Mitch Cohen's Blackbook: Five to follow from Hawkesbury Saturday
FIVE TO FOLLOW
AERODROME (1st, Race 3)
Two wins from two by this promising son of Ole Kirk after his determined victory in the Clarendon Stakes. Stakes tests await in Queensland and he's going to make his presence felt.
✈� Aerodrome flies to remain unbeaten and take the Clarendon Stakes at @hawkesburyrc! @MFreedmanRacing | @Reganbayliss pic.twitter.com/1ZPtEmgZSe
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
HEREWARD (2nd, Race 3)
Take nothing away from the Aerodrome but this juvenile deserves plenty of credit after leading the field up and sticking on for second on debut over 1400m. He won't be a maiden for long.
JUST PARTY (2nd, Race 6)
A gelding operation appears to have done the trick with this Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper making an excellent return to just come up short in the Hawkesbury Guineas. He's in for a great prep.
� Media World hangs on in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Guineas and makes it two in a row! @SnowdenRacing1 | @G1TySchil | @YulongInvest pic.twitter.com/rip3F1hXjK
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
Burst through closer to the inside before getting gunned down by a race fit horse in Dragonstone with In Flight close up as well. It was a more than acceptable return and bodes well for the prep ahead over the winter months.
HOLLYWOOD HERO (4th, Race 10)
It was a race dominated by on-speed runners but he ran on well enough fresh from a break to just miss the placings. He's not a noted first-up performer so he looks set for a fruitful campaign.
A great battle between Cool Jakey and Gallant Star in the last at @hawkesburyrc, with Cool Jakey the winner - giving @PrideRacing a treble and Adam Hyeronimus a double! pic.twitter.com/so93GWzuFM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
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STEWARDS SAY
Starboard (Race 1): Hung in throughout the event and proved difficult to ride. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities apart from losing its off-fore plate during running.
Damien (Race 3): Did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it closed off the race. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.
Coco Jamboo (Race 7): A power malfunction of the barriers delayed the start significantly and the mare was ultimately flat-footed when they jumped, losing five lengths. Stewards placed a warning on her barrier manners.
Celui (Race 9): Was found to have bled for the first time and is now banned from racing for three months.
Fire Star (Race 9): Did not handle the Heavy track and was further disadvantaged by being obliged to race close to the rail in the home straight. No abnormalities were found but his post-race condition will be followed up.
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THE CLOCK SAID
Aerodrome (Race 3): Trailed pacesetter Hereward in the run and did his best work late to overpower the David Payne-trained galloper. Aerodrome's last 600m was 34.86 seconds with runner-up Hereward in 35.22.
Able Willie (Race 4): Only had one runner behind him at the 600m before surging home to win. He was the only horse to break 34 in the race, surging home with a last 600m of 33.75 seconds.
Willing and able! Able Willie wins first up for @cwallerracing and @nashhot ðŸ'� @hawkesburyrc pic.twitter.com/TQO30p68lm
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
Media World (race 6): Was able to control the speed from the front in the Hawkesbury Guineas before holding on with a last 600m of 34.81 seconds. Runner-up Just Party ran the same distance in a faster 34.06 but couldn't run him down.
City Of Lights (race 7): Camped in behind the leaders, this mare surged home in the Hawkesbury Crown with a last 600m of 33.32. Defending champ Coco Jamboo missed the start before finishing off in a race-best 33.13.
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TRACK TALK
'I have never had a horse with a pedigree like hers. It's a pedigree made in heaven, a half-sister to Winx by one of the best stallions (Deep Impact) to stand on the planet.' Joe Pride on City Of Lights.
'We were very tempted to geld him but Yulong wanted to give me one more chance with him as a colt and I'm glad they did.' Peter Snowden on Media World.
'I'm hoping he could emerge as a Stradbroke Handicap – he's heading in the right direction, that's for sure.' Snowden again.
'I could hardly pull him up after the post. He has a bright future.'' Regan Bayliss on Aerodrome.
'I will see how he pulls up but all going well we will look at Brisbane now for Aerodrome.' Michael Freedman.
'You could expect him to half not want to be here but he was better than last week.'' Nash Rawiller after Punch Lane 's latest win.
Punch Lane leads all the way in the G3 @hawkesburyrc Gold Cup and wins in style!�
That's also a double to @nashhot ðŸ'° @FreedmanRacing pic.twitter.com/Axz8K4OZIx
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2025
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YOU CAN BET ON IT
Hawkesbury Crown
City Of Lights was well supported and got backed into $6 after opening at $11. There was winning $2000 wager at $5.50 placed.
Hawkesbury Gold Cup
All the money was for Punch Lane and the favourite saluted at $2.30 with a weight of dough behind it. Big wins included a $10,000 bet on the winner at $2.30 and a separate $9000 wager placed at $2.20.
Hawkesbury Gold Rush
Dragonstone was on the fourth line of TAB betting but had drifted out from $6 to $7.50 by the time it saluted. One TAB punter had $2000 each-way on the winner at $5/$1.85.
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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Grafton, Gunnedah
Tuesday: Kembla Grange
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Goulburn, Wyong
Friday: Coffs Harbour
Saturday: Kembla Grange, Gosford, Lismore, Glen Innes
Sunday: Mudgee, Queanbeyan
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RON DUFFICY'S HAWKESBURY SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
Punch Lane has had a real crack doing it both ends winning over the past three weeks in a row. He is in rare form and is a credit to his trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
FORGET THEY RAN
No dramatic hard luck stories on the day although I'd be forgiving of horses that got back and had to make their run out wide while the well fancied Celui bled which explains his failure.
THE BLACKBOOK
Aerodrome is a lovely two-year-old that could well be a force during the Queensland Winter Carnival while Just Party was terrific first-up as a gelding and might be ready to go through his grades this campaign.
Nash Rawiller did it best with a riding double and two close seconds.
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