Adam Sherry’s Hawkesbury best bets, inside mail for Thursday, May 15, 2025

Form analyst Adam Sherry presents his best bets, value selection plus quaddie and exotic tips for Thursday’s eight-race card at Hawkesbury.

  

Form analyst Adam Sherry presents his best bets, value selection plus quaddie and exotic tips for Thursday’s eight-race card at Hawkesbury.

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BEST BET

Race 5 No.4 CALTSAR: Followed his good trials wins with a smart debut victory. Hard to beat again.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No.4 EL PASO: Came with a strong run from last to score a big win last start.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No.6 RIGHTEOUS LEGEND: Will take improvement from a handy second first-up after racing wide.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 2: 1, 3

QUADDIE
Race 5: 4
Race 6: 1, 2
Race 7: 4, 5, 6
Race 8: 4, 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan looks a great chance to land a winning double.

RACE 1: 2yo Maiden Plate (1100m)

HIDDEN MOTIVE (2) led and was beaten into second by a promising horse in Aerodrome at Warwick Farm first-up before a third to Grand Eagle at Randwick. At his peak now. PIMLICO (6) makes a timely race debut just days before the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes at the track of the same name. Shaken up and responded to beat Ellismayne in his Apr 24 Randwick trial. MYSTERIOUS MASTER (4) is a debutant by Tagaloa. Just straight to the front to win his Mar 25 trial here.

BET: HIDDEN MOTIVE (2) to win.

RACE 2: 3yo Maiden Handicap (1100m)

QUEEN’S RHAPSODY (1) is knocking on the door after second placings in each of her four starts including a half head second to Crepe Myrtle at Randwick at her last run on Dec 26. Has been good winning both recent trials. JUSTICE WARRIOR (3) has shown nice ability in placing in five of his seven starts and is close to his maiden win. Led and finished a three-quarter length second to King’s Secret at Gosford last start. DONWON (2) resumed with a second to Secure at Canterbury on Apr 21.

BET: QUEEN’S RHAPSODY (1) to win.

RACE 3: Super Maiden Handicap (1100m)

APOLLO RIDGE (5) placed third in both run here last time in. Resumed with a neck second to Tiberius after leading at Wyong on Apr 17. Will be better for the run. SMOTHER (2) debuted with a three-quarter length fifth to Arriving Home at Warwick Farm on Dec 4 before a closing fourth to Autumn Dream there two weeks later. Wasn’t pushed on the heavy track in his Apr 2 trial at Newcastle behind Calstar. CENTURY SONG (3) has place claims.

BET: APOLLO RIDGE (5) to win.

RACE 4: Maiden Plate (1300m)

RIGHTEOUS LEGEND (6) was caught wide on debut when fourth to Zousain Bolt at Wyong last July before a length third to Montana Dawn at Newcastle two weeks later. Again caught wide when second to Mignonette when resuming at Newcastle on Apr 23. Due for a change of luck. MARAIS (4) has placed nine of 11 including a three-quarter length third to Famous One as an odds-on fav at Wyong last start. Will be prominent again. CARNEGIE HILL (2) was a nose second to Sarrismo first-up here last campaign. Strong chance.

BET: RIGHTEOUS LEGEND (6) each-way.

RACE 5: Benchmark 64 (1600m)

CALTSAR (4) trialled smartly in both heats prior to his debut. Justified his long odds-on favouritism when he scored by a length-and-a-half from Proclivity on a Heavy 8 at Newcastle. Can go back-to-back. STYLEBENDER (9) had a win and five placings from his last six starts last campaign. Kicked off this preparation with an all-the-way win at Muswellbrook over 1500m. Placed in his three runs here including two seconds at the trip. OCEAN DIVA (8) began awkwardly and was always well back at Goulburn first-up. Led and just pipped at Gosford last start.

BET: CALTSAR (4) to win.

RACE 6: Benchmark 64 (1100m)

CASSIEL (1) kicked off last preparation with a nose second to Starros over this track and distance before a close second to Zarni at Kembla. Resumed this campaign with a smart all-the-way win from Apex at Canterbury and can go back-to-back. DON’T FORGET JACK (2) scored two in-a-row including a big win at Doomben to start his career. Raced in strong company in both runs last time in. Trialling well and will make his presence felt. FLY SCOTTY FLY (4) has claims on his all-the-way win at Wyong last campaign.

BET: CASSIEL (1) to win.

RACE 7: Benchmark 64 (1100m)

CORDINA (4) debuted with a stylish all-the-way win at Kilmore before a third at Ballarat. Had trialled in Sydney and returned with two thirds at Canterbury. Drawn the pole and will take catching. MERCANTILIST (6) followed a smart Beaumont trial win with a handy win over Winning Rulet over 1200m at Gosford on Mar 15. Blinkers go on and Grant Buckley sticks. BE QUIET (5) drops back to provincial grade after her fifth to First Mission at Canterbury on Apr 20. Blinkers go on.

BET: CORDINA (4) to win.

RACE 8: Class 1 Plate (2000m)

EL PASO (4) was held on straightening until the 300m when fifth to Always Right at Newcastle two starts back before an impressive win from O Cara Mia over 1850m at the same track last start. Can go back-to-back. SHANGRI LA IMPACT (12) was beaten a nose by Tact over 1400m at Kembla before a neck second to Dark Arts over 1500m at Canterbury. Makes the big jump to 2000m but bred for the trip. PERFECT JUSTICE (5) didn’t handle the heavy track in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill. The rest of his recent form has been good.

BET: EL PASO (4) to win.