With seven acceptors, Sydney’s training supremo Chris Waller will look to emulate his trifecta of 2016 in Thursday’s $150,000 Listed PolyTrack Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury. But market assessors have overlooked his dominance in numbers to post Godolphin rival Flow as an early favourite for the club’s historic mile feature.
Flow is the early favourite for Thursday's Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury. Credit: Bradley Photos.
Trainer James Cummings has again booked Kerrin McEvoy for Flow, who beat one of Waller’s bevy of runners, I Am Serious, in the Spring Preview (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 11. I Am Serious shares second favouritism with stablemate Mister Sea Wolf (James McDonald).
Flow has raced once previously at Hawkesbury, finishing a close second on debut to Swear in the 2016 Clarendon Stakes (1300m) for two-year-olds at the annual metropolitan stand-alone meeting. The Street Cry five-year-old has attempted 1600m once to date, finishing third to Crack Me Up in the Sunshine Coast Guineas in July last year, however is yet to attain Black Type honours.
Eighteen horses accepted for what is shaping as a brilliant renewal of the time-honoured Rowley Mile, first run at Hawkesbury in 1881. Hawkesbury Chief Executive, Greg Rudolph, was understandably thrilled with the response to the race, which has struggled in recent years to cement a slot in the feature race calendar. An injection of prizemoney by the club last year to $150,000, looks to have reaped rewards.
“The race represents an ideal target for both horses coming through the Winter sprints, as well as middle-distance and staying types preparing for Spring riches, and now sits firmly as Hawkesbury’s Listed Winter Feature,” Rudolph said.
On Thursday, the Rowley Mile meeting will host the Hawkesbury Liquor Accord and their partners, raising funds for the Hawkesbury-based charity One80TC, aiding the rehabilitation of men and women with drug and alcohol addiction.
Gates open at 11am with the first event run at 12:40pm and the famous Mile set to go at 4:20pm.
View the fields and form (including race replays) for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting here.