The Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting will be held this Saturday (1st May). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with fine weather in Sydney leading up to the weekend, Hawkesbury will be racing on a Good track on raceday.
Gary Portelli-trained Ruby Tuesday looks a strong chance in the Blakes Marine BM78 Handicap (Hawkesbury Race 2, 1500m). This 4YO mare had won over this track and trip on 14th April leading from start to finish. Ruby Tuesday loves Hawkesbury having won twice with a placing from four starts at the venue. From barrier 8, Tim Clark will sit just behind the pace and Ruby Tuesday will peel out at the turn and blitz passes the leaders.
Sweet Deal is the highest rated horse in the Hawkesbury Crown and she should win accordingly (Hawkesbury Race 5, 1300m). This John Thompson-trained mare did a good job last start finishing less than a length from Fasika in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes. The dry track will suit as eight of her ten career victories came on Good tracks. The 6YO won her only start at Hawkesbury and she has never finished worse than 2nd over 1300m from five attempts. Beautifully drawn in barrier 4, Nash Rawiller is going to ride positively and go to the front and Sweet Deal could prove hard to catch.
Team Hawkes-trained Archedemus is all set for a well-deserved win in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (Hawkesbury Race 8, 1600m). The 7YO gelding has a good record over the mile with three wins and a 2nd from six starts including victory in The Gong last November. Stepping up to 1600m 3rd up looks perfect. The Hawkes stable has placed Archedemus really well and this is the right race for him. Joshua Parr will go forward and park outside likely leader Surreal Image and Archedemus is the one they all have to run down.
By Owens Wong, Editor
