Australian racing tips – Thursday 22 August 2024 – Hawkesbury

Race 5

ALABAMA STATE showed solid improvement to win his maiden race last time out over 1100M by a length, this after striking the front at the 350M mark and then holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The colt returns from a 21-week rest, but has finished second in both of his barrier trials to showcase his well-being. He takes on stronger here, but from draw seven, he may well be up to the task at hand.

A 5-year-old mare and a 3-year-old filly could chase him home, with the slight preference going to EXPLOSIVE TORPIDO who had her consistency rewarded with a half-length victory last time out over 1000M, despite jumping awkwardly bumping another runner. She kicked clear of the field at the 100M mark in that event and then held on well over the closing stages. The mare faces a wide draw eleven, but she will be having her peak run after returning from a lengthy 55-week spell and she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

SNEAKY SOFIA has only had the four runs, but her last three have yielded a third, a second and the latest a victory over 1000M by one and a half lengths when returning from a 15-week rest. She raced just behind the leaders that day and then accelerated smartly to win going away. The filly will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but she should be doing her best work late.

Race 6

MALABAR has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over 1600M, just a head behind the winner. He sat just behind the leaders on that occasion and then stayed on well over the later stages, suggesting that the step up in distance will be to his liking. The gelding gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from his handy draw four.

HIGHBORN HARRY followed up his penultimate run victory over 2100M with a sixth-place finish next time out when dropping down to 1300M, 3.7L back from the winner, but he was hampered shortly after the start that day and his jockey put up 1kg overweight. The form of that race has however been franked and whilst drawn the widest of the all in gate ten, he should be right up there when they hit the line for his ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne.

NAVAL SEAL on the other hand has cracked pole position and finished sixth last time out over 1400M, two and a half lengths back from the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day, before making good late progress over the closing stages and should be included in all bets.

Race 7

WILLIAMSBURG has consistent formlines to his credit and went from jump to wire to win his last start over 1500M by 0.8L. He is drawn in gate five and is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today to be made the best bet on the day’s card.

CEPHEUS won his penultimate start over 1600M and then ended up in eleventh place next time out over 1500M, just under five lengths back from the victor, but he bumped another runner at the 1100M mark that day and never got back into the contest from that point, so a line should be drawn through that effort. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but he will be looking to bounce back to winning ways here.

ROBUSTO also won his penultimate outing, but in his case, over 1300M and finished tenth last time out over 1500M, 4.7L off the winner, but it should be noted that he jumped awkwardly in that event, bumping another runner. The gelding has his peak run after returning from an 18-week break and although drawn wideish in gate eight, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, TRUE TO FORM showed marked improvement to win his last start over 1300M, albeit by just a head. He was having his first start for his new trainer and returning from a 45-week spell, so that effort was encouraging. He would have come on further with that run under his belt and from draw six and with him having 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he will be hoping to chalk up his third career victory.

Two 4-year-old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to RIP OFF who was returning from an 18-week break and who jumped awkwardly bumping another runner before going on to win his maiden race last time out over 1000M by a head. She retains the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd and from her useful gate two, she could complete the exacta.

MAGNUCAT won over 1000M three runs back, finished fourth in her penultimate start over 1100M and then third in his latest outing over the same c&d, two and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but she was bumped at the start, so she had her excuse. She has her peak run after returning from a 26-week spell and is drawn wide in gate twelve, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without using up too much gas.