Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury

Following two solid second placings, an Edward O’Rourke-trained gelding is poised to land a winning blow on his home track. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Hawkesbury.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen 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. 1 - IRON MAN

Runner-up at his first two starts, this Edward O’Rourke-trained galloper can break his maiden on home turf.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 4 - MINDSPACE

Promising young galloper that can go on with it here after breaking his maiden in style last time.

VALUE BEST

Race 7 No. 4 - FAST RESPONSE

Returning galloper with stakes form. He just needs to overcome a tricky draw first up from a break to be competitive.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4, 5, 6

Race 6: 1, 3, 6, 9

Race 7: 2, 4, 5, 9

Race 8: 3, 5, 11, 12

Rachel King looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge at Hawkesbury. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Group 1 winning jockey Rachel King is off to Perth this weekend to ride in The Quokka but looks set for a winning day closer to home first.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR HAWKESBURY

RACE 1

Subarctic is deep into his maiden preparation now but continues to improve. The Matthew Smith-trained gelding has placed at two of his past three starts, only narrowly going down at the 1850m at Newcastle last time. He just punctured late on that occasion so the drop back to a mile looks suitable. Octahedron went under as a $1.40 elect last start at Kembla. Put that down to the heavy track and you would expect he’s more than capable of atonement this time at Hawkesbury. Edgewise has placed in eight of his 19 starts and finds a race without a heap of depth.

Verdict: Subarctic to win

RACE 2

Iron Man has shown plenty of promise to start his career and can get his reward here. The son of Exosphere has finished second in both of his starts to date - one this time in and one last prep - and only just went down at Newcastle first up. He can go one better here. Secret Revolution has placed in four of his seven runs. He just found one better last time at Newcastle but seems to be going well this prep and looks a danger. Surreal Leo was scratched from Newcastle on Wednesday with a superior barrier here. He’s a consistent campaigner that just keeps finding a couple better.

Verdict: Iron Man to win

RACE 3

Black Iris is a Godolphin galloper that’s based out of the Agnes Banks stable so only needs to go up the road to break her maiden. She gave a glimpse of her talent with a pair of placings in her first three runs. The daughter of Exosphere gets a good draw and the red hot Zac Lloyd in the saddle for her return. Expecting a strong first up showing from Afterlight. The Chris Waller-trained filly has trialled up well ahead of her second prep. She’s Jessie has placed in five of seven runs and should be around the money again.

Verdict: Black Iris to win

Top apprentice Zac Lloyd rides Black Iris on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Princess Mary has been away from the races for 147 days away from the races. The Dissident filly wasn’t far away in her only run at this track, finishing off well for second. She is great value first up on home turf with a handy draw. Shipshape is the likely favourite after a pair of placed runs including last start in metropolitan grade. Should get every hope from the draw but will be rock bottom odds. Man Of Valor was good at this venue last time but the 10 draw has to be a question mark for his chances.

Verdict: Princess Mary each way

RACE 5

Mindspace is a progressive son of So You Think that’s starting to work it all out. The Mark Newnham-trained has improved with every run this preparation and hit the target last start with a nice win over 1850m at Newcastle. He can win again here. Lyrical Lady has finished second in both Aussie runs. She has form around 2000m in the UK so this should be right up her alley. Sunchaser has to be included in wider exotics off her last start second at Kembla Grange.

Verdict: Mindspace to win

RACE 6

Hedge Fund finally reward investors last start with a dominant four length win at Kembla. He can double the dose here if Kerry Parker choses to head this way with other options on the table. Barrier 10 is the only concern to his chances. So You Battle drifted massively $2.80 to $6.50 first up at Gosford from a break and ran accordingly. He’s better than what he showed in that run and a sharp improvement shouldn’t surprise. Vancouver’s Gem returns to the scene of his determined last start success over the same trip. A repeat of that performance has him in the finish.

Verdict: Hedge Fund to win

Tom Sherry will partner Fast Response at Hawkesbury. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Fast Response finished within a length of Anavinci in a Listed Gosford Guineas in his last run before going for a spell. That’s great form for this, albeit a competitive Benchmark 68. His trials have been excellent in the lead up to his return but has to do it from barrier 10. Troika was scratched from Newcastle at Wednesday to take advantage of a better barrier (seven) here. He’s racing well with wins in two of his past three. Selous won first up last preparation and looks set for another forward showing fresh from his latest break.

Verdict: Fast Response to win. Quinella 4, 5, 9

RACE 8

Buillt comes into this five weeks between runs after breaking his maiden at Kensington the last time we saw him. The Chris Waller-trained gelding looked first up so hoping the gap between runs keeps some freshness in the legs here. He looks a great chance as long as the track doesn’t slide into the heavy range. Strombus has no worries in all conditions and wasn’t far away on a heavy track at Warwick Farm last time. He doesn’t win out of turn but has been racing consistently of late. Hadouken is first up for 163 days but his trials indicate he’s ready for a big showing first up.

Verdict: Buillt to win