International Racing: Tuesday 5 May 2020 – Hawkesbury

A small eight-race programme is scheduled for Hawkesbury on Tuesday. The best bet is POLISHED PENNY in Race 2. She finished second in her first run back from a 23-week lay-off. She should strip a much fitter horse today and will take a power of beating.   

Other international racing tips for Tuesday:
Rockhampton
Hawkesbury
Warrnambool
Bundaberg
Neil Morrice Tips

Best Bet: POLISHED PENNY (Race 2) 
Value Bet: INVASION DAY (Race 6)

Race 1
LANU MOANA has had five runs to date and has not finished too far off the winner in each outing. She has finished second three times and third once to date. It is likely that there isn’t much pace in this race, and she may have her own way in front. The daughter of Ocean Park may be hard to peg back in the run down to the finishing post. SOUL PURPOSE’S last two outings over a similar distance have been good. She settled near the rear of the field in her last start and ran on well up the straight. The daughter of Pierro produced the best 600m to finish sectional time of the day. If repeating that run in this type of field, she should be right there at the finish.

Race 2
POLISHED PENNY produced a very good run when returning from a 23-week break in her last start over a similar distance at Orange. She took time to get into the race that day, but the manner in which she finished up the straight was encouraging. Jake Pracey-Holmes knows the daughter of Crowded House well and the pair should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. EYEKNOW is an unraced son of So You Think from the Con Karakatsanis stable with Koby Jennings in the saddle. He was a winner of his only barrier trial coming into this race and if not too green on debut, he may be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top choice. The betting market will be the best guide with regards to his chances.

Race 3
PERFECT IMPRESSION’S last three starts have been good. She was just touched off in her last start at Canterbury and it must be noted that she produced one of the best overall race sectionals of the day. She makes her course debut this afternoon and if suited to the track, she has a good chance of shedding her maiden tag. The daughter of Hallowed Crown is likely to race on the speed and she may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. OCONEE produced a promising debut when finishing fourth over seven furlongs at Newcastle, three weeks ago. He settled in a mid-field position that day and chased hard all the way to the finishing post. It must be noted that two horses from that formline have come out and won since. The son of Sacred Falls would have come on from the run and with the natural improvement that is expected, he should be right there in the run down to the wire.

Race 4
The betting market may be the best guide in this contest as the raced horses don’t have the best form and it could come down to the first timers battling it out for the honours. RALPH’S FOLLY is an unraced son of Snitzel from the Kim Waugh stable with Jay Ford in the saddle. He is a winner of his last two barrier trials coming into this race and does not need to be a superstar to win in this type of field. He jumps from a positive barrier position of three and may be the one to side with here. NOBLE ALBERT is an unraced son of Albrecht from the Matthew Smith yard with Winona Costin doing duty. He has produced three good barrier trials leading into this race and looks to be the one that can throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection.

Race 5
SHADOW BRIDGE showed good signs of returning to best form in his last start over the minimum trip on this course. Despite not getting off to the best of starts that day, he managed to find the lead but was outrun in the late stages of the race. He has had a barrier trial since that outing and will come into the race at peak fitness. It is encouraging that Koby Jennings retains the ride and the pair may be hard to peg back in the run down to the finishing post. TEXAS FOREVER produced a decent comeback run over this distance at Gosford last time. He won his only attempt when racing on this course. The son of Deep Field should strip a much fitter horse this afternoon and should the top selection fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces.

Race 6
INVASION DAY is the value bet on today’s programme. He needed his last start when returning from a 28-week break. He has won once from two starts when having his second run after a rest. The son of Footstepsinthesand should strip a much fitter horse today and with Koby Jennings doing duty, may be the one to side with here. MOON PANTHER got back to winning ways in his last start over a mile at Orange. He sat in a mid-field position that day and under a driving finish, got up where it matters most. He finished third in his only attempt on this course. Brandon Lerena who has finished second on the son of So You Think in the past, does duty and the pair should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 7
SHUHOOD just won her maiden in her last start over a similar distance at Canterbury. She raced from a handy position that day and held on where it matters most. Koby Jennings does duty on her course debut and if the daughter of I am Invincible is suited to the track, she may be the one they all have to beat. ESTROVERTO got back to winning ways in his last start over this distance at Scone. He has finished second twice and third once in as many attempts on this course. If repeating his last run, he should be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top selection in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 8
BLUEANT was an impressive maiden winner in his last start over this distance at Nowra. He controlled the pace that day and was dominant all the way to the finishing post. The son of Smart Missile takes on stronger opposition today, but he is lightly raced and looks to be a progressive sort. Brodie Loy retains the ride and the pair should notch up a quick double. STOCKMAN won his maiden race well in his comeback run after 23 weeks off the track. He does take a step up in class this afternoon, but the manner in which he won last time suggests there is more to come from the son of Tavistock. Chad Lever retains the ride and the pair merit healthy respect today.