The Championships Day 2 2023 Tips & Preview

Hawkesbury Gold Cup - 1600m, Hawkesbury R9

The Hawkesbury Gold Cup looks an incredibly even race, and a tough one to dissect. There isn’t much recent winning form among this field, and most of these runners have been around the block a few times, so there isn’t an obvious progressive type that has snuck in at the weights.

Lord Ardmore could be a nice each-way play at a double figure quote, capable of handling all conditions but with a preference for the cut out.

After an aborted spring campaign where he didn’t seem to come up, he resumed first-up in the Doncaster Prelude, snagging back to last from the widest barrier and working to the line. Last start he lumped a big weight in a handy race, but just couldn’t reel in the leader.

Lord Ardmore now looks primed for this third-up assignment, dropping 5kg’s in weight from a cushy draw, with Joao Moreira jumping on board. This horse has won third-up three times in the past, including both times he’s gone that far in a prep under Chris Waller.

Floating Artist is both the intriguing runner, and probably the one to beat. Fourth in the 2021 Melbourne Cup after having a fine spring, the Maher/Eustace galloper impressed under a big weight at 1400m after 18 months off the scene. He won’t have needed to come on much from that to be in the finish here.

Just Folk is always among the chances in these kind of races, particularly if the track comes up a soft 7 or worse. Hopeful was second in this race last year when first-up for Annabel Neasham, and must be respected under those circumstances again. Jojo Was A Man can figure, but the barrier draw hasn’t been kind.

Selections: 1.Lord Ardmore 2.Floating Artist 3.Hopeful 4.Just Folk

Cameron rose's Tip

LORD ARDMORE

EACH-WAY

Richmond Club Hawkesbury Cup 22 April 16:20

10. Lord Ardmore

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Hawkesbury Crown - 1300m, Hawkesbury R8

The Hawkesbury Crown sees a host of mares that are in solid form and/or coming out of some smart mares races over the last month or so, tackling the unusual distance of 1300m.

Princess Grace has never won under 1600m, but prior to last start which was her first in Australia and under Chris Waller, she’d never even run a race over less than a mile. She was a fantastic third in that race, the Sapphire Stakes, which was also the first time she had ever run on rain affected ground.

Even though she’ll only be stepping up 100m, it can only be to her benefit, and a dry track would also work in her favour. She’s been placed three times at Group 1 level in the USA, and could be too classy.

Never Talk is a really good mare around this type of distance range, in these sort of races, but it’s certainly a case of wetter the better for her. The question of where she gets to in the run from a tough draw is also a fair one to ask, and she would need it to be quite muddy to be able to skip past most of these.

The engagement of James McDonald and a couple of trials could suggest that Sur La Mer is primed for a first-up performance and ready to take the next step in her career. Importantly, she handles any ground.

Expat will be in the game on soft or worse. Larkspur Run, Written Beauty and Katalin are all very tough to catch, but have enough talent to win. Tycoon Evie looks ready to win again, and can certainly do so if the breaks go her way.

Selections: 1.Princess Grace 2.Sur La Mer 3.Tycoon Evie 4.Never Talk

Cameron rose's Tip

PRINCESS GRACE

WIN

Pioneer Services H'bury Crown 22 April 15:40

1. Princess Grace

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Hawkesbury Guineas - 1400m, Hawkesbury R7

The depth of this Hawkesbury Guineas looks a bit mixed at face value, but there are a few smart types engaged, and there’s nothing to suggest that something might not jump out of the ground. Being over 1400m instead of a mile adds a complexity to the race.

The Fortune Teller is a consistent three-year-old that has contested better races than any of his rivals in this field, and he’s always run well in them. In the spring, he was beaten around a length and a half in all of the Caulfield Guineas, Carbine Club Stakes and Sandown Guineas, and he broke through for a deserved victory last start on the heavy track at Randwick.

Barrier 12 is sticky, and he carries a bit more weight than his rivals, so James McDonald will have to be at his best, but until we see otherwise, he’s the one they all have to beat.

Like The Fortune Teller, Razeta was a heavy track winner over The Championships, relishing the mud. She might be ready to string some good performances together now, and seven furlongs suits her better than eight.

Avebury looks a value play at big odds. She won the Canberra Guineas two starts back, before not handling the ground behind Magic Time in the PJ Bell. Drier conditions and back up to 1400m look in her favour, and is worth a spec bet at $34 or so.

Mumbai Jewel can win this sort of race, but will likely go back from a wide gate and have too much to do. Hawaii Five Oh will have admirers given his second to ATC Derby winner Major Beel two starts back, and might be the fresh horse on the scene at the right time.

Selections: 1.Hawaii Five Oh 2.The Fortune Teller 3.Razeta 4.Avebury

Cameron rose's Tip

HAWAII FIVE OH

EACH-WAY

Blacktown Workers H'bury Gneas 22 April 15:00

7. Hawaii Five Oh

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

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Hawkesbury Gold Cup day: feature races tips and previews

Hawkesbury Gold Cup - 1600m, Hawkesbury R9

LORD ARDMORE

Hawkesbury Crown - 1300m, Hawkesbury R8

PRINCESS GRACE

Hawkesbury Guineas - 1400m, Hawkesbury R7

HAWAII FIVE OH

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