Hawkesbury preview: Rain brings optimism for Stephen O'Halloran

Courier-Mail

a day ago

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Local trainer Stephen O'Halloran was quite happy to see the rain this week and the track enter the heavy range for his in-form gelding Mal Coupe.
The three-year-old was good on the soft when a close second at Canberra first-up this preparation but excelled on the heavy ground when he won his maiden at Bathurst by four-and-a-half lengths.
He then followed it up with a solid length second behind Hawker Hall on a Soft 6 at Gosford.
With that big win on his resume, Mal Coupe has been a popular on TAB Fixed Odds where he firmed from $5.50 second elect into a $3.20 favourite ahead of Duke Of Bronte ($2.80 to $3.60) in the Essential Asset + Fire Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m).
'He loved getting on the heavy track and he was impressive winning at Bathurst,' said O'Halloran.
Trainer Stephen O'Halloran is looking for another strong performance from Mal Coupe at Hawkesbury. Picture: Grant Guy
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'Even when he got beat at his next start at Gosford, he was pretty good there as well where he ran into a nice horse of Kris Lees'.
'He's very honest and gives a hundred per cent every time he goes around. You can't ask for any more than that.
'I know it's in the heavy range again this week so he's going to get conditions to suit.
'Obviously this race is a benchmark 68 which is stronger than what he has been up against but I don't think he is out of place.
'He's rock hard fit and only carriers 55 and a half kilos. He has ticked the 1100 metres box and the heavy track box.
'It's his home track and hopefully he can get across the line in front.
The son of Xtravagant raced well in his first campaign including a debit fifth behind Lady Zodiac and Gunroom at Hawkesbury last October but O'Halloran always knew he would be better this preparation.
'He has definitely come back more mature than he was last preparation and he hasn't put a foot wrong in his three runs so far,' he said.
'He's a home-bred for his owners, Gary and Kay Stevenson, who have been very patient with him.
'He was very immature as a young horse so we have taken our time with him.
'Last preparation was more about education but he showed us a little bit.
'We gave him a nice break and hopefully they reap the rewards with him this preparation.'
O'Halloran and the Stevenson's also combine with Rule Of Faith who makes her race debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).
The daughter of Hellbent finished in the second half of the field in her two trials but O'Halloran has seen enough in her trackwork to suggests she has nice ability.
'She is only a two-year-old and was very new when she first came in so she had a couple of short preparations. This campaign is the furthest she has got but she is a nice filly,' he said.
'We gave her two trials. The first at Rosehill when there weren't any in the provincial area and she met good horses there.
'Then she had another trial here where she was caught wide.
'I worked her in blinkers last week and she went really well so she will start with them on.
'Emma Ly has been on in her two trials and knows her well so she will ride her.
'She's an emergency at the moment but I expect there to be a few more scratchings with the way the track is.
'I know she has drawn wide but you probably want to be out there when the track is in the heavy range.'
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Trainer Amanda Turner said her promising gelding Point Score had genuine excuses for the last start defeat and is ready to bounce back.
The striking black colt suffered interference on the home turn which led to further complications when fourth behind Zouripper at Kembla 12 days ago.
Prior to that, Point Score sat outside the leader before racing away to an impressive win by nearly two lengths from Mysterious Master and Kilbrannan when resuming on a Heavy 8 at Kembla on May 31.
'He was very good winning at Kembla. He seems to be pretty comfortable on the heavy ground,' said Turner.
'I was disappointed last start, not in his performance but rounding the turn, he was just looming in to it lovely when he was hampered and all but came down.
'He got going again and went to sprint but his race plate shifted and he got two nails stuck in his foot.
'He could have dropped right out but to run fourth was a good effort.
'I really looked after him to make sure nothing came from that. His foot is as good as gold so he is right to go now.'
The two-year-old son of Blue Point will again get a heavy track when he lines up against older horses in the Brad Widdup Racing Class 1 Handicap (1000m) with Mollie Fitzgerald to continue her association with him.
'Mollie galloped him last Saturday morning and we were very happy with him,' Turner said.
Turner will head to Hawkesbury with another youngster in Over The Limit who makes his debut in the Davo's Dash 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m).
The first crop son of Anders trialled nicely when a length third to Warson in his first heat at Warwick Farm on May 26 and followed up with a win from War King in his second heat there on June 10.
'He is doing well (to get to this point) because this is his first serious preparation,' said Turner.
'His nickname is Tiny because he was so small and last time in, we didn't get to do much at all.
'We gelded him and tipped him out for a good break and he is now almost 16 hands so he has really grown.
'I just want him to have a very good race day experience this week.
'I expect he will be much better next time in.'