Hawkesbury and Sandown Lakeside are the places to be this Wednesday afternoon. With competitive racing on offer at both venues, find out below who our experts expect to take home the mid-week cash!
Hawkesbury Race 5
#6 Bear On The Loose
Bear On The Loose looks the best bet on a tricky and competitive racing program. The Footstepsinthesand gelding resumes after a string of ominous barrier trials, and his best performance fresh would win this event in a canter. He finds his pet distance first-up and is drawn ideally in barrier four. Hard to toss!
State Of America will have supporters after two solid performances this campaign. The American Pharoah gelding is ready to peak, and the drop back to the mile could prove a training masterstroke. The 55.5kg is a luxury, and his record at Hawkesbury must be respected. His racing pattern and style always requires an element of good fortune.
Bold Mac is over the odds. His form is better than it reads in the bible, and I suspect his double-figure quote will shorten if the rain arrives before the barriers open. If the big boy can find cover in the running line from a middle draw, he can make his presence felt late. Take on trust.
Suggested Bet: Bear On The Loose @ $3.10
Hawkesbury RACE 7
#1 Lonhro's Queen
Lonhro’s Queen was a brilliant first-up winner at Scone. The Lonhro mare put her rivals to the sword a long way from home, and she put the writing on the wall for a successful campaign. The 3kg apprentice claim is advantageous, and the step out in trip is ideal at this stage of her preparation. She strips fitter after her fresh heroics and looks set to continue her winning ways.
Acappella Sun is a model of consistency. The Sebring Sun mare doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and her stunning first-up victory is still fresh in the memory bank. The inside draw will allow her to settle closer in the run, and if the gaps appear as they run for the doctor, she will loom to win late. Her record at the trip is the primary concern.
Spirit Of Varanasi can run a drum at the cricket score odds. The Bel Esprit mare has been freshened up for this assignment, and her best performance here would see her figure in the finish. The consistent five-year-old handles all conditions, and if she can find some cover from the carpark draw, she may cause a major boilover.
Suggested Bet: Lonhro’s Queen @ $3.70
Sandown Lakeside Race 5
#7 Flying Mean
Flying Mean is racing well this preparation. The Lean Mean Machine gelding narrowly missed at Sale fresh, and he impressively got the chocolates second-up in a strong form race at Pakenham. The progressive four-year-old possesses a healthy turn of foot, and I suspect he has a big engine under his bonnet. He maps perfectly from a middle draw and has been well-supported since acceptance. Yes please!
Primal Spirit is too consistent to pot. The Charm Spirit gelding is a 1200m specialist, and I suspect he will pilot the field from the inside draw. The enigmatic four-year-old looks well-placed in this company, and I expect him to look like the winner as they swing for home. The grandstand weight is his biggest obstacle.
Miss Mahjong is a must for all broader multiples and exotics. The Territories filly was a dominant victor fresh at Kyneton, and she deserves her shot at this level on Wednesday. The consistent three-year-old boasts form around the talented Swiftfalcon at Flemington, and I suspect her long odds will be under double figures before the barriers open. Leave her out at your own peril.
Suggested Bet: Flying Mean @ $4.00
Sandown Lakeside Race 6
#1 Affluential
Affluential savaged the line late fresh from a different suburb at Sandown-Hillside. The Zed gelding missed by a whisker, and his supporters headed to the bar for a stiff drink. He traditionally performs well second-up, and I suspect he will occupy the box-seat from a perfect inside draw. The big boy looks well-placed in this company, and he has been well-supported in early betting. The 62.5kg is the biggest deterrent.
Fernao will start race favourite after a fruitful campaign to date. The Frankel gelding comes to Melbourne up and about, and his best Sydney form reads incredibly well for this event. The 2kg apprentice claim puts one hoof on the till, and his camp are training winners for fun at present. The awkward gate is the primary concern.
Sir Rockford can run a drum with a change of fortune. The Shocking gelding is racing better than his results suggest, and the form around him has stood up repeatedly during the autumn. The drop-in class will help his case, and I suspect this event has been a long-range target. Ready to peak at a juicy price!
Suggested Bet: Affluential @ $5.50
