Hawkesbury hosts an eight-race card on Wednesday, as the first race kicks off at 12:50pm AEST and the last concluding at 4:55pm AEST. The rail position is +4m from the 1100m to the 450m and then True for the remainder, and the track is currently rated a Good 4. Here are my best bets for the NSW midweek card!
Hawkesbury Racing Tips: Wednesday, April 9th 2025
Race 2: THE LAWN SHED HANDICAP (1100 METRES) – 1:25pm (AEST)
(8) Couples Retreat resumes from a spell in this 3YO Benchmark 64 Handicap for trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald. The three-year-old filly has had four career starts for a win and two minor placings. She was last seen running sixth in a Benchmark 70 over 1000m at The Valley on October 25. Recently, she was a winner of a Warwick Farm trial over 795m defeating Cool Jakey by 1.36 lengths after jumping well and leading throughout. She should settle in the top two and will go very close at her first up run.
(1) Useapin represents champion trainer Chris Waller, and the three-year-old filly has begun this preparation in impressive fashion winning at Gosford over 1100m before a narrow second placing behind Seascape in a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1150m. The map looks against her in this contest as jockey Benjamin Osmond claims 3kg.
(3) Insist captured victory over 900m at Newcastle first up from a spell for trainer Michael Freedman. The gelding let down nicely from midfield in that Newcastle win and the step up to 1100m looks a nice second-up step. Can be in the finish.
(8) Couples Retreat WIN
$3.30 (2 Units)
Race 5: PIONEER SERVICES HANDICAP (1600 METRES) – 3:10pm (AEST)
(4) Saganti is a French import for OTI Racing, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. The four-year-old gelding has been runner up at Group 3 level on two occasions in France. His only run in Australia came back in November when fifth in the Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) taken out by Fawkner Park. Saganti has had two trials in preparation for this Benchmark 94 handicap over the mile.
(8) State Of America is working nicely into his campaign with a first-up 1400m run under the belt leading into a third placing at Kensington over 1800m at his next start. Looks one of the biggest contenders in this event.
(6) Bear On The Loose will look to make every post a winner by leading from the front. He also comes out of the Rosehill Gold Cup where he led and dropped out late, failing to beat a runner home. Following a spell, he has had two trials leading into the event and usually performs well when fresh.
(4) Saganti WIN
$4.20 (2 Units)
Race 6: ELITE SAND & SOIL HANDICAP (1300 METRES) – 3:45pm (AEST)
(6) Midnight Dynamite represents in-form trainer Bjorn Baker. The three-year-old gelding finished strongly from back in the field to grab second behind Ballroom Bella in a Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1150m. It would be great if Joshua Parr could land better than midfield from barrier eight, because the son of Pierata will be very dangerous if he can stalk the speed.
(1) Written In Code recorded back-to-back wins at Kensington on March 13 with a one-length victory over 1100m. She is likely to be back in the field but has a strong finish and Braith Nock retains the ride with a 3kg claim. Expect the pair to look dangerous once again in a suitable race.
(2) True To Form returns to the races for trainer Ciaron Maher. The five-year-old gelding is unbeaten from two attempts when fresh but has not been seen since running second in a Scone trial back in February. Deserves plenty of respect in this event.
(6) Midnight Dynamite WIN
$4.20 (2 Units)
