Latest News

By John Curtis

Blake Ryan says Ausbred Mimosa ($4.60 on TAB) has enough ability not to be a seven-start maiden, so he is banking on start No.8 bringing an overdue breakthrough on her home track on Tuesday.

The now five-year-old mare was a dual acceptor at Hawkesbury and Ryan has opted for the Irresistible Pools & Spas 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1300m) rather than the shorter 1100m Blakes Marine Maiden Handicap.

“It was a flip of the coin decision,” Ryan said this morning.

Ausbred Mimosa (Jay Ford) parades at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

“Ausbred Mimosa drew well in both races, but I would have been filthy if I kept her at 1100m as she was first-up and found it a bit short.”

Jay Ford has ridden Ausbred Mimosa at six of her seven starts (including her three placings) and will be in the opposite corner tomorrow on pre-post favorite, Joe Pride’s Threatening ($3), who has also been placed on three occasions, from only four starts.

“I was going to run Ausbred Mimosa at either Newcastle last Saturday week or Kembla Grange last Saturday but she drew off the track at both venues,” Ryan explained.

“Understandably Jay does a lot of riding for Joe and took another booking because of my original plan, and I was lucky enough to get Kerrin McEvoy.

“Ausbred Mimosa has a short, sharp run for 200m and then flattens out, so it was imperative she drew well tomorrow.

"She had x-rays issues early on and as a result didn’t start racing until late in her three-year-old season.

“Ausbred Mimosa was placed in town at Warwick Farm last December, and has enough ability not to be still a maiden. Hopefully we can get that breakthrough tomorrow.”

Ausbred Mimosa, a daughter of Deep Field, was bred by her owner Chris Lawlor from his eight times New Zealand winner (including a Group 1) Barinka, who produced the 2020 Warwick Farm Inglis Millennium winner Prime Star (by Starspangledbanner).

Ryan also runs Nefertari (Jason Collett-$9) in the Lander Toyota Class 1 Handicap (1300m), and has explained the reason behind her last start failure at Warwick Farm on July 10 a Heavy 9 after winning a Provincial Maiden (1300m) at home on June 18 on a Soft 6.

“She is hopeless on heavy ground, and I won’t run her again on anything worse than a Soft 6,” Ryan said. “Jason has ridden Nefertari at her last two runs and sticks with her.”

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer James Ponsonby, after winning yesterday’s Riverina Cup at Wagga with Semper Fortis, is chasing a home track victory with Grenoble (Jay Ford-$9) in the Clarendon Tavern Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m).

The former UK gelding was the “middle pin” of a trifecta result for Ponsonby at Orange last December when he ran second to Semper Fortis and another stablemate Will To Excel was third, in a Benchmark 66 Handicap (2110m).

“Grenoble has been placed at two of his three runs this campaign, including a first-up third over 1600m at Wyong in June,” Ponsonby said. “He ran home strongly over 1800m at Bathurst last time, and would have won in a couple more strides.

“Grenoble is drawn a bit awkwardly, but if he can have a bit of luck I’m sure he will be competitive.”

Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan doesn’t want any rain to ensure she heads to Hawkesbury with a pair of last start winners. She has recent Wyong winner Kervette (Zac Lloyd-$2.90 favourite) in Nefertari’s race, and latest Newcastle winner Fioprospero (Lee Magorrian-$5) in Grenoble’s race.

“Provided the track stays in the good range, they will both run at Hawkesbury,” Buchanan said.

The rail is out 4m from the 1100m t0 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

Course manager Kyle Cassim at 8am today posted a Good 4 rating, with a penetrometer of 5.11.

Hawkesbury has received only 4.5mm of rain in the last week, and only 0.5mm of it in the previous 24 hours to 8am today.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here