The Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting will be held this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday and with light showers leading up to the weekend, Hawkesbury is likely to border on Soft/Heavy condition on raceday
Malkovich maps very well in the Hawkesbury XXX Gold Rush (Hawkesbury Race 6, 1100m). The classy 4YO did a great job finishing just behind the placegetters in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate three starts back before taking out the Listed Bob Hoysted Stakes. Malkovich has won his only start at Hawkesbury and he has only missed a place twice on Soft tracks from ten attempts. In a race without much pace, Joshua Parr is going to take advantage from a good draw (gate 3) and go straight to the front and Malkovich will prove hard to catch.
Top weight Mr. Mozart is the highest rated horse in the Hawkesbury Guineas and he is the horse they have to beat (Hawkesbury Race 7, 1400m). The Snitzel 3YO failed to run on against older horses in his first two starts this campaign in Melbourne before he returned to winning form back in Sydney when he took out Phar Lap Stakes and Doncaster Prelude. The in-form William Pike has been on the horse on both wins and he will once again be on board on Saturday. The wet condition will not pose any problem and he has drawn beautifully in barrier 5. Pike will go forward and sit one off one back and Mr. Mozart will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
The John O’Shea-trained Kirwan’s Lane will have conditions to suit in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (Hawkesbury Race 9, 1600m). The 5YO gelding won back-to-back races under the riding of Tom Sherry before his spell and he resumed with a good 5th in a BM100 handicap (1400m) two weeks ago. Stepping up to 1600m will suit much better as he has won six races with a further three placings over the mile. Kirwan’s Lane can also handle any track conditions. Tom Sherry will return to the saddle on Saturday and that’s another plus. From barrier 8, Sherry will settle somewhere mid-field and Kirwan’s Lane is going to finish strongly and run over the top of this field.
By Owens Wong, Editor
