Australian Racing: Thursday 20 May 2021 – Hawkesbury

Race 5

IN DE SUN IWILCOME showed the expected improvement to be a head winner over six furlongs at only the second time of asking and when returning from a 19-week break, despite over racing in the middle stages. She finished off her race well that day suggesting that she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. She has a handy draw two and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

DIVINE FUTURE has finished third in her last two starts and was staying on well when finishing 0.8L back from the winner over seven furlongs in her latest outing. She gets gate six and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

BLINK TWICE followed up her penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a second spot finish next time out over the same trip, just a neck behind the winner. She battled all the way down to the wire that day and although drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 6.

This looks to be a tricky contest with plenty of runners having realistic chances of entering the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative first pick goes to DON ARCANGELO who was hanging out down the home straight before finishing eighth last time out over a mile, 5.3L adrift of the victor and should have finished closer up as a result. He has draw six and has his peak run today after returning from a 22-week absence.

LA SAGRA is a 3yr old filly taking on males and who tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in fourth place last time out over 2100M, 4.1L behind the winner. She faces a wide gate thirteen, but given her style of racing, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. She should also enjoy the drop in distance and give the boys a good run for their money.

TUSCAN GAZE is seldom far off the action and had finished second in his two prior runs before ending up in fifth place last time out over a mile, 2.2L back from the winner. He is drawn one inside the latter but seems likely to turn in another honest effort today.

Race 7

As with the previous race, this looks to be another open affair with the marginal top choice going to WILD SHEILA who is a 5yr old mare taking on boys. She showed solid improvement to win her last start over nine furlongs by 0.8L, notwithstanding the fact that she overraced in the early stages and then came four-wide into the home straight. She stayed on well that day and should have no issue seeing out the extra ground here. Her draw three will do her no harm.

INSIDER TRADER made good late progress to get up to win his last start over 2300m by half a length. He was going away from the opposition in the run down to the line that day and from draw ten, he should make his presence felt in this line-up.

DEEPWOOD VALE is a 4yr old filly who ended up in third place last time out over nine furlongs, 1.3L back from the winner. She did not have the clearest of passages in the straight that day but finished well once she saw daylight. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start reeling in the frontrunners over the closing stages.

Race 8

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could dominate the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but today’s value bet, ZANZIDANCE could lead the pack home. She had finished third in her two runs prior to disappointing last time out when finishing twelfth over five furlongs, eleven lengths adrift of the winner, but it must be noted that she jumped awkwardly that day and was then was eased out of the race over the latter stages. As such, that effort should be totally ignored. She has won a subsequent barrier trial to prove her fitness and jumping from her handy draw four, she will be hoping to bounce back to her better form today.

MIRACLE STREET has consistent formlines to her credit and won her penultimate outing over five furlongs by three and a half lengths. She then finished second last time out when stepping up to 1100M, two lengths back from the winner when returning from a 16-week break. She has an even better draw two and should not be overlooked here.

STOICAL overraced in his last start and then understandably has nothing to offer over the closing stages, finishing eighth over five furlongs, two lengths behind the winner. He was immediately rested for 17 weeks and returns here after having has two barrier trials, winning both of them to showcase his well-being. From gate five, he should be included in all bets.