Hawkesbury preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, July 20, 2025

With blinkers enhancing focus and a firmer track underfoot, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Fly Scotty Fly is poised for a strong performance at Hawkesbury.

A shifting track proved the undoing of Fly Scotty Fly last start but co-trainer Gerald Ryan expect the gelding to bounce back on a better surface.

Fly Scotty Fly settled fourth, one off the fence, a Gosford on July 10 but just wasn’t comfortable on the Soft 6 and dropped out to finish last behind Straand Beauty.

“He’s no good when the track moves underneath him, said Ryan who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.

“You only have to look at his form when he’s been on quite soft ground, he has gone no good.

“We thought he would run really well in his first start in a race but he ran last and the same happened at Rosehill last preparation.

Fly Scotty Fly leads all the way in the Wyong opener! 💪

@GRyanRacing pic.twitter.com/6vfpvj7G0l

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 31, 2024

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!

“He’s a big heavy horse and when he hits the ground with any give in it, he would sink into it.”

In his other three runs, the son of Brazen Beau was a head second to Stratafy on a Good 3 at Wyong and scored an all-the-way win from Firework on a Good 4 at the same track in consecutive runs last December.

He then resumed this preparation with a second behind the in-form Cassiel on a Soft 5 at Hawkesbury where the track was good under foot.

“The track was pretty firm that day because they ran 1:02.94 and came home in 33.4 (seconds),” Ryan said.

That was over 1100m and he steps out over the same trip in the Clarendon Tavern Benchmark 64 Handicap.

“It was a nice run that day and if he runs up to that, he will be a good chance here.

“We have tried him in blinkers since his last run and they seem to have made him focus even better.”

Ryan and Alexiou also have Sweet Future in the same race but feel she will be better with this run under her belt.

The three-year-old was midfield in her first two starts at provincial level before going to Bathurst third-up and scoring by a length last December.

Tessy Tee went to the front and put a margin on her rivals in Race 3 at @hawkesburyrc! pic.twitter.com/XsYtrD0ZuL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 8, 2024

“She is a nice filly and is better than what her form really shows,” said Ryan.

“It was good to get an early win on the board.

“She is coming along really well but 1100 metres around Hawkesbury will probably be a tad short for her.

“She will definitely improve off the run because she has come back a lot bigger and stronger filly now than what she was and is taking a bit to get fit, hence the two trials.”

Ryan and Alexiou had two options this weekend with Cheeky Smirk and have opted to for the St Johns Park Bowling Club Maiden Plate (1100m) for colts and geldings and entires to make his race debut.

The two-year-old son All Too Hard showed good speed to sit outside the leader, Leading Impact, and chased home strongly to finish a three-quarter length second in his Rosehill barrier trial on June 20.

In his second trial, he went back early and didn’t quite know what to do when sixth to Nashville Jack at Rosehill on July 4.

“His first trial was good then in his second trial when he went back, he got a bit lost in behind them,” Ryan said.

“That’s why I like trialling young horses for speed one day and going back behind them the next. It gives them the experience both ways and you just find out a bit more about them.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 7: MY PHAR LADY

Kicked off last campaign with a win and can start this one the same.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 4: DANISH PRINCE

Racing well without winning in stronger grade. Gets his chance to break through.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 6: FLY SCOTTY FLY

Handy second here first-up and will make his presence felt.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 3

Race 6: 3, 4, 6

Race 7: 4, 7, 8

Race 8: 5, 6, 8

Zac Lloyd looks set for a good day. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

ZAC LLOYD has four rides and all are among the leading chances.

INSIDE MAIL – HAWKESBURY

RACE 1: Hrc Motel Provincial Mdn Hcp 1300m

TAMBELOA (3) was trapped three-wide in the small field when finishing a length-and-three-quarter third to Loving on debut at Newcastle on June 28. Will be improved by the run. AFLOAT (1) kicks off his campaign for a new stable. Unplaced in both runs here when first-up but was doing his best work late. Improved second-up to finish second over 1500m. Latest trials have been good. ZOUGOTME (4) is a debutant by Zousain. Hasn’t been pushed in his recent trials. Was strong late when second in his Kembla trial in March.

Bet: Tambeloa to win

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RACE 2: Blakes Marine Mdn Plate 1500m

TEQUISODA (9) copped a bump at the start and settled a little worse than midfield on the rails before nicely for second behind Sapling at Wyong on debut. Will take benefit from the run. THE IRON STAR (2) kicked off his second campaign with a three-quarter length second to Jared over 1300m at Goulburn. Jumped straight to 1600m when fifth to Unusual Prospect in a Super Maiden at Gosford. THE CRISTAL (7) was reluctant to go to the barriers before finishing fifth at Orange on debut. Resumes here. Watch betting.

Bet: Tequisoda to win

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RACE 3: St Johns Park Bowling Club Mdn Plate 1100m

POWERHOUSE (9) is debutant by Extreme Choice. A little slow into stride before working home for sixth in his Randwick trial. Better away to sit outside the leader when second to Fierceness in his Warwick Farm heat. DISPARATE (5) is a first starter by I Am Invincible. Sat last and was warming up the last 100m when seventh in his June 13 Randwick trial. Sat four-wide and wasn’t pushed when fifth there in his June 27 heat. GLADSTONE GRANDE (7) debuted in the Kirkham when last to Comedy. Resumes here and has trialled nicely.

Bet: Powerhouse to win

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RACE 4: XXXX Gold Mdn Plate 1100m

VANLEE (4) raced outside the leader and hit the front on straightening before challenged by the $1.30 favourite Horseshoe Hill and fighting gamely for a long head second when resuming here. Followed with a third to Dyami on a Heavy 10 at Warwick Farm. YVETTE (5) didn’t handle the heavy track at Newcastle first-up from a long spell when seventh behind Hoku. Was third to Chartwell and Triskelion at Canterbury at her other two starts. ZING TO ME (6) has place claims on her last start second here.

Bet: Vanlee to win

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RACE 5: Godolphin Lifetime Care Plate (C1) 2000m

UNUSUAL PROSPECT (2) resumed with a good win in a 1600m Super Maiden at Gosford. Got back and worked home okay when sixth to Oh Golly Gosh here on July 3 on a track favouring on speed runners. Up to 2000m suits. SO YOU READY (3) was held up at a vital stage and only clear last when fourth to Libby at Grafton on July 13. Previous runs were very good. ENTITLEMENT (9) has finished third in both runs back and looks like she will appreciate the step up to 2000m.

Bet: Unusual Prospect to win

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RACE 6: Essential Asset & Fire (Bm64) 1500m

DANISH PRINCE (4) has been out of the winners circle for quite some time but continues to race well. Second in a Randwick Midway and just behind the placegetters in three runs since. Back in grade and can land a deserved win. OH GOLLY GOSH (6) got well back at Gosford over 1300m when seventh to runs back. Stepped up to 1600m and did a nice job to score here last start. NOISES (3) made rapid progress in the spring from a maiden win over this track and distance to running in the VRC Oaks. Can run well first-up.

Bet: Danish Prince to win

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RACE 7: Godolphin Midway (Bm64) 1300m

MY PHAR LADY (7) kicked off last campaign with back-to-back wins in a maiden and Class 1 before jumping up sharply in grade at her next two. Was a good second in her trial here on July 7. ORTHIE’S BOYS (8) held out t he in-form Killer Kerr at Goulburn before a closing fourth to Canpikapony over 1300m at Gosford. The 1300m here will suit. PRINCE HARRISON (4) scored a deserved win at Kembla last start. Drawn well and will be prominent again.

Bet: My Phar Lady to win

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RACE 8: Clarendon Tavern (Bm64) 1100m

FLY SCOTTY FLY (6) wasn’t suited on a wet and shifting track when last at Gosford last start. Same happened at his other two unplaced runs. Was runner-up to Cassiel when resuming here and will go close again. AGAINST THE LAW (5) resumed from a 18 month lay-off with a long neck second behind Regimental Colours over 1000m here on July 3. Will take plenty of benefit from the run. HONEY PERFUME (8) is ultra-consistent with a win and seven placings from her eight starts. Comes off a second to Killer Kerr sat Warwick Farm.

Bet: Fly Scotty Fly each-way