Hawkesbury races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Gerald Ryan has a good opinion of a progressive staying filly who can claim a third successive victory when she heads to Hawkesbury. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Prefer To Smile can notch a third consecutive win when she heads to Hawkesbury on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Gerald Ryan had hopes of tackling the Group 1 Queensland Oaks with promising staying filly Prefer To Smile but an untimely injury put an end to that.

A daughter of Preferment and granddaughter of Group 1 Wellington Cup winner Smiling Like, she gave a glimpse of her ability in her first win, scoring by two-and-a-quarter-lengths in a Class 1 at Canberra over 2000m which prompted Ryan to think of the Oaks.

“I have got a lot of time for this filly. I think she will stay a full journey,” said Ryan who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.

“After she won at Canberra, we gave her a short spell with the idea of getting her ready for the Queensland Oaks.

“She is a full sister to Smirk who ran fourth in the Queensland Oaks last year.

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“Unfortunately, after a trial at Rosehill earlier this year, she had a setback when she pulled a muscle in behind so we had to stop and give her some more time off.”

With a delayed start to her campaign, the three-year-old picked up a small consolation prize with an impressive win when resuming over 1600m at Goulburn two weeks ago and she can land another in the Benchmark 64 over 1800m this weekend.

“She was very good winning first-up,” he said.

“She’s doesn’t have gate speed and gets back but she finishes off very well.

“In all four starts, the best part of her race has been her last 200 metres, she has really wanted to find the line.

“It will be interesting to see how she goes getting out to a longer journey and against a bit harder company but it will give us a better indication of where she sits.”

If Prefer To Smile wins this weekend, Ryan and Alexiou have their eye on a metropolitan race for the three-year-old.

“There is a fillies and mares race over 1800 metres coming up at Randwick we could possibly head to otherwise we will just keep her poking through the grades,” he said.

Racing in the same interests as Prefer To Smile is lightly-raced four-year-old Vincenzo who contests the Class 1 Handicap over 1500m.

Trainer Gerald Ryan has a high opinion of lightly-raced filly Prefer To Smile. Picture: Getty Images

This race might be a touch short for the gelding according to Ryan but it’s an important step towards the stable’s upcoming plans.

“I had him in at Newcastle last week but he drew very wide so I scratched him to run here instead,” said Ryan.

“Unfortunately, he has drawn wide again but he has to go around as we want to get to some longer journeys with him.”

The son of Real Impact didn’t perform to expectations when resuming at Kembla on May 13 but Ryan is confident of a much better performance this weekend.

“He was disappointing at Kembla first-up where he pulled and didn’t finish his race off.

“His work since has been good. I was pleased with what he did on Monday morning and I’m sure we will see a better horse this weekend.

“He will get back worse than mid-field bit he will be hitting the well.”

Ryan and Alexiou will also saddle up a two-year-old staying type this weekend by the name of Revelaide.

The son of Rebel Raider makes his debut in the 1400m 2YO Maiden Plate over 1400m after two handy barrier trials at Hawkesbury and Rosehill finishing just behind the placegetters each time.

“He trialled alright for a horse that is going to get out over a bit a ground,” said Ryan.

“I hate using the cliche but whatever he does this time in, he will be much better next time around.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 7: PREFER TO SMILE

The filly was earmarked for a shot at the Queensland Oaks before a setback. Stylish winner of her last two starts and destined for better races.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 6: MEOD

The filly was trapped out wide around the bend before scoring a tough win at this track and distance last start. Drawn gate 2 this time and can go back-to-back.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 8: HARRY TUDOR

Was a solid second at Gosford when resuming form a spell and will take good improvement from the run. Drawn nicely and will give this a shake.

BEST EXOTIC

Race 3 Quinella: No. 1 AFTERBOOMER, No. 5 QUEEN ASTRID

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 6, 7

Race 6: 2, 6

Race 7: 6, 7

Race 8: 3, 4, 6, 13

Keagan Latham looks set for a good day at Hawkesbury on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Keagan Latham has a handy book of rides and should end up with a couple of winners.

INSIDE MAIL - HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Miss Adamas was forced to race wide without cover when resuming at Newcastle on May 20 and did a good job to hold on for second to Not That Easy. She has placed in three of her four starts and from a good draw, can land her first win. Parmenio boxed on well for third to Mafia at Wyong on June 1. Will figure prominently again. Kissing Supido kicked off her campaign with a third at Gosford after leading. Was a handy fourth at Scone two starts earlier and should have finished a little closer. Flying Birds was held up near the turn when third at Queanbeyan first-up before his length-and-a-half eighth at Kembla.

Bet: Miss Adams to win

RACE 2

Godzilla was a handy third to The Novelist on debut in the McLachlan Stakes at Doomben in December and was fifth to Shinzo in the Pago Pago in March. He raced keenly in the blinkers when fourth to Tannhauser at Randwick last start so the blinkers come off for this. Ferro Vero ran home strongly and just missed when second to Moritz Girl on debut at Mudgee on May 7 before a closing two-and-a-half length seventh to Congregation at Canterbury on May 24. Ashfall turned in a solid effort on debut when third to King Colorado at Kembla. Will take improvement from the experience and sure to be prominent again.

Bet: Godzilla to win

RACE 3

Queen Astrid resumed with a fast-finishing run along the rails for a close third to Burnett at Kembla. Debuted for new trainer Brad Widdup with a third to all-the-way winner Oriental Tycoon. She gets an ideal run from gate 4. Afterboomer was scratched from Newcastle to run here. Was beaten a long neck when second to Hayatti at Newcastle on May 4 before beating all bar Smart Legend at Kembla. Big chance if he can find a spot from his wide gate. Jack Of Aces was checked in the run and raced keenly when eighth on debut at Kembla before a handy second to Gold Pattern at Newcastle on May 30. Walk Up Start should be included in the multiples.

Bet: Queen Astrid to win. Quinella 1, 5

RACE 4

Harry Tudor resumed from a lengthy spell as a gelding for the Brad Widdup stable and finished a two length second to Epicus at Gosford on May 25. Drawn ideally in gate 4 and with the run under his belt, he can go one better here. Missile Max made a wide run from last when fourth to Starros here two starts back. Came from last with a strong run and hit the front briefly before finishing a half head second to Vancouver’s Gem here on Apr 1. Highway Patrol has been impressive winning both barrier trials by two lengths. Has come up with the outside gate through for his debut which makes his task harder. Sidenay is worth consideration for the exotics.

Bet: Harry Tudor to win

Terra Mater can make it two in-a-row on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Terra Mater was runner-up at Nowra first-up before an unlucky third to Charity Joy on the Kensington on Apr 24 when held up near the 400m and inconvenienced near the post when beaten a half-length. Broke through for a well-deserved win at Bathurst last time out. Donegal Lights is knocking on the door for a win after two handy placings at his last two starts. Raced three-wide when runner-up to One Destiny at Goulburn before a length-and-a-quarter second to Resistible at Kembla on May 23. Epicus defied a betting drift to break through with a two length win from Harry Tudor at Gosford last start. Will be prominent again. Gorshin is racing well and won’t be faraway.

Bet: Terra Mater to win

RACE 6

Meod got well back before finishing a two length eighth to the in-form No Statement at Newcastle before a two-and-a-quarter length fourth at Wyong. Showed good speed but was kept out four-wide rounding the turn here last start before proving too tough for Tai Lung. Gets an easier run from gate 2 this time. Akaka Falls put his best foot forward to score an upset win from Fire And Ice at Newcastle last start. Good chance again. Laroupe will appreciate a drop in grade from his last two starts at Warwick Farm. Was a neck second to Tocomah at Wyong first-up from a spell. I Am Brazen has good first-up stats and was good winning a trial here on May 22.

Bet: Meod to win

RACE 7

Prefer To Smile closed off her first preparation with a stylish win over 2000m at Canberra on Nov 13. She kicked off this campaign the same way when a two length winner from Heromania over 1600m at Goulburn on May 26. She will relish the step up to 1800m and can make it three in-a-row. Gigantic was runner-up to Flashing Steel at Kembla on May 6. Went back from the wide gate and ran on well for third to Our Bambino there again on May 23. The Crimson Idol was wide throughout when runner-up at Newcastle two runs back before a fourth there on May 30. Hadouken has been placed at his last two runs and won’t be far away again.

Bet: Prefer To Smile to win

RACE 8

Eau De Vie returned from a seven week let-up with a solid length third to Grand Crusader here on May 18. She was a smart winner at Kembla two starts prior and will give this a shake. Two Aye followed a handy second at Scone with a big win at Goulburn last time out. Big chance again. Decimus must be respected on his last start Kembla victory. Don Pedro will be fitter for his first-up fourth at Nowra.

Bet: Eau De Vie to win

Originally published as Hawkesbury races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail