Hawkesbury and Sandown Lakeside are the feature mid-week meetings this Wednesday. With autumn in full swing, find out who our experts are expecting to take home the chocolates! February racing has never looked so good!
Hawkesbury Race 4
#1 Bo Katan
Bo Katan was luckless first-up at Wyong. The Impending gelding lost his spot at a crucial stage, and it was a hard watch for favourite punters. The step out to 1300m is advantageous, and he should get the perfect cart into the race from barrier five. The big boy strips fitter after his recent outing, and he looks like one of the better bets on a tricky racing program.
Zale is knocking on the door. Both runs this campaign have been full of merit, and he is ready for the longer trip. From the perfect inside draw, the Denman gelding will occupy the box seat, and if he sees daylight as they run for the doctor, I expect him to figure in the finish. The class rise is the primary concern.
Llewellyn looks suited to dropping back to the provincial level. The Mendelssohn colt is talented and performed well without winning in some strong city races during his debut preparation. The carpark draw is his biggest obstacle.
Suggested Bet: Bo Katan @ $2.35
Hawkesbury RACE 5
#4 Superstitious
Superstitious is ready to win! The Snitzel gelding is coming off a string of narrow losses, and he looks perfectly placed meeting easier opposition. The 1400m is ideal at this stage of his campaign, and I suspect he will camp on the leader’s back from a favourable inside alley. He needs to put a win on the board!
Little Jeanie makes her Australian debut for the Waller camp. The Savabeel filly boasts solid New Zealand form, and her best performance on Wednesday could be fences and panels better than her rivals. It may pay dividends to watch for any significant market support.
Invader’s Girl was good without threatening first-up at Newcastle. The Invader filly is racing consistently, and I suspect her debut win is just around the corner. From the awkward barrier, she will slide back and watch the race unfold, and if she doesn’t get too far out of her ground during the middle stages of the race, she can make her presence felt late.
Suggested Bet: Superstitious @ $10.00
Sandown Race 5
#6 Obedience
Obedience was a dominant winner fresh at Werribee. The Fiorente mare doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and she has been heavily supported since markets opened. She traditionally races well second-up, and her record over the mile is outrageous. From the cherry, she will roll forward and pilot the field, and if she is left to her own devices throughout, she will be hard to toss.
Super Solar is ultra-consistent. The Makfi gelding recorded a well-deserved victory at his latest outing, and he looks well-placed to continue on his winning ways. The big boy will drift back and anchor the field, and if the leaders leave the kettle on early, he will loom to win during the final furlong. His racing pattern and style always requires an element of luck.
Dasho Lennie makes his Australian debut for the Maher camp. His best form reads incredibly well for this event and has been well-specked at a price. He has trialled impressively leading into his first-up assignment, and I suspect the Territories entire has a successful autumn ahead of him. I would prefer to see him further and deeper into his campaign.
Suggested Bet: Rock Obedience @ $8.50
Sandown Race 6
#1 Brazen Kingdom
Brazen Kingdom will have supporters after a stunning first-up performance. The Iffraaj gelding will relish the step out to 1500m, and I suspect he will get the ideal track conditions to suit on Wednesday. From barrier two, I expect the Peter Moody-trained galloper to roll forward, and if he can find the bunny uncontested, he may prove hard to run down.
Magnolia Lodge is over the odds. The Impending gelding was an impressive fresh winner at Geelong, and he looks ready to take the next step up in grade to city class. The talented three-year-old has plenty of upside, and I suspect he is in for a fruitful autumn campaign. Barrier three should allow him a soft run in transit, and the flood of early money indicates another bold performance. This is his acid test.
Amphactor resumes after undergoing the ultimate gear change. The American Pharoah gelding is always thereabouts and traditionally runs well fresh. His trial leading into his first-up assignment was rock-solid, and I suspect the camp will have him cherry ripe for Wednesday. The Blake Shinn factor will attract support, and the Kavanagh camp are training winners for fun at present. Big watch!
Suggested Bet: Brazen Kingdom @ $2.80
