Hawkesbury Preview & Best Bets – 21/02/2024

 Hawkesbury Tips for Wednesday, February 21

Our form expert provides Hawkesbury tips for today’s horse racing at Hawkesbury Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.5  STARMAE

Bjorn Baker saddles-up STARMAE here who has improved after three starts back and looks a serious chance of back-to-back victories in this contest. Last start, the Zoustar filly was third-up when she destroyed her opposition in a Wyong Maiden over 1350m. With Zac Lloyd aboard, she led on settling and in the run home, left the rest to sort out the minors as she grew another leg and crossed the line more than two lengths clear. She dominated the speed that day and left alone here, the same thing could happen. She has drawn out but her early gate speed has her settling in the first half dozen. If she finds her way to the front, they may have a job reeling her in today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6:  No.5  MATLOCK

The Waterhouse & Bott-trained MATLOCK is third-up today and looks better placed here in easier company. Last start, the Kermadec gelding settled last and from there, never worked into the race as he took on stronger company in a BM70 over the Canberra mile. He second-up record is abysmal, finishing unplaced in all three attempts to date. Down in grade today and up in distance, he is fitter for those two runs back now and is a winner in heavy going. If he can settle near mid-field today, he should be close enough to challenge the front brigade in the run home and be a winning chance in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 8:  No.14  KING’S DUTY

Newcastle galloper, KING’S DUTY is now five starts into this preparation and is overdue for a change of luck. At his past two starts, he was either too wide in the run or too far back to figure in the finish. Last start, the Exosphere gelding settled fourth in the race but was ten lengths off the pace. Turning for home he was never a winning chance where he finished fifth, but was made up ground to be beaten less than three lengths on the line. He returns to the 1300m today and has a new pilot as Jason Collett partners him for this contest. He sees the Hawkesbury track for the first time and if he can settle closer and find cover here, we just may see a different horse today. He looks well worth an each-way ticket in this event.