Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive Greg Rudolph has hailed the “good depth in black type races” for his club’s $1.2m TAB Stand Alone meeting on Saturday.
A total of 163 nominations was received early this week, including 26 in the $175,000 Group 3 Godolphin Crown (1300m) for fillies and mares, and 17 in the $125,000 Listed XXXX Gold Rush (1100m).
A competitive race that attracts the best fillies and mares racing in the Autumn, the Group 3 Godolphin Crown has once again drawn both quality and depth, with stakes winners Spright, Danish Twist, White Moss, Shazee Lee, Lubiton, 2016 Crown winner Nancy and Godolphin’s own Group 2 winner Ghisoni among the key nominations.
“The overall nominations are strong and has exceeded last year, which was one of our best ever” Rudolph said this morning.
“Along with impressive numbers, there is good depth in our Black Type races and I have no doubt all races will be very competitive on Saturday.
“This is the testament to the development of this race meeting at the back end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival,” Rudolph added.
Recent Country Championships winner, Port Macquarie-trained Victorem, is among 11 current entries for the Guineas, whilst leading Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher has entered former West Australian Lite’N In My Veins, successful at his last two Adelaide starts, for the Gold Cup (which has 15 nominations at present).
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has entered former Melbourne mare Lovani, a last-start winner on her home track, for two races – the Livamol Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) and $100,000 Provincial Stayers Benchmark 85 Handicap (2100m).
“I’ll have a look at both races before deciding which way we will go with her,” Widdup said.
