Hawkesbury’s stand alone meeting on Saturday has attracted 160 nominations including entries from some of Victoria’s biggest stables.
“The nominations are terrific, with all the leading stables represented and also a number from interstate,” said Hawkesbury Race Club CEO Greg Rudolph. “It augurs well for a fantastic meeting.”
The Hawkesbury entry list includes 20 for the $200,000 Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m), 19 for the $200,000 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) and 28 for the $175,000 Godolphin Crown (1300m).
Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller, successful in last year’s Hawkesbury Cup with Amovatio, has nominated Beyond Thankful, Marenostro and Vanbrugh for this year’s race.John O’Shea has nominated Spectroscope, Duca Valentinois, Havana Cooler and Moher for the Hawkesbury Cup.
The Lindsay Park stable has nominated Jessy Belle for the Hawkesbury Cup while the Freedmans lead the interstate contingent with three entries for the meeting – Mr Sneaky (Guineas) and Extra Olives and Petition (Godolphin Crown).
Ciaron Maher and John Salanitri are represented in the Godolphin Crown by St Swithuns and I Love It respectively.Mornington trainer Pat Carey has nominated lightly raced two-year-old Tuskar Brook for the $125,000 Clarendon Stakes.
Nominations for the Hawkesbury Cup from local stables include recent Randwick winner Kellyville Flyer and Reiby The Red (Jason Attard), Famous Seamus (Noel Mayfield-Smith) and Auvray (Richard Freedman).Gosford trainer Fred Cowell finished second last year with Mighty Lucky and is hoping to go one better this time with that veteran gelding.
Randwick co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden won last year’s Godolphin Crown with Nancy and are going for back-to-back win with three entries – Artistry, Brigadoon Rise and Serene Majesty.Gerald Ryan captured last year’s Guineas with Spill The Beans, and is relying on Star Of Monsoon to clinch a double in the feature event for three-year-olds.Local Guineas entries are led by Flemington spring carnival winner Spright (Garry Frazer), recent Randwick winner Generalissimo (Garry White) and Provincial Championships heat winner Shazee Lee (Scott Singleton).