2017 Hawkesbury Gold Cup Day Betting Tips

Racing in Sydney comes to us from Hawkesbury this weekend for their standalone meeting featuring the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup. We also have the Group 3 Godolphin Crown and Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas to look forward to which makes it a pretty solid 9-race card overall.

The track is a Good 4, something we haven't seen on a weekend in Sydney for quite some time!

We have betting tips and comments for every race below.

HAWKESBURY BETTING TIPS

Race 1

Chris Waller holds a strong hand here in a race that he's had plenty of success in in recent seasons. He enters three runners here and by his own admission GREAT GLEN is the one to beat. He's had two runs in Melbourne in preparation for this over 1400m and 1600m, the latest of which was with 60kg, and now steps up sharply to the 2100m. His only career win was over 2300m so you'd think him getting out to this distance is a big plus. Gets in with just 54kg and you wouldn't want anyone other than Kerrin McEvoy on board with the way he's riding right now. Taking the $4.60. LOOKIN' AT YOU is chasing three on the trot after wins at Goulburn and Hawkesbury over 2100m and 2000m respectively. Both of those were on soft tracks but his record is just as good on Good ground. This is probably a tougher assignment but he's flying over this distance and will be hard to beat again. MORTAR PLATOON is the value in the race at $7. I really think we'll see a sharp improvement from him today getting back onto a firm surface. He draws to get a great run and must be included.

Tip: Great Glen

Race 2

There is a doubt over whether TANGLED will run given the gutbuster he had last start but if he does line up I think he's a big chance in this. He was 4 wide the trip last start and still fought on strongly to win at Wyong, and he's being set for the Group 1 JJ Atkins in Brisbane I believe so he's certainly got the talent to be competitive here. Drawn wide again but at $6.50 I think we're getting a good price. If he doesn't run, I'll be backing ICON OF DUBAI for Team Snowden who was reasonable on debut without being spectacular. He will appreciate the extra 200m in distance here and may also relish the firmer ground. The negative with him is the booking of Christian Reith. I think at the price I'll be taking on the Waterhouse/Bott trained SERENA BAY. They way their stable is going I think you have to take on something as short as this is in the market.

Tip: Tangled

Race 3

Tough race to assess as is mostly the case in these Highway Handicaps. Siding with the Kurt Goldman/Hugh Bowman combination with RUTHLESS AGENT who comes into this first up from a spell. My concern with him is that the 1100m may just be a touch short given he got out to a mile last year, but I'm going to bank on the fact he'll be fresh enough to sprint well first up and that he's probably the best horse in the race. He did win first up over 1200m last prep which gives me enough confidence and the stable certainly knows how to win these Highway Handicaps. LOVES A HASSLE is undefeated and returned from a long spell with a great win last start. This is much harder but he can go well, while DON'T DOUBT HER is one to include fresh. Prepared to take on MOSS MY NAME today on the Good ground. I really think she is better on wet ground so at the price I'll leave her out.

Tip: Ruthless Agent

Race 4

This is a hot field. Really keen to see how CLEARLY INNOCENT comes back this prep. Didn't quite return in the same style last prep but before that he was flying, with a win over Music Magnate reading very well. He's won his only trial leading into this which was on a heavy track, and although he might be better suited at his next start, I'm prepared to have something on him here at the $6. THAT'S A GOOD IDEA also comes into this first up from a spell and definitely has the ability to win. A 2.6L defeat to Spieth first up last prep reads well and he's trialled well leading into this. I don't have the confidence to back him, however, and he might be better at his next start. FELINES has run two good races this prep, running 4th in the Challenge Stakes before running 5th in the Galaxy. Suited here third up with Bowman on from the good draw. GRUNDERZEIT is another that is first up and her fresh record is quite good with three wins and two placings from seven starts. She won her first two races last prep and she's had two good trials leading into this. Draws well and gets in with just 53kg but probably has to improve to win in this field. STRATURBO could be the value after a couple of good runs in Brisbane. Tough race but sticking with Clearly Innocent.

Tip: Clearly Innocent

Race 5

Wide open race and it would be no surprise to see a blowout here. There's about 10 horses you can make a genuine case for here, but I've decided to stick with LANCIATO who won for us last start after a good first up run. Comes into this off a 66 day break but has trialled in the interim. The wide draw certainly makes things tricky but I'd expect a decent tempo to be set here which will allow him to run over the top of them. Waller holds a strong hand in the form of INVINZABEEL and LIAPARI. Invinzabeel will appreciate the Good track here but has to carry top weight of 60kgs. Liapari is best suited over 1600m and comes into this off a 56 day break. My concern is that this is obviously a 1300m race which is just a touch to short for my liking. The one to watch in the race is ASTARA for Team Snowden, who makes her Australian debut after coming over from New Zealand. We've seen the New Zealand form dominate over the course of the Autumn carnival and it wouldn't shock to see her be too good for this field given her last two starts in NZ were both in Group 1 company. Two at big odds that I'll include are MISCHIEVOUS DEVIL and ROMNEY'S CHOICE. Mischievous Devil didn't like the track at Warwick Farm last start but his third up record is very good. He won third up last prep at the Gold Coast in similar grade to this over 1400m. Draws the inside here and carries just 54.5kg after the claim. $41 available. Romney's Choice is first up here and he has two wins from three races when first up. This is his home track and he goes well here, as well as at the distance. Draws well and can run a big race at $21. Very tough race with a big field so I'll be backing a few.

Tip: Lanciato / Mischievous Devil EW / Romney's Choice EW

Race 6

Pretty keen on one here and that is ARTISTRY for Team Snowden and Hugh Bowman. This horse came into this prep with terrible form on wet tracks but her two runs on Soft tracks this time in have been fantastic. She won first up in Group 3 company over 1100m before running 3rd in Group 2 company last start. The key today is she gets back onto Good ground which is clearly when she is at her best. She's got a good third up record, a good record at the distance, draws well in barrier 4, Bowman on and a Good track. Ticks plenty of boxes and I'll take the $4. DAYSEE DOOM will be hard to beat after three very good runs this prep in Group 1 and Group 2 company. Has a tricky draw but she's flying and I'd expect her to be in the finish. A couple stand out at longer odds as decent each way options. KINSACHI resumes from a spell after winning three of her four starts last prep. She is undefeated first up from a spell. SERENE MAJESTY is ready to show something now at her third run back from. her second up form is very poor but she typically bounces back when third up and the key is getting back onto Good ground for her. The same can be said for SHILLELAGH who has the ability to win this but has been badly out of form. Getting back onto firm ground should see her improve sharply.

Tip: Artistry (Best Bet) / Serene Majesty EW

Race 7

Good little race. Think the Good ground will be key to SPRIGHT rediscovering her best form. By no means is she out of form but I just don't think she goes as well on wet tracks as what we've seen her produce on dry ground. She's had the three runs this prep, all in Group 2 company, and the only one of those on dry ground was her 3rd placing first up behind Global Glamour and Foxplay - both Group 1 winners. McEvoy jumps back on and she draws to get a good run here so I'm with her at $4.40. CALANDA looks the obvious threat after a good first up win at Canterbury. He looks a really progressive horse destined for better races and this has obviously been a target race for him. Bowman riding for Team Snowden is an obvious positive. GOOD STANDING was scratched from a good race in Brisbane in favour of this so that suggests to me he is in good enough condition to run well fresh over 1400m, while PROMPT RESPONSE should be thereabouts. STAR OF MONSOON can run a race at odds.

Tip: Spright

Race 8

SPECTROSCOPE is the standout here and I think the price is pretty good too. His first two runs this prep were outstanding which saw him go into the Doncaster as a live chance. That quality of race probably came too soon for him but back to this grade should see him very hard to beat. I think much of the field has exposed form whereas we haven't really got to the bottom of this horse yet. Draws well and should be just as effective on this firmer ground. MIGHTY LUCKY looks ready to run a big race at double figure odds. He always improves second up from a break and his first up run was good enough to suggest he's going well. MOHER is another good chance for Godolphin down in the weights. He typically needs his first up run before improving sharply second up so don't be put off by his performance first up. KELLYVILLE FLYER and TESTASHADOW others to include at bigger odds.

Tip: Spectroscope

Race 9

I'm with a couple here at very good odds. The first of those is ANCIENT HISTORY for Godolphin with Blake Shinn aboard. He's run well at all three Australian starts so far and I really think he is much better suited here by the Good ground. He loomed up to win last start behind So Willie but just battled on the heavy ground and given his only two career wins have been on Good ground I think that suggests we'll see improvement from him today. At $12 he's great odds with the good draw. The other is SO WILLIE who beat Ancient History last start when first up from a spell. He looks to have come back in great order and although he's got a terrific record on wet ground I'm banking on the fact that he's good enough on Good ground to be a winning chance here. The wide draw does make things tough. BERETTA a good chance of winning once again.

Tip: Ancient History EW (Best Value) / So Willie EW