Hawkesbury preview: Kristen Buchanan is looking for promising colt Justice Warrior to strike back after a luckless first-up defeat

The best laid plans went awry for trainer Kristen Buchanan and Justice Warrior first-up but that can become a distant memory with a breakthrough win at Hawkesbury.

Justice Warrior can break through for a well deserved win at Hawkesbury. Picture: Bradley Photos

Kristen Buchanan ventured to Port Macquarie with her promising colt Justice Warrior quietly confident he could score a first-up win.

Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out as she hoped and Justice Warrior was forced to sit wide throughout and the odds-on favourite finished third behind Viale.

While the result was disappointing, she couldn’t have been happier with his gutsy performance.

“It was a horror race to watch. I was thinking ‘Aaron (Bullock) what are you doing? Keeping your horse off the fence to hold Justice Warrior three-wide’,” said Buchanan.

“The worst part was I sent him to Port Macquarie thinking he would get a weight that would allow Aaron to ride him because he rode him in his trial there a couple of weeks before and he said this horse would not get beaten in this race.

One runner, one winner for the @MattyDunnRacing stable on @port_races Cup Day ✅ Viale overcomes a wide draw and fends off all challengers. pic.twitter.com/aNVkkeatbn

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 11, 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!

“Unfortunately, he didn’t get enough weight for Aaron to ride.

“One thing I can take out of the race is they halved the Inglis bonus because there were so many nominations, the split the race into two divisions. Now we get to go to a race where the whole bonus is available.”

The son of Justify and dual Group 1-winning mare Srikandi showed good ability in his first campaign with a debut third behind Toque at Canterbury and a second to Concordia Wind at Gosford two weeks later.

He looks a great chance to break his maiden when he steps out in the Super Maiden Handicap (1000m) where he has drawn ideally in barrier 2 with Tommy Berry to ride.

“The only question mark this week is coming back from 1200m to 1000m. If it was 1100m, I would be super confident,” she said.

“He is a super sharp horse and he has always trialled well at Hawkesbury and he has finally drawn a good gate.

“I’ve also got a great rider on who can make decisions on the run depending how things unfold.”

Recent stable recruit Rennata is a work in progress according to Buchanan but looks a good chance in the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1300m).

The lightly-raced daughter of I Am Invincible turned in an eye-catching run first-up, coming from well back to finish a length-and-a-quarter third behind Cosmeena at Newcastle on October 1 before a again flashing home for third to Ahellbenda at Coonamble on October 13.

🗣️ That's something to shout about!

Shoutaboutit gets her first win with Jay Ford on board for @kbuchananracing!@hawkesburyrcpic.twitter.com/bphrYcGcPU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 10, 2024

“At Coonamble last start, she draw a wide gate and to go back. There was no tempo and she was climbing all over them wanting to go and she came around the bend with legs flying everywhere,” Buchanan said.

“She is a really nice filly but is very raw still.

“I’d love to see her sit midfield in a race with a good tempo and she is allowed to flow.”

“She is also in at Scone on Friday so I will make my mind up in the morning which way she goes.”

Buchanan is also tossing up whether to run last start Hawkesbury winner Shoutaboutit in the Benchmark 64 Handicap for fillies and mares (1100m) or waiting another week for a 1200m on her home track.

“There is a 1200m race there next Thursday which would give her a look at Wyong under race conditions ahead of the Magic Millions three-year-old race there,” she said

Shoutaboutit produced a terrific run first-up at Taree before leading all-the-way over the 1100m here two weeks ago to beat Leantothemoon.

“I thought it was a great first-up at Taree,” said Buchanan.

“She only had the one trial leading into it and I thought Lauren (Van Tijn) rode her very well.

“It prepared her beautifully for Hawkesbury and Jay (Ford) rode her a treat.”

DAVIES HOPING FOR A CHANGE OF FORTUNE FOR LEANTOTHEMOON

Trainer Angela Davies is hoping it’s a case of third time lucky when she returns to Hawkesbury with Leantothemoon.

The daughter of Lean Mean Machine was a game fourth behind Up The Front over 1000m at the on debut at the track on September 7 after being stuck out three-wide without cover.

Leantothemoon returned there five weeks later and finished a half-length second behind Shoutaboutit after being locked up behind the leader until about the 150m.

“She is a very nice mare and has done really well. She is learning and getting an idea now what it is all about,” said Davies.

“She drew wide in her first start and was caught out there without cover but she kept fighting to the line.

“I’ve always had a good opinion of her and she is quite sensible. I wasn’t surprised the she wasn’t overawed by the occasion.

$45k @mmsnippets National Yearling UP THE FRONT puts them away fresh up @hawkesburyrc !
Improvement to come and has upside! pic.twitter.com/mGYJhZbcmA

— Blake Ryan Racing (@blakeryan86) September 7, 2024

“You know drawing wide is not going to help them when they are having their first start because they are looking for the rail to guide them but she did everything right and I was tickled pink with the way she raced that day.

“I thought she was very unlucky last start. If she had just got out a couple of strides earlier, she would have been a maiden winner.

“She was climbing over their backs looking to get out and as she was trying to push out, she copped that bumping like a seasoned racehorse.”

Leantothemoon has come up with an ideal draw in barrier 3 in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1100m) which will give jockey Zac Lloyd plenty of options.

“She is in the perfect spot to be anywhere she wants to be from that gate,” Davies said.

“She looks to get a nice sit and can hopefully come around them.

“Hopefully she gets the luck go her way this week.”

Davies has also reported that stable star Our Kobison has returned to her Gosford stables after a break following his three lengths eight behind I Am Me in the Group 2 The Shorts at Randwick on September 21.

“He had three weeks in the paddock after The Shorts and has just returned to work. He looks fabulous.

“He will head towards The Warra (1000m) at Kembla for his first-up assignment.”