Hawkesbury will host their massive stand alone meeting this Saturday, and while the racing will be fabulous, the attention will be on Peter Snowden given it’ll be his last meeting as head trainer for Darley as well as the last time he’ll be associated with Crown Lodge after nearly 30 years. The three big races on the card, each carrying Group lll status and $150,000 prizemoney, are the Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), Darley Crown (1300m) and the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m).

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Race One (12:25) : Westaflex Handicap (85) 1300m

Back Me: Earnest Ernest has been a real problem child for Joe Pride throughout his career, but he can put it all together and win, like last start at Rosehill, even though he almost wanted to turn it up, but Nash lifted him over the line. Kept ticking over with a nice trial earlier in the week, so fitness won’t be an issue. The long straight suits, he won’t mind any rain that comes and does have a good record at the track.
Big Danger: Longshoreman resumes here for Tony McEvoy off the back of a really impressive trial where he pulled himself to the front and looked to travel sweetly in the run and went to the line under a hold, beating all bar Zoustar, who is off to conquer Royal Ascot. Form from last prep wasn’t bad either, behind the likes of Terravista and Laidback Larry. Saves his best for early on in the prep and the stable is flying at the moment.
Roughie: Papillon Rouge resumed in the South Pacific Classic at Randwick and just didn’t look 100% in the going and against that class. Drops back to benchmark company, should roll forward comfortably given there isn’t much pace engaged and give some cheek. Look for her to bounce back.

Race Two (13:00) : Evergreen Turf Claret Stakes 1300m

Back Me: Really good race for the babies. Meursault on top for me. This colt is making his debut for Darley off the back of several barrier trials, two during the Spring/Summer and two during the Autumn, the latest being a win over our roughie, who caught the eye when making his debut last week, so the form looks okay for this, and he is beautifully bred, being by Medaglia D’Oro, the next boom sire for Darley, out of former top Queensland mare Star Shiraz. Happy to go his way.
Big Danger: Farolitos made his debut at Mornington a couple of weeks back for Darley, and was quite impressive when bucking the trend and coming from the back to win impressively. That track usually suits horses up on the speed, so for a debutante to do the opposite definitely deserves him coming to New South Wales.
Roughie: Mr Lebrock is a well bred type, being by More Than Ready out of former Group l mare Mimi Lebrock. He bombed the start on debut last week at Canterbury yet made up a stack of ground late to run a close up fifth. Extra distance, bigger track and the race experience will only be beneficial.

Race Three (13:35) : Blakes Marine Handicap (80) 1500m

Back Me: Rowie trialled okay prior to his closing third at Kensington behind Flying Bay. That race was dominated by those up on the speed, so for him to take ground off despite being first up 57kg is really encouraging. Was nominated for the Hawkesbury Cup, but they have instead opted for the easier race. Gets in very well at the weights against this lot and should take some beating.
Big Danger: Liberty’s Choice has been quite disappointing in the sense that he hasn’t really gone on with it after promising so much during the Spring. Looked to have his chance last start in the Carbine Club when fourth to Gypsy Diamond, but that form does read well with that filly being an unlucky second in the Queen Of The Turf seven days later. Drops big time in depth, should roll to the lead from the draw, and at his best, he’d give this an almighty shake.
Roughie: Cushy Number had the dream sit off the speed last start at Warwick Farm, and when the gap opened, he pinged and just sprinted past his rivals and away from them as if they were nailed to the turf. The fourth horse from that race bolted in during the week at Kembla, so don’t be worried by the weaker formline. Definite winning chance.

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Race Four (14:10) : Richmond Club Provincial Stayers Final (80) 2100m

Back Me: Really tough race to sort out. Sommernachtstraum was a good winner over the Kensington 2500m back in February, then was freshened up and went around over the 1800m there a couple of weeks back where he got absolutely no luck at a vital stage, getting held up before eventually getting out and by then the swoopers out wide built up the momentum. Step up to 2100m is a big tick, and with normal luck, he’ll prove hard to beat.
Big Danger: Senta Desert won that Kensington race, sitting out the back and letting it all unfold before charging home out wide to nail them close to home. Did win a trial impressively prior, so the win was of no shock, and he should only improve fitness wise. Should prove a worthy rival again.
Roughie: Wouldn’t be a staying race without the Chris Waller influence, and his best chance is probably Grand Marshal, who only has the one gear of speed, but does try very hard, as we have seen throughout this preparation. He’ll run the distance out very strongly and is rock hard fit, so he rates as a chance.

Race Five (14:45) : 2014 Darley Crown 1300m

Back Me: Peter Snowden has dominated this race, and I expect him to do it again, this time in the shape of Aerobatics, the 2013 winner of this race. Her three runs this time in have been very good in much tougher races. Was ridden too close to the tempo in the Sapphire and weakened late behind Cosmic Endeavour. My only concern is that she is a mare who generally races best early on in a prep, so being fourth up here does worry me a shade, but she is the class horse and proven at this level.
Big Danger: Cosmic Endeavour had a picnic in front in the Sapphire and won accordingly. Up to 1300m is probably a negative rather than a positive, but she should spear to the front, and if given another cheap time on the pace, she’ll go close to winning again.
Roughie: Massive watch here on The Messina Nymph, who was backed as if unbeatable first up at Wyong and ran accordingly, bolting in by a space and running good time. Her trial before that was outstanding and her form from the Spring has held up. There is a very good race in her, and there is a concern that this is all coming around too soon for her, but she has loads of talent and is a serious threat.

Race Six (15:20) : Panthers Hawkesbury Gold Cup 1600m

Back Me: Leebaz was heavily backed in the Doncaster Prelude but Macca went a touch too quick in front and was grabbed late by Weary, who has placed twice at Group l level since, so that form is outstanding here. Will look to push forward in a race which doesn’t seem to have much speed engaged, and he just looks beautifully placed at the weights.
Big Danger: Malavio was game in the Doncaster, looking to travel well just behind the speed and on the turn presented as if he was going to be in the finish, but just got a stitch late to run eighth. All of his runs this time in have been very good, all in harder company than this. Gets his chance to put a tenth career win on the board.
Roughie: Wistful was backed to beat Destiny’s Kiss last week at Warwick Farm, but couldn’t hold off that horses powerful finishing burst, and was a well held second. That horse will be winning good races this prep, so running second isn’t a bad thing at all, and while she probably needs to improve a few lengths to beat these, she should still run well.

Race Seven (16:00) : Blacktown Workers Hawkesbury Guineas 1400m

Back Me: Chautauqua trialled brilliantly prior to his luckless second to In Cahoots in the Gosford Guineas, then went to the Royal Sovereign and probably found the class and depth a bit rich so early in his career, running seventh to Sidestep, beaten just under four lengths. He’ll get to that level before his racing days are done no doubt because he always has shown enormous potential. Cherry ripe fitness wise now, up to 1400m…hard to beat despite the awkward draw.
Big Danger: Spy Decoder was excellent in defeat behind Beauty’s Beast in the South Pacific Classic, being the lone horse from the back to make up ground on the winner, who controlled the race in front and sprinted quickly in the straight to win. If he can sit closer to the tempo, he has the talent and turn of foot to beat these. Also include Northern Glory in this section, because she is absolutely flying at the moment without winning and can certainly take the bikkies here.
Roughie: Just keep an eye on this filly from New Zealand for Roger James, Katie’s Cove Her last two wins have only been a maiden and benchmark 65, but the manner in which she has done it has been highly impressive and the trainer doesn’t bring them over for a holiday. She could definitely win without surprising.

Race Eight (16:40) : XXXX Gold Hawkesbury Rush 1100m

Back Me: Dash for cash here with speed galore engaged. Ichihara is just a tier below Group l company, but she is a gutsy little mare for Allan Denham. Was last seen back in October in the Lightning at Randwick, beaten narrowly by Famous Seamus. Normally she has a trial before she resumes, so it’s interesting that she hasn’t trialled publicly. Still, her class will carry her a long way.
Big Danger: Limes threw away many races last prep. He did end up winning one, but really should have won a fair few more, but in saying that, he did run second to Ninth Legion in the Villiers and another couple of seconds in stakes company down south. Tuned up with a trial placing at Rosehill and while he may need this run, his class will take him a long way.
Roughie: Tougher Than Ever is an interesting runner here. Former kiwi who made his Australian debut last year in the Expressway when fourth to Happy Galaxy, then was a narrow second to Alma’s Fury in the Apollo before being outclassed in the Randwick Guineas. He was then sent to Singapore and did nothing in two runs during the Spring, so is now back with Chris Waller and he has looked very good in two barrier trials. Best form is over further, but on the trial runs, he is certainly capable.

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Best Bet: Race Six Number 4 Leebaz

Next Best: Race Eight Number 3 Ichihara

Best Roughie: Race Four Number 3 Sommernachtstraum

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 15

Leg Two: 2, 4

Leg Three: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 14, 15

Leg Four: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10

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All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

News:

A spring campaign is doubtful for Fontelina but trainer Anthony Cummings is counting on the sprinter’s younger brother to help fill a void, starting with the Hawkesbury Guineas.

Fontelina went amiss as he was being prepared for the TJ Smith Stakes, ruling the Group Two winner out of a Singapore trip and putting further 2014 plans on hold.

“He twisted an ankle and he might miss the spring,” Cummings said.

In Fontelina’s sparingly raced three-year-old sibling Spy Decoder, Cummings figures the blow of losing one of his best horses for an extended time might be softened sooner rather than later.

Spy Decoder will be having the fifth run of an introductory campaign to racing on Saturday that has returned Wyong and Warwick Farm wins.

But Cummings says his last-start effort to finish fourth in the South Pacific Classic at Randwick provides an even clearer understanding of the horse’s future.

“He blew the start and in a race that was leader dominated he was the only horse to make up ground,” Cummings said.

And Cummings may have provided an even bigger clue to Spy Decoder’s chances of measuring up to Group Three standard as he finalised stable entries for the Queensland winter carnival.

Spy Decoder has been nominated for the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap.

“I think he’s got a really good future and the step up to the Guineas is going to be suitable for him,” he said.

Spy Decoder, a $10 chance, is drawn to receive the run of the race in the Guineas from gate three with Brenton Avdulla taking over from James McDonald.

McDonald will ride Hawkes Racing’s Chautauqua, the $4.20 favourite on Friday in a reshuffled market because of the scratching of the New Zealander Beauty’s Beast.

He will also ride Leebaz for the Hawkes stable in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup with the four-year-old the shortest-priced runner at the meeting after firming from $2 to $1.75.

Reported to have knocked back a ride for Qatar Racing in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in England at the weekend, McDonald also has the mount on Darley Crown second favourite Cosmic Endeavour.