The Hawkesbury Gold Cup meeting will be held at Hawkesbury this Saturday (4th May). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with showers forecast for the next couple of days, Hawkesbury will be racing on a rain-affected track on raceday.
Star Witness mare Stormy Witness is ready to break through for her first win this preparation in the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1500m). This 4YO did well three starts back finishing within two lengths to Associate in the Wild Card race at Goulburn and just missed out a place in the Country Championships Final before another good effort with a 6th in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes. Stormy Witness handles any track condition and has drawn beautifully in barrier 2. Jay Ford will settle mid-field on the fence and Stormy Witness will be running home strongly. Currently at $13.00 in the fixed odds market, Stormy Witness represents a great value bet.
John O’Shea has Schwarz primed to take out the Hawkesbury Guineas (Sydney Race 7, 1400m). Since winning on debut, this Zoustar colt has been competitive in black type races. The 3YO resumed with a 2nd in the Darby Munro Stakes this campaign before a close 6th in the Group 2 Arrowfield Stakes last start. Schwarz is fit enough to step up to 1400m on Saturday while he also won the Springtime Stakes (1400m) third- up last campaign. James McDonald will take full advantage of barrier 2 by box seating in transit and Schwarz will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
Ciaron Maher has a strong hand in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and Nugget looks his best chance in the race (Sydney Race 8, 1600m). Though a 7YO, the gelding is rather lightly raced and is still at the peak of his power. Nugget has been competitive against top oppositions like Fangirl and Mr Brightside and he ran a mighty 4th to Celestial Legend last start in the Doncaster Mile, beaten only 0.75 length. And the mile is Nugget’s pet distance having won six times with a further four placings over the trip. The very much in-form Tyler Schiller will be on board and Schiller will settle somewhere mid-field. Watch Nugget flying home down the Hawkesbury straight.
By Owens Wong
