Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Hawkesbury on 7 September 2023.
Best Bet: GOLDEN PASSPORT (Race 5)
Value Bet: CRIPPS TONITE (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 11 | 8 | 4 |
4 | 12 | 7 | 1 |
| 9 | 5 | 3 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
GOLDEN PASSPORT followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a second place finish next time out over a mile, one and a half lengths back from the winner, but he raced wide without cover that day, striking the front at the top of the home straight, before being grabbed late. He has a handy draw four and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
CELESTIAL FURY had finished second twice prior to winning his last start over 2100M by two and a half lengths. The gelding went from jump to wire in that contest and from one gate outside the top choice, he is likely to adopt the same tactics and prove hard to reel in over the closing stages.
MR BOND made good late progress when showing solid improvement to end up in second place last time out over 2100M, 0.8L behind the winner. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate eight, but he should be doing his best work late to be involved in the finish.
Race 6
There are four 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 any of the connections believe that they can win first-time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners, MISSOUK may well prove to be the best, jumping from gate five. She overraced in the early stages and had to be held up at the 200M mark when finishing second on debut over 1100M, 1.8L back from the victor. She would have learnt from that experience and whilst returning from a 21-week rest, she did win her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being.
PIER PRESSURE jumped awkwardly bumping another runner and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 1400M pole when finishing a tad disappointing eighth last time out over a mile, 10.3L adrift of the winner, but that run is best overlooked. She has her first run after a 20-week spell but has finished third in both of her barrier trials and from a useful gate three, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
KOSTROMA has her first run, but has put in two encouraging barrier trials, finishing second in the first and winning the latest. She has pulled gate seven, but the engaging of non-claiming, but in-form apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd, catches the eye.
Race 7
A 3-year-old and a 4-year-old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but KONASANA is taken to lead the field home. She won first time out over 1100M, albeit by just a head, but she did race three wide throughout that day and turned second last into the home stretch, before delivering a powerful finish to get up in the shadow of the post, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and has had two subsequent barrier trials. From her cosy gate three, she could prove good enough to chalk up her double.
SERENE NIC has cracked pole position and has won two of her last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs by a short-head. She finished strongly from some way back that day and with 3kgs being taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should keep the top pick honest.
CRAZY RUSSIAN won his penultimate start over 1300M and then finished sixth next time out over seven furlongs, four and a half lengths off the winner, but he did over race in the early and middle stages in that event. The gelding has his peak run for his new trainer after returning from a 21-week spell and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, CRIPPS TONITE had solid form prior to being a little disappointed to finish ninth last time out over 1300M, just over four and a half lengths behind the winner, but it should be noted that he overraced in the early and middle stages that day and understandably had very little to offer over the latter stages. He returns from a 20-week rest and has his first run for his new trainer, but did finish third in his first barrier trial and won the second. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here, jumping from draw five.
BIG APPLE showed plenty of early speed when finishing ninth in his latest outing over six furlongs, 5.3L back from the winner. He is another who returns from a break, in his case a slightly shorter 19 weeks and will also has his first outing for his new trainer, but he has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and third in the latest. He faces a wide draw twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
EGYPTIAN TYCOON was returning from a 43-week spell when showing marked improvement to finish third last time out over 1100M, 0.8L off the winner. He jumped awkwardly, but was able to sit just behind the leaders and then stayed on well over the closing stages. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven, but nevertheless should not be lightly dismissed.
