Australian Racing Tips – Thursday 13 April 2023 – Hawkesbury

Race 5

LYRICAL LADY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished second in her last two runs, the latest over 1700M when beaten just a head. She raced wide without cover that day, but finished well from some way back and the form of that race has been franked. She has a handy draw three and will have her peak run after returning from a 20-week break and a change of trainer.

MINDSPACE won his maiden race at the fourth time of asking last time out over nine furlongs by 1.3L, despite over racing in the middle stages. He finished off his race well that day and gets gate seven and whilst the gelding takes on stronger here, he may well be up to the task at hand.

SUNCHASER is another 4yr old filly in the race. She showed marked improvement when finishing second in her latest outing over ten furlongs, just a short-head behind the winner. She came three wide into the home straight and struck the front at the 250M mark on that occasion, only to be snared in the shadow of the post. She is drawn one inside the latter and gets cheek pieces fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, she should be a big runner here.

Race 6

HEDGE FUND had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over six furlongs when putting four lengths between himself and the opposition. He showed plenty of toe that day and the form of that race has been franked and whilst drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

ARTIE’S AURA is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she was reported to have suffered from heat stress when ending up in tenth place last time out over 1500M, 4.7L adrift of the victor, so that effort is best ignored. She has her peak run after returning from a 24 week absence, has pulled a useful draw three and will have the very competent Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd in the saddle to aid her cause. If bouncing back to her better form, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

CRITICAL TIME has cracked pole position and had solid form prior to finishing seventh last time out over six furlongs, 14.2L off the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day and his jockey felt that there was something amiss with his mount and did not persevere with his ride, so a line should be drawn through that effort. The gelding should not be easily overlooked.

Race 7

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. FAST RESPONSE has consistent form lines to his name and jumped awkwardly and came four wide into the home straight, before being bumped at the 100M pole when finishing fourth last time out over six furlongs, just over a half-length off the winner. He returns from a 15-week rest but has finished second in both of his barrier trials to prove his well-being. He is drawn the widest in gate twelve, but he looks to be the one to side with here.

WASHINGTON TOWERS has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over 1100M when beaten a neck. The gelding hit the front at the 200M mark but hung out and was grabbed late. From his kinder draw three and with him having 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

TROIKA has won two of his last three outings, the latest over five furlongs by no less than three and a half lengths. He was slow away in that event, but delivered a powerful finish to win going away. The gelding will have to deal with gate seven, but nevertheless, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, BUILLT was returning from a 17-week spell when winning his last start over seven furlongs by a head. He did race three wide approaching the home turn but battled all the way down to the wire. From draw six, he will be hoping to record his second career victory today.

STROMBUS is drawn one inside the former and only saw daylight at the 280M mark before finishing strongly to end up in third spot last time out over seven furlongs, just under a half-length behind the winner. With better luck in running, he should keep the top choice honest.

DAMAGED is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over six furlongs, just a length back from the winner. He was making good late progress that day, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. The gelding faces a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, he will get 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.