Hawkesbury Cup – 2021

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 11 runners  for the $200,000 Hawkesbury Cup, including three mares. Seven runners are five-year-olds, one is a six-year-old, two are seven-year-olds and one is an eight-year-old. The early favourite is Royal Celebration who was a close 3rd over 1400m at Randwick last outing and drops in weight here. Second favourite is topweight Greysful Glamour who was 2nd in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes over 1500m two starts ago. Third favourite is the 2019 winner of this race  Archedemus who has 8 wins from 23 starts.

Sikandarabad finished 4th inthe Muswellbrook Cup and has drawn barrier 1. Purple Sector is likely to race on the speed and could place. Looks Like Elvis comes back in distance from last start and goes well over a mile, while Miss Siska has ran last at her last two starts and needs toimprove.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

1. Greysful Glamour

This five-year-old grey mare has been racing at Listed and Group level for a long time, and is one of only two runners to have been placed at Group 1 level (the other is Sikandarabad). She has a Group 2, Group 3 and Listed win. She was the leader coming into the straight but the winner was too strong late when she ran 0.8 length 2nd in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on 3 April, then she led straightening but faded to finish 18 lengths 13th in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on 17 April. It might pay to forget that run and she can show up here.

2. Archedemus

Two years ago this seven-year-old gelding won the 2019 edition of this race ahead of Tom Melbourne And Sixties Groove. He resumed from a 19 week spell for 4.5 lengths 5th in the G3 Doncaster Prelude over 1500m at Rosehill on 3 April, then finished 2,3 lengths 9th over 1400m at Randwick on 24 April  He drops 2kg from that run and is on a seven day back-up. Is capable of being in the finish.

3. Purple Sector

This five-year-old Pins gelding resumed from a break for 2.4 lengths 5th in the G3 Newcastle Newmarket then was winded late for 6.8 lengths 10th in the Doncaster Prelude. Two of his four wins have come third-up so he is a rough chance.

4. Miss Siska

She has been racing at Group level for her last 18 races but ran last at her last two starts – the G1 Australian Cup and the G3 Epona Stakes. She will enjoy the drop in class and could run well.

5. Costello

This five-year-old Americain gelding has 6 wins and 7 places from 26 starts and has won from 1600m to 2400m. Resumes here after 22 weeks and does not normally fire first up.

6. Sikandarabad

At eight-years-old, this Dr Fong gelding is the oldest runner in the race. At his last two starts  he finished 2nd in the Listed Parramatta Cup over 1900m at Rosehill on 26 March, then was hampered and carried wide before finishing 1.18 lengths 4th in the Muswellbrook Cup over 1500m on 26 March where he protested unsuccessfully against 3rd. Should feature in the finish.

7. Royal Celebration

The early favourite in the betting has five wins and nine placings from 21 starts. He has raced here once before at his very first race start when he ran 2nd. He resumed from a 16 week spell for 5 lengths 9th over 1400m at Rosehill when he was held up in the concluding stages, then kept chasing for 0.4,0.2 lengths 3rd over 1400m at Randwick on 24 April. He is on a sevenday back-up and drops in weight from last start. Looks a wining chance.

8. Looks Like Elvis

This six-year-old finished 2.1 lengths 5th in the G2 Ajax Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on 13 March, then didn’t have the clearest of runs when 6.2 lengths 7th in the G3 Neville Sellwood over 2000m at Rosehill on 3 April. He placed in a trial on 20 April and with the drop in grade and distance is capable of running a place.

9. Surreal Image

He had mucus post race when 7.7 lengths 8th over 1600m at Caulfield on 3 April so forget that run. Last start he gave nothing else a chance with a 1.3 length win over 1600m at Morphettville on 17 April. Sneaky chance.

10. Liveinthefastlane

Chased hard for 1, 0.2 lengths 3rd in the Provincial Chanponships Qualifier over 1400m at Kembla Grange on 3 April, then chased hard for 0.2, 1.3 lengths 3rd in the Provincial Championship over 1400m at Randwick on 17 April, The extra distance and the drop in weight are in her favour. Not the worst.

11. Hamogany

Has raced at Hawkesbury twice before and placed both times but that was in a maiden and a BM 64. Finished 10 lengths 14th in the Country Championship over 1400m at Randwick on 10 April, then 8.9 lengths 6th in the Orange Cup over 2100m on 16 April. Might find this too hard.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
7 Royal Celebration
2 Archedemus
6 Sikandarabad
1 Greysful Glamour

Group 1 Australasian Oaks 2021 (Morphettville 2000m)

Group 1 TAB Classic/Robert Sangster Stakes 2021 (Morphettville 1200m)

Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes 2021 (Morphettville 1200m)

Group 2 Queensland Guineas 2021 (Eagle Farm 1600m)