Raceday focus: Best bets at Hawkesbury

I Am Excited scored her third win from as many starts this autumn when she took out the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at last Saturday’s Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill Gardens. This feature race win came after her Listed Fireball Stakes success earlier this month.

SPRING TARGET: ESTIJAAB EYEING THE EVEREST

SO CLOSE: WINX ONE ADRIFT OF CAV’S RECORD

Pfieffer has every reason to aim higher with I Am Excited, confirming she will be set for the Group 2 $ 600,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Day Two of The Championships, April 14.

“She has pulled up really well after her win and I’m giving her a couple of quiet days in the paddock to help her recover,’’ Pfieffer said. “It is about keeping her mentally happy more than anything. I’ve always thought she had the ability but she is believing in herself now, she is a confident filly. In her last couple of starts she has really shown how much she wants to win.’’

RAY THOMAS’S BEST BETS

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET: REVENIRE (Race 2, No. 4)

Smart Lonhro colt with two wins from five starts. He was beaten twice as favourite in two city starts last spring but resumes in a very winnable race. Drawn a little awkwardly but should be stalking the leaders from the start. His first-up form is good and he is clearly the one to beat.

NEXT BEST: THINK STRAIGHT (Race 6, No. 5)

Showed promise on debut when he settled on speed and fought hard for third to Dissolution at Warwick Farm. He is jumping out to 1500m quickly but is bred to stay and should appreciate the trip. Will take natural improvement form his debut effort and is well placed here.

THE VALUE: DISCREET CHARM (Race 7, No. 8)

Hung in under pressure and probably should have won at Goulburn when second, beaten less than a length. She did win at Hawkesbury over 1300m when last in work and will be fitter for two runs from a spell. She is looking for 1600m now.

LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

QUADDIE

R5: 2,3 R6: 1,2,5,12 R7: 3,6,8 R8: 1,5,14

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

JOHN THOMPSON is represented by four good value runners — Britannicus (race 6), Discreet Charm (race 7), All Day and Zedforce (race 8).

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

TYE ANGLAND, who has ridden over 100 winners at Hawkesbury, has six very good chances, including Revenire (race 2), Rex Bell (race 4), Gold Codes (race 5) and Think Straight (race 6).

SCROLL DOWN FOR RAY’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS

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Pfieffer has also placed Xaarfoxylady to advantage on Tuesday, giving the three-year-old filly the opportunity to score a confidence-boosting win in the opening race, the Maiden Plate (1300m).

Xaarfoxylady has only been to the races four times for three placings, including successive thirds at Wyong (1100m) and Kembla Grange (1200m).

She was the unlucky runner last start, getting into an awkward spot back in the field inside runners on the turn before she switched to the outside of the track and the filly finished very strongly to go under narrowly in a tight three-way finish.

“Her Kembla run was the first time she has shown she is looking for a bit of ground,’’ Pfieffer said. “The small field at Hawkesbury will suit her and so will getting out to 1300m.’’

There are only six runners in the opener including local Image Neat, who has been placed in each of his five starts, and C’est Davinchi, from the Golden Slipper-winning stable of Team Hawkes, who has been runner-up his last two starts.

Xaarfoxylady is by emerging stallion Foxwedge out of Xaar’s Jewel which makes her a half-sister to stakes winners Ninth Legion and Tsarista.

Interestingly, Tsarista’s best win came in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas two years ago, defeating the Pfieffer-trained Denmagic.

Pfieffer could bookend the Hawkesbury meeting as he will be saddling up Cape Wickham in the closer, the Class 1 Handicap (1300m). Cape Wickham is resuming after a long spell, having not raced since winning his maiden at Goulburn last June.

“He had minor surgery to take a small bone chip out of his fetlock and has been gelded during the break as well,’’ Pfieffer said. “But he has been back in work a while and had three barrier trials this time in. He’s giving me the impression he is looking for a mile so running over 1300m first-up won’t be a problem.’’

Cape Wickham, the first emergency who has gained a start with the scratching of Casino Angel, has drawn nicely in barrier four in a competitive race where his main rivals include topweight Schubert and Destiny’s Hero.

INSIDE MAIL WITH RAY THOMAS

HAWKESBURY

RACE 1 (1.15pm)

7. Xaarfoxylady was in an awkward spot back in the field inside horses before switching to the outside and finishing strongly to just miss at Kembla Grange. Fitter for two runs back from a spell, suited at 1300m and gets her chance to break through. 1. Image Neat was three-wide throughout at Hawkesbury last start and held on well to run third. He is coming back in trip but is yet to miss a place in five starts. 4. C’est Davinchi had his chance to win last start but still worked home well. 6. Supreme Rhythm was narrowly beaten in a two-horse race last start.

BETTING STRATEGY: Box trifecta 1,4,7.

RACE 2 (1.50pm)

4. Revenire won two of his three starts as a juvenile and had a two-start campaign last spring when he bumped into the speedy Fifteen Sunflowers first-up at Canterbury then was spelled after finishing fourth at the same track behind Junglized. Beaten favourite in both city losses late last year. He looked sharp in a recent Randwick trial and is placed to advantage here. 7. I Am Special attacked the line impressively at Orange first-up, 6. Shudabeen will find this easier and 3. Villa Carlotta is capable of better.

BETTING STRATEGY: REVENIRE to win.

RACE 3 (2.25pm)

6. Cortesta was unplaced in all three starts last spring but I’m convinced she has ability. She resumes here against older horses but has had two barrier trials, the most recent an impressive fast-finishing effort. Drawn the rails and will get the right run. 1. Royal Advance was fully tested in his recent Randwick trial but is in a very winnable race on debut. 4. Rosie’s Miracle was strong through the line in her recent trial and local 8. Sun And Heir gets in well at the weights after the claim.

BETTING STRATEGY: CORTESTA each way; Quinella 1,6.

RACE 4 (3.05pm)

3. Momentum To Win finished behind Rex Bell and Baroque last start at Newcastle but he can turn the tables here. Momentum To Win got too far back that day and in the sprint home he faced an impossible task to catch the leaders. Smaller field suits, he will be within striking distance throughout and will be strong late. 2. Rex Bell was flushed out three-wide 1000m out and had excuses. He is fitter now after three runs back. 8. Just Gorgeous is a definite lightweight hope and 4. Baroque will be competitive.

BETTING STRATEGY: Box trifecta 2,3,4,8.

RACE 5 (3.40pm)

2. Cabriere was beaten out of a place as an odds-on favourite at Mudgee but he had excuses. The tempo was moderate early and he was back last before doing his best work late to run fourth. He gets out to 1300m here and the bigger track suits. Ready to win. 3. Gold Codes is tall and strong, drawn well and coming off a good trial win. He should race well on debut. 10. Quite Unexpected was consistent when last in work and the well-bred 7. Calaway Dancer (So You Think-Calaway Gal) is one to watch.

BETTING STRATEGY: CABRIERE to win.

RACE 6 (4.15pm)

5. Think Straight, a three-year-old colt by 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think, was very good on debut, finishing third to Dissolution at Warwick Farm. Settled third the fence and held his ground, working nicely to the line. Easier here and although awkwardly drawn, he looks the one to beat. 2. Britannicus ran on well when resuming and can improve. 1. Dashing Special is honest but is coming back slightly in trip. Superbly bred 12. Vaishali (Sepoy-Republic Lass) was in the market first-up and is wroth another chance.

BETTING STRATEGY: THINK STRAIGHT to win, saver on VAISHALI.

RACE 7 (4.50pm)

I don’t think there is a lot between 8. Discreet Charm and 3. Sacred Edge. I’m leaning to Discreet Charm — yet another by So You Think — who has been placed in both runs since resuming. Looked the likely winner at Goulburn last start but wanted to hang in under pressure. Fitter now and 1600m suits. Sacred Edge is in rare form, winning three of his last four starts, but he is creeping up in the weights now. 6. My Song is an improver and 2. Zigamore is tough and genuine.

BETTING STRATEGY: DISCREET CHARM to win, saver on SACRED EDGE.

RACE 8 (5.30pm)

1. Schubert won his maiden first-up in fast time at Newcastle last June, running 33.32s his final 600m. He was then placed twice in the city and twice at the provincials before spelling again. Two easy trials have readied him for this race. Hard to beat. 5. Destiny’s Hero won his maiden at Kembla and had form around Kaonic and Sky Boy when last in work. The 1300m is slightly short of his best trip and he will be giving Schubert a start. 14. Zedforce was chopped out when running into the race first-up and is an each-way chance. 11. Meraki Miss for the minors.

BETTING STRATEGY: SCHUBERT to win, ZEDFORCE each way.