Kensington on January 15 after racing three-wide on the speed.

“It took him 100m or so to get balanced and once he got running, he probably went a bit too hard then. He just over reacted a bit,” said Croft.

👑 Royal Commodore impresses at Randwick-Kensington as he breaks his maiden at start number 2!@NockBraith | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/sjHzn55eV8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 15, 2025

“He was then three deep the journey at Randwick and really found the line strong to win.”

Given a benchmark rating of 64 after that victory, Croft has found an ideal race for the gelding in the Class 1 Handicap - Heat Of The Rising Star (1000m) with Braith Nock again aboard.

“We targeted this race being an apprentice only race. He gets in okay at the weights,” he said.

“He has done very well since his win and he actually looks better now than he did when he went to Randwick.”

In the same race, Croft feels Hot Jive is capable running well.

Although down the order in her two runs this time in, she showed good ability with a barnstorming win at Grafton last July.

“I would forget her run here the other day. She was too wide on the last corner and lost too much ground,” he said.

“She’s got plenty of ability but is her own worst enemy sometimes.

“If she runs up to her Grafton win, she will run a cheeky race here.

“She’s got no weight on her back and should get a nice, soft run.”

Royal Bombadier is on trial over the 1300m in the Benchmark 64 Handicap for colts and geldings but Croft feels he will run it out strongly after a tough second over 1200m at Kembla last start.

“He’s had two goes at 1200m and he ran on alright in a strong race at Port Macquarie without much luck and he boxed on well at Kembla last start.

“He’s got no weight and Mollie (Fitzgerald) rides him well.

“He will run another good race.”