Hawkesbury races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Disappointing at the start of his campaign, Moorestown’s recent placings have trainer Kerry Parker confident the gelding is ready to strike winning form. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Moorestown is ready to strike winning form at Hawkesbury on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Moorestown’s preparation may not have started the way trainer Kerry Parker expected but he has turned his fortunes around and is on track to score a deserved win when he heads to Hawkesbury on Sunday.

The three-year-old gelding left Parker perplexed when he finished last on the Kensington track first-up in May and a gear change didn’t have the desired effect at his next couple runs but he is back to his right form with two close seconds at his latest runs.

“He lost the plot early in the preparation, he just went terrible first-up on the Kensington track,” said Parker.

“We then stuck the blinkers on him to get him to focus and he was doing too much in them.”

“We took them off him and he’s since put two runs together really well which was great to see and it has shown us he is back.”

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The son of Shalaa sat just off the speed and was beaten a long head by Selfless Act over 1200m at Kembla two starts ago before finishing the same margin from Leandra over 1300m here on June 29.

On Sunday, he steps up to 1500m in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap.

“He is going to need a little bit of luck from that barrier but he is racing well, he looks terrific and I expect him to run really well again,” he said.

Parker is hoping the race experience Serafima has over her rivals and the claim of apprentice Jess Del Frari can prove the key to success when she contests the opening race of the day.

The daughter of Russian Revolution started the rank outsider at $71 but ran a bold race when a length fourth to Satin And Silk at Kembla last Saturday.

“I’m hoping her race experience compared to her rivals and the inside gate will be good assets to her in getting her first win on the board,” he said.

“She is just a small filly so getting the 3kg claim from Jess (Del Frari) and the inside barrier definitely helps.

“She is a good, genuine filly and she finds a nice race to try and get her first win in a two and three-year-old maiden.

Trainer Kerry Parker has four good chances at Hawkesbury on Sunday.

“She can just bounce, go forward and try and control the race. She will give herself a chance.”

Interventionist was a hard luck story when beaten out of a place as favourite at Kembla last time out.

After racing well back along the rails, he was last turning for home as the leaders dashed away and he made steady ground along the rails.

“He was in a slowly run race at home last start which just didn’t suit him,” said Parker.

“They really slowed up mid-race then sprinted home. He was locked up on the fence and just couldn’t build momentum when he needed to.

“He hit the line quite well though under the circumstances.

“Stepping out to 1800m will suit him and I have gone with a senior rider on him this week.

“I’m looking forward to him being very competitive on Sunday now he is getting over a trip.”

Gutsy little mare Jessandi is looking to make it back-to-back wins after her narrow win at Moruya when she tackles the Conditional Benchmark 64 Handicap over a mile.

This is a step up in grade but she is a very genuine mare and she is racing really well so I expect her to run a cheeky race,” he said.

“The plan will be to put her in the first four and hopefully that grinding away situations occurs and with her light weight after the 3kg claim of Jess makes the difference.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 3: DEEP VOYAGE

Was a closing half-length third at Scone last time out. Is an improving type who looks suite stepping up to 1800m.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 3: HOWGOODAREYOU

Debutant from the Waterhouse/Bott stable. Closed off stylishly out wide to win a Randwick trial before going to the line held up behind runners in her Canterbury heat.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 3: KANGAROO COURT

Resumed from a spell with a nice win at Kembla first-up. Will give another great sight here.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 3 Nos. 1, 3

QUADDIE:

Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 6

Race 6: 1, 5, 7, 10

Race 7: 1, 6, 11

Race 8: 4, 5, 6, 8

Adam Hyeronimus looks set for a big day at Hawkesbury. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:

Adam Hyeronimus has a strong book of rides and looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Serafima is one of two three-year-olds in this maiden and the most experienced runner of the field with 12 starts for three placings. She was beaten just under a length when fourth to Satin And Silk at Kembla last Saturday. Carried 54kg after the claim of Jess Del Frari and suited by gate 1. Two-year-old colt Hellova Nature raced on speed and battled away for a three and a quarter length third behind Gently Rolled on debut at Newcastle two weeks ago. Brisket was good when third in her Hawkesbury trial on June 19. Shuttle Run led and was just caught on the line in his Rosehill trial on June 20.

Bet: Serafima to win

RACE 2

Deep Voyage has improved from each start to the next. Hit the line nicely when a length and a quarter runner-up to Treize over 1400m at Kembla two starts back before closing well for a half-length third to Lord Finland over 1600m at Scone. Looks suited stepping up to 1800m. Interventionist didn’t have a much luck in a slowly run 1500m race when fifth at Kembla last start. Will also appreciate the extra trip. Doraskaya worked home well for fourth to Lumiere at Newcastle two starts back and made a strong run out wide from the 500m when a length and a half second to Fleet Commander over 1900m at Gosford last start. Our Kinsman battled away for third to Diamond Drummer over 1600m at Goulburn on Friday.

Bet: Deep Voyage to win

RACE 3

Howgoodareyou, a three-year-old daughter of So You Think, sat back and wide before storming home to win her Randwick trial on June 13 before going to the line untested when last in her Canterbury heat. Can make a winning start to her career. Lara’s Laulet started a $1.90 fav in a Midway Maiden here 10 days ago and had her chance when she raced outside the leader but couldn’t quite reel in Zephyr Wings who fought on strongly. Back against fillies and mares here. Firebolt got home well for fifth behind Lika Sun on the Beaumont over 1150m on debut. Extra trip should suit. Gigi Fille will take great improvement from her debut run when she missed the kick.

Bet: Howgoodareyou to win

RACE 4

One Last Shot started second elect on debut and raced outside the favourite and winner The Little Pumper before finishing a two and a half length third. Went into it with just one trial win under his belt and he will take good benefit from the run. Denman Star took an inside run when just beaten by Hellfire Express at Goulburn first-up before racing greenly when fifth as favourite at Goulburn three weeks ago. Harry Tudor has his chance after leading when fourth to Afterboomer at Newcastle last start. Was runner-up to Missile max this track and distance the start prior. Maybe better with a sit. Field Agent goes to 1300m for the first time. Keep safe.

Bet: One Last Shot to win

Kangaroo Court can make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Kangaroo Court held the inside running early then took a sit before easing out on straightening and charging home to score a smart win from Little Baia who has won since and the stakes-placed Magic Carpet at Kembla first-up. Great chance to go back-to-back. Strait Acer ran some nice races in stronger company at metro level last campaign including a close fifth to Yoshino at Randwick in December. Goes well fresh. Divine Vicky scored a handy win on debut at Kembla before a head second to Baranof in a Class 3 at Nowra. Back to a Class 1 here. Chain of Gold sat wide without cover when beaten a half neck by in-form former Hong Kong galloper Super Friendship at Gosford last start.

Bet: Kangaroo Court to win

RACE 6

Olympic Theatre returns from an eight week break since his fifth to Anythink Goes at Warwick Farm on May 17. Nice trial here June 19. Jessandi comes into this off a confidence boosting win at Moruya. She tracked the leaders until straightening and toughed it out well. Drops to 52kg with the claim. Whetu sat back on the rails and was just warming up late when held up the last 50m in finishing eighth to Cream Rises over 1300m at Kembla when resuming. Will appreciate the extra distance. Deel Street is worth consideration.

Bet: Olympic Theatre to win

RACE 7

Sugoi Legend was just behind the placegetters in his first two runs back from a spell over unsuitable short trips. Appreciated getting to 1900m when a winner as an odds-on fav on the Canberra Acton track on June 23. Can overcome the wide gate and win again. Kiptanui raced three back on the rails and battled to the line well when a three-quarter length fourth to Inside Trader here June 29. Will be in the finish again. Makadeel has claims on his second to Mon Amore at Gosford two starts back. Turnaround Time did well when dropping back from 2600m to 1750m to score on the Canberra Acton track last start.

Bet: Sugoi Legend to win

RACE 8

Moorestown has found his right form in recent starts with close second to Selfless Act at Kembla and behind Leandra here om June 29 over 1300m. Steps up to 1500m which looks ideal, meets the winner 1.5kg better and can land a well-earned win. Leandra sat just behind Moorestown and just beaten him home. Gets a nice run again from the inside gate. Missile Max is racing in terrific form. Scored a fast finishing win from last along the rails here first-up before his fourth to Epicus at Newcastle. Global Encounter resumes here but is a first-up winner.

Bet: Moorestown to win

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