Ken Callander says Leebaz is the one to watch in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup

PAY particular attention to Leebaz in the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup and then chalk him down as one of racing’s likely new stars for the Spring.

Leebaz (left) is favourite to triumph in the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup. Picture: Mark

PAY particular attention to Leebaz in the Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup, 1600m, on Saturday, and then chalk him down as one of racing’s likely new stars for the Spring.

He is short odds in the Gold Cup, but he should be and he is another gelding by champion sire Zabeel trained by Team Hawkes who is going places just like Octagonal and Fiumicino.

Besides the stand alone Hawkesbury meeting there is also top racing on the Gold Coast where Chris Waller saddles up the favourite Junoob in the $350,000 Hollindale Stakes, 1800m.

Race 1 Hawkesbury (12.25)

Betting: $3 Suit, $7 Imperil $7.50 Longshoreman, $8.50 Generalife, Papillon Rouge

Comment: Suit is no world beater, but has the pace to get into a good spot and is well placed. Papillon Rouge, who will also be up there, has potential and ran out of puff first-up at Randwick. In an open race Turnley’s last run was OK and he’s a chance and you have to consider Disciple, Longshoreman, Generalife, Imperil and Turbulent Jet.

Bet: 7 Suit

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Longshoreman, 7 Suit, 9 Turnley, 12 Papillon Rouge

Race 2 (1.00)

Betting: $4 Idyllic Scenery, $4.20 Farolitos, $4.60 Charlie Royale, $5 Meursault

Comment: Idyllic Scenery, a strong winner at Canterbury, should go forward from his barrier and be hard to toss. Farolitos looked good winning at Mornington at his only run after striking trouble and hitting the line hard. Charlie Royale, placed in town at last two, is in the mix and so is The LIttle Racketeer. Watch for improvement from Meursault, Mr Lebrock and Storm Siren.

Bet: 3 Farolitos

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Idyllic Scenery, 2 Charlie Royale, 3 Farolitos, 11 Storm Siren

Race 3 (1.35)

Betting: $4.20 Liberty’s Choice, $4.60 Harmonic, $5 Cushy Number, $8.50 Rowie, $10 Strace

Comment: Harmonic, a good W.Farm winner last month, will probably go to the front with Liberty’s Choice and Strace also up there. Cushy Number, who will be just off the pace, was most impressive in his recent Kensington win and he will hit the line well. Rowie, Casino Dancer, Sail and Strace should also be considered.

Bet: 10 Cushy Number

Exotics: Quinella 2 Harmonic, 10 Cushy Number

Race 4 (2.10)

Betting: $4.60 Grand Marshall, Murphy’s Delight, $5 La Amistad, $9.50 Senta Desert, Sommernachtstraum

Comment: With Retort Courteous likely to go forward from the outside there should be good speed on and the best stayers should fight it out. ChrisWaller’s two imports, Grand Marshall and Murphy’s Delight, are racing well, La Amistad has a lot of potential and won a weak race in good style last start, Senta Desert is hitting form and Are You Sure was game in a Canterbury win.

Bet: 17 La Amistad

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Senta Desert, 7 Grand Marshall, 8 Retort Courteous, 17 La Amistad

Race 5 (2.45)

Betting: $4.60 Cosmic Endeavour, $4.80 Plucky Belle, $7 Lilliburlero, $8 The Messina Nymph

Comment: Peter Snowden has five runners and I doubt Cosmic Endeavour will have the soft lead she had in her Randwick win, but she is flying and can still win. Plucky Belle and Lilliburlero went well in that Randwick race and will both go even better this time. The Messina Nymph, the winner of two form four, is a query and Miss Stellabelle, Belle De Coeur and Chatham House are worth a thought.

Bet: 2 Plucky Belle

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Lilliburlero, 2 Plucky Belle, 6 Cosmic Endeavour, 13 Chatham House

Race 6 (3.20)

Betting: $1.85 Leebaz, $6 Malavio, Wistful, $9 Mouro, $13 Flying Bay

Comment: I think the up and comer Leebaz and the two Doncaster runners, Malavio and Mouro, have it on this lot in class. All three should race forward with Leebaz my clear top pick. Wistful and Flying Bay are going OK, but are up in grade.

Bet: 4 Leebaz

Exotics: 4 Leebaz as standout in quinellas with 1 Mouro, 2 Malavio.

Race 7 (4.00)

Betting: $4.20 Chautaqua, $5 Northern Glory, $6 Katie’s Cove, $8 Barbed

Comment: Fuerza and Ryker should go forward with Northern Glory close up with Kasiano Lad. Katie’s Cove, the winner of her last two in New Zealand looks an up and coming Zabeel and I liked the way Spy Decoder hit the line at Randwick last run. Northern Glory and Estonian Princess ran well last week and are right in it again and Chautaqua is hard in the market. You take Barbed on trust.

Bet: 15 Katie’s Cove

Exotics: Box quinella 10 Spy Decoder,14 Northern Glory, 15 Katie’s Cove

Race 8 (4.40)

Betting: $4.40 Limes, $4.60 Ichihara, $6 Agent, $8.50 Pocket Rockets, $9.50 Golden Sunshine

Comment: Ichihara, Hurrara and Golden Sunshine should lead and Limes (barrier one) , Inside Job (two) and Pocket Rockets (three) should get good runs just behind. Pocket Rockets’ Melbourne runs are good , Limes is well in, but could find 1100m a touch short and Inside Job is underrated. Ichihara needed a run or two last preparation. Agent, suited by the speed, is in the mix.

Bet: 4 Pocket Rockets

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Limes, 4 Pocket Rockets, 8 Golden Sunshine, 10 Inside Job

BEST BET: Leebaz

VALUE: Farolitos

WHO’S HOT

Punters were straight into Leebaz, from the Team Hawkes stable in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and he has firmed from $2 to $1.85 on Fixed Odds.

WHO’S NOT

Chautauqua is favourite on Fixed Odds in the Hawkesbury Guineas at $4.20. Surely this is unders and he will ease on track.

DROP A HINT

Watch for improved form from the Chris Waller trained Campanology in R7 at Caulfield. He ran a very fast final sectional after getting too far back last week.

EYE CATCHER

Best Case finished in front Order Of The Sun when an eye catching placing in the Tulloch Stakes and then ran well in our Derby. He’s a big hope in the S.A. Derby.