Australian Racing: Tuesday 22 June 2021 – Hawkesbury

Race 4

PENDING jumped awkwardly and then had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 50M mark before finishing third on debut over five furlongs, 1.2L behind the winner. He jumps from a wideish gate seven, but he would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could be hard to topple in this line-up and as such, he is taken to be the best bet on the card.

SNIPER LEGEND is a 2yr old colt taking on older horses, but he finished second over five furlongs first time out, 2.8L back from the winner and was immediately rested for 21 weeks. He returns here having had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. He is drawn in gate five and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

CHARLEMAGNE is another 2yr old colt in the race. He disappointed when stepping up to seven furlongs last time out, ending up 9.2L adrift of the victor, but nothing went his way that day as he was crowded shortly after the start and then took a bump at the 1200M pole, before coming five wide into the home straight. He drops back in trip and faces a wide draw ten, but he should nevertheless be involved in the finish.

Race 5

There are three unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether the connections believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, however, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, CHALKLEY to chalk up his maiden victory. He has only had the four runs to date but has finished second on two of those occasions, one of them being last time out over this trip, 1.8L adrift of the winner. He stayed on well that day and from draw five, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

LATIN LYRIC is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action and although fifth last time out over 1300M, she was just 1.8L behind the winner. She returns from a 15-week rest and has not had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she has pulled gate seven and should make her presence felt here.

DISTANTNESS is a 2yr old filly taking on males and older horses, but she finished strongly from last place entering the home straight to end up second over five furlongs on debut, just a half-length back from the winner. She would have come on with the run under her belt and although drawn wide in gate eleven, she should be doing her best work late.

Race 6

TAGS completed his hat-trick in his last outing over 1100M, winning by one length when returning from a 16-week absence, but he was victorious in his penultimate start over this distance, so the step up in trip should not be an issue. He came the widest into the home straight that day and from his handy draw four, the quartet of victories looks very much on the cards.

LORD ZOULANDER jumped awkwardly and then was bumped shortly after the start before over racing in the early and middle stages before eventually ending up sixth spot over the six furlongs sprint, just under a length and a half back from the winner. He has pulled a wideish gate eight, but on the plus side, he will get 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

COMMAND KING had his consistency rewarded with a 0.8lL victory last time out over ten furlongs. He takes a big drop in distance, but it should be noted that he won over this trip four runs back. He returns from a 27-week rest and has his first run for his new trainer, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should be a big runner here, jumping out of draw three.

Race 7

BOB put his disappointing penultimate effort over ten furlongs firmly behind him with an encouraging second-place finish last time out over this c&d, just a length behind the winner. He battled all the way down to the wire that day and a repeat of that effort could see him in the winner’s box.

HENDO’S MAGIC has consistent formlines to his credit and finished second last time out over nine furlongs, just under a half-length off the winner. He will have to negotiate gate twelve, but he is likely to turn in another honest performance today.

LUNAR RAIN is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she did not get the clearest of passages in the straight when finishing second in her latest outing over nine furlongs, 0.8L back from the winner. She faces gate ten, but with better luck in running here, she should give the males a good run for their money.