Everything you need to find the winner in the $150,000 Hawkesbury Provincial Championship Qualifier including tips, TAB markets, stewards comments, handicapper insights and trainer quotes.
KEY RUNNERS |
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Generalissimo ($2.70) This classy three-year-old is trending very nicely towards the Provincial Championships having finished not far from Tactical Advantage first-up before just missing to one of the Randwick Guineas favourites in Man From Uncle last start. Garry White has always been bullish about this horse’s ability and about getting him out to 1400m. He is the class runner of the field and if Tye Angland can overcome the sticky barrier, should be able to book his spot in the final.
Garry White: “He is a serious horse. He doesn’t have an instant turn of foot but once he hits top speed he can maintain it for between 500m and 600m.”
Brother In Arms ($15) Brother in Arms has never raced outside of provincial class so should be right at home here. This four-year-old out of High Chaparral is unbeaten since acquiring the services of experienced jockey Adrian Layt who is booked to ride again. The lightly-raced gelding has also had some success on rain affected tracks, having a win and a third on tracks rated outside the good range. Additionally, Brother in Arms will carry 56kgs, which will be the lightest weight carried so far in his career. The last time we saw him he looked to spot the leaders an impossible start with 61.5kg but won like a very smart animal.
Stephen Hill: "The 1400m will be suitable on Thursday and given the right run, he is ready to win."
Direct Strategy ($14) This four-year-old comes into the Hawkesbury Provincial Championships qualifier in red hot form. The gelding’s last six runs consists of three wins, a second in the MTC Guineas, a fourth when beaten by less than a length over the unsuitable distance of 2000m carrying 61kgs and most recently a fourth in a feature Canterbury night meeting race. Despite just missing out on qualifying for the Provincial Championships final last year, Direct Strategy rarely runs a poor race, finishing either first or second in 10 out of his 16 starts and with the Paul Murray polish will be looking to continue that form.
HANDICAPPER INSIGHT |
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Knit ‘n’ Purl is the highest rated runner with a benchmark figure of 80. That means the mare would have to give the lowest rated contestant Prince Memnon (rated 57) 9.5kgs if the two met carrying their true weights in handicap and here Knit ‘n’ Purl has 0.5kgs less. The next highest rated is Generalissimo with a benchmark figure of 75 and he carries 56kgs. That’s 0.5kgs more than Kris Lees’ mare, however he would receive 1kg less in a handicap. Generalissimo is in well however as the rest of the field would be weighted below the three-year-old should they meet in a handicap.
STEWARDS |
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TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS |
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View all the form, replays and fields for Hawkesbury's Provincial Championships Qualifier