Australian racing tips – Thursday 12 September 2024 – Hawkesbury

Race 5

COPACABANA came three wide into the home straight, but struck the front at the 250M mark to win his maiden race last time out over 1400M by 1.8L easing down. He takes on stronger here, but he has his peak run after returning from a 42-week spell and jumps from a handy draw three. He may well be up to the task at hand.

PASIMA won over 1600M three runs back, finished a disappointing thirteenth in his penultimate start over the same journey and was immediately rested for 19 weeks. He returned to finish third last time out over 1200M, three lengths behind the winner, but he had to be held up at the top of the home straight that day and the form of that race has been franked. He jumps from gate five and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

CRISTAL CLEAR finished best to get up in the shadow of the post to win his maiden race last time out by a head at the third time of asking. The colt has his peak run after returning from a 19-week rest and from gate seven, he should be included in all bets.

Race 6

KONING has consistent formlines to his name and was bumped at the start, but kicked clear of the opposition at the 250M mark, only to be grabbed late, ending up in third place last time out over 1800M, just under a half-length back from the victor. From his useful draw two, he is likely to turn in another honest performance here.

FAKHRA is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she showed solid improvement to win her maiden race last time out over 1850M by putting three lengths between herself and the balance of the field, this despite jumping awkwardly and bumping another runner. She bounded clear at the 200M and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The mare gets a cosy draw four and should be right up there when they hit the line.

HIGHBORN HARRY raced just behind the leaders and stayed on well when finishing third in his latest outing over 1800M, 1.2L off the winner and on that effort, he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here. The gelding is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne and is drawn wideish in gate seven, but he will be having his peak run after returning from a 12-week rest.

Race 7

A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, OPAL FIELDS is taken to lead the field home. She was checked at the 800M mark and never recovered when finishing sixth in her latest outing over 1200M, 5.3L adrift of the winner, so that effort should be ignored. She returns from a 23-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. The filly has pulled gate six and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.

EXPLOSIVE TORPIDO followed up her penultimate run victory over 900M with a fifth-place finish next time out over 1100M, just under two and a half lengths back from the winner, but she jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner in that event and was then forced to race three wide without cover. The form of that race has however been franked and from one gate outside the top pick, she should keep the former honest.

ORYX has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1100M, just over three lengths behind the winner, but it should be noted that was slow away that day and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark, before finishing off his race well. From his kinder draw two, he could complete the trifecta.

Race 8

HOUSE OF CARDS followed up his penultimate run win over 1300M with a third-place finish next time out over 1400M, 3.3L back from the winner. He battled all the way down to the line that day and with him having his peak run after a 28-week break and from a useful draw two, he could prove hard to topple and as such, is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

THREATENING also won his penultimate start over 1400M and then stayed on well to finish third next time out over 1400M, just under two lengths back from the victor. The gelding gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and from gate five, if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

CARPACCIO is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1200M, just one and a half lengths back from the winner, but he was hampered at the 200M mark on that occasion and the objection lodged against the original second-placed runner was upheld, and he was duly promoted up the order. The gelding is drawn one outside the latter and should be involved in the finish.