Hawkesbury Race Club will hold its annual Saturday Stand Alone meeting this weekend. With strong support from local and Sydney trainers, and fine weather being forecast, it will be a fun day out at Hawkesbury.
The Hawkesbury track was rated a Good 3 on Thursday and I expect the track to remain in the Good range on raceday.
In the Blake’s Marine BM80 (Hawkesbury Race 3, 1500m), the Chris Waller-trained Mon Soleil is coming back to a more suitable distance from his last start over 1900m. He has a good record over Saturday’s distance of 1500m having won or place four times from eight starts. Though he has gone up in class, his weight has come down significantly on his last two starts from 60.5kg to 55kg. Currently at $12.00 fixed odds, Mon Soleil is a good each-way chance.
In the Richmond Club BM80 (Hawkesbury Race 4, 2100m), the Peter Snowden-trained Peck has slowly worked his way into form. His last start victory over 1900m was a good effort as he came from a fair way back rounding the home turn and won the race by one and a half lengths. From barrier 4, McEvoy would be able to park the gelding along the fence in mid-field. Peck is ready to run a strong 2100m on Saturday.
In the Darley Crown (Hawkesbury Race 5, 1300m) , it’s hard to go past the favourite Dystopia. She was not disgraced when she finished 4th first up in the Group 1 The Galaxy and again running 4th in the Sapphire Stakes to the very much improved stablemate Arinosa. There is no Group 1 class sprinters in this field and Dystopia only carries 1kg above the limit weight. 3rd up from a spell and she is ready for the 1300m. All facts and figures are pointing to Dystopia as the Darley Crown winner.
In the Hawkesbury Rowley Mile (Hawkesbury Race 6, 1600m), I believe the Ron Quinton-trained Monton can bounce back from his last start failure in the Doncaster Handicap. Monton is a good miler having won the Villiers Stakes and he almost add the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes to his record but being nosed out by Shoot Out three starts ago. He followed that up with a close 3rd in the Ajax Stakes before he absolutely floundered in the Heavy condition in the Doncaster last start. Back to a Good track and a drop in class would favour Monton’s chances. And at $10.00 fixed odds, Monton looks over the odds.
By Owens Wong, Editor
