Pinjarra Racing Tips 8 April — can Pateman strike again?
Hawkesbury Racing Tips 8 April — can Zac Lloyd own the card?
Hawkesbury’s the sort of midweek meeting where you can either overthink it, or you can just follow the intent.
The intent today looks pretty loud. Zac Lloyd turns up and rides in every race on the program we’ve got in front of us, and at this track he’s not just making up the numbers: 12 rides for 3 wins and 9 placings. That’s a rider who gets Hawkesbury, maps it early, and doesn’t waste a barrier.
That’s the spine of these Hawkesbury racing tips for Wednesday, 8 April: lean into the jockeys who consistently put you in the race here, and don’t pay full tote price for stables or horses whose “track stats” are really just a single visit in the rear view mirror.
We’ve got four races on turf in this slice of the meeting, with three 1200m sprints and a 1750m maiden handicap in the middle. No odds feed has landed for these races at time of writing, so this is a pure form and shape job. Let’s get into it.
Hawkesbury, the setup
Most of the runners on this card don’t have a deep Hawkesbury story yet. A handful have one run here and hit the frame, which is worth noting, but it’s not something you build a whole bet around. The better edge is in the riders and a couple of trainers who have actually had a decent sample at this course.
Limited course form across today’s fields, most runners have one or two starts here at most.
Jockeys with enough Hawkesbury volume to trust (5 or more rides)
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J R Collett | 4 | 2 | 3 | 50.00 | 75.00 |
| Zac Lloyd | 12 | 3 | 9 | 25.00 | 75.00 |
| A B Collett | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0.00 | 80.00 |
| Tommy Berry | 12 | 3 | 5 | 25.00 | 41.67 |
| Dylan Gibbons | 11 | 3 | 5 | 27.27 | 45.45 |
| J Ford | 13 | 2 | 7 | 15.38 | 53.85 |
| C Schofield | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 42.86 |
| A J Calder | 10 | 2 | 3 | 20.00 | 30.00 |
| Ashley Morgan | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20.00 | 40.00 |
| Tyler Schiller | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.67 | 16.67 |
| K McEvoy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Regan Bayliss | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 14.29 |
| Siena Grima | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 27.27 |
| K S Latham | 19 | 1 | 7 | 5.26 | 36.84 |
| L P Beuzelin | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Trainers with enough Hawkesbury volume to trust (5 or more runners)
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Litt | 5 | 2 | 2 | 40.00 | 40.00 |
| Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 7 | 2 | 4 | 28.57 | 57.14 |
| C J Waller | 16 | 3 | 7 | 18.75 | 43.75 |
| G Ryan & S Alexiou | 6 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 | 66.67 |
| Nacim Dilmi | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.67 | 16.67 |
| T J Bartley | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.67 | 16.67 |
| P & M Cave | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20.00 | 40.00 |
| Joseph Pride | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 60.00 |
| Michael Freedman | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 40.00 |
| Edward Cummings | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0.00 | 57.14 |
| Brad Widdup | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 10.00 |
| Richard & Will Freedman | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 33.33 |
| G Waterhouse & A Bott | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | 28.57 |
Ladbrokes Review [Updated March 2026] | Ladbrokes.com.au Pros & Cons
- Info Hub
- Mates Mode
Race-by-race Hawkesbury predictions
Race 1: Pioneer Services Hcp — 14:05, 1203m
Rocket Girl is the one I want to be with early. She gets the Waller polish, she draws to be in the first half without doing anything silly (barrier 3), and James McDonald is an immediate tell: when he’s on a midweek two year old for this stable, it’s rarely because they needed a seat filled.
Yes, it’s a two year old handicap and plenty of these can jump out of the ground. But the map matters at Hawkesbury in these short sprints, and Rocket Girl’s gate gives her a clean, simple run where J Mac can make one decision and commit to it.
The danger is Diamond Dice. Barrier 2 is gold in this kind of race and Chad Schofield is a rider who keeps you out of trouble here. Richard Litt also has a strong enough Hawkesbury record (5 runners for 2 wins) that I’m not brushing aside any of his juveniles.
Play: Win bet Rocket Girl. Save on Diamond Dice if the market overreacts and Rocket Girl starts too short for your taste.
Race 2: Elite Sand & Soil (Bm64) — 14:40, 1203m
Here’s the puzzle: do you take the lightly raced improver with the right map, or the one who’s already shown they can win and keeps winning?
I’m leaning to Premium. The form line says he’s in a groove (7-2011), and the recent 90 day snapshot backs that up: 4 runs for 2 wins and he’s been in the money 3 times. In a Benchmark race, that profile often holds up because they’re still climbing, not just holding a mark.
The speed and pressure should be decent enough with a few who can roll, which suits a horse who can take a position and kick. Barrier 4 helps. The only knock is you’re trusting a rider with limited Hawkesbury punch on paper, but this is more about the horse’s current trajectory than a jockey angle.
The main danger is Lighthouse Lass from barrier 1. She’s been runner-up three straight times (222) and she’s placed on her only start at Hawkesbury. That’s not a trend yet, but it’s a tick. J R Collett is also a proper track rider here, with 2 wins and 3 placings from 4 rides.
Play: Premium to win. Exacta saver Premium with Lighthouse Lass if you want a bit of structure.
Race 3: Blakes Marine Mdn Hcp — 15:15, 1750m
The shape is the story here. A lot of these have had their chance in shorter races and still haven’t quite put it together, so I want the runner who can settle, stay out of trouble, and keep building from the 600m instead of turning it into a 200m dash.
Demmo Dermy appeals on that basis. He’s drawn barrier 1, and in a maiden handicap that’s a huge tactical edge: J Ford can hold a spot, control the rail, and make it a stamina test. He also placed on his only run at Hawkesbury. One start here is only a data point, but it tells you the track doesn’t beat him.
I’m not pretending the recent stats are a big sample, because they’re not, but the most recent 90 day window shows he’s had one run and hit the frame. That’s enough to say he’s coming here in workable order.
The danger is Almaaz. Waller and McDonald is the headline, and Almaaz’s form (5323) screams “close enough”. Barrier 7 isn’t ideal, but if J Mac can slot in without covering ground, he’s the horse most likely to make my pick feel nervous late.
Play: Demmo Dermy each-way. If Almaaz gets very short late, I’d rather back my horse and save quinella than take the unders on a wide-drawn maiden.
Race 4: Evergreen Turf (Bm72) — 15:50, 1203m
The market will probably gravitate to the higher-profile names and stables, but I’m looking at who gets the run and who gets the weight.
Crimson Bonnet ticks both. She comes up with barrier 1 and a light weight (113.5), which is a serious combination around this circuit when the race becomes a sprint off the bend. Siena Grima doesn’t have the Hawkesbury win record to brag about, but she knows the track well enough and from gate 1 she won’t need to reinvent the wheel.
There’s also a quiet bit of positivity in the form string (01315-). You can forgive a freshen and a reset for a horse that has shown it can put a race away when things go its way.
The danger is Madrina, and it’s not subtle. She carries top weight, but she’s trained by N J Olive who’s won with his only Hawkesbury runner in the sample we’ve got. One runner is only one runner, so I’m not crowning him king of the track, but it does tell you the stable can place one to win here. Draw 9 makes the job harder, so she’ll need a ride with intent.
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Play: Crimson Bonnet each-way. If Madrina drifts because of the gate, she becomes a saver for me. If she’s short, I’m happy to take her on.
The plays
I’m building today’s Hawkesbury best bets around two ideas: riders who repeatedly make their own luck here, and horses whose current form suggests they’re still improving rather than defending a rating.
NAP: Premium (Race 2, 14:40). Two wins from his last four runs in the past 90 days, and the draw sets him up to land in the first few without burning fuel.
Value: Crimson Bonnet (Race 4, 15:50). Light weight plus barrier 1 is the kind of Hawkesbury setup that wins races when others are forced to circle.
Banker for multis: Rocket Girl (Race 1, 14:05). J Mac for Waller with barrier 3 in a juvenile handicap is the clearest “this is live” signal on the page.
Each-way: Demmo Dermy (Race 3, 15:15). Rail draw, stays the trip, and he’s already handled Hawkesbury on his only visit.
Course angle to keep using: Zac Lloyd’s Hawkesbury record reads like a rider you can lean on: 12 rides, 3 wins, 9 placings. If he keeps getting these midweek books, you’ll keep finding overs around him.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Hawkesbury today?
The first of the races in this preview goes at 14:05 (Race 1, Pioneer Services Hcp over 1203m).
Who are the top jockeys at Hawkesbury?
On the Hawkesbury sample we have for today’s riders, Zac Lloyd leads the big-volume group for consistency with 12 rides for 3 wins and 9 placings. Tommy Berry and Dylan Gibbons both have 3 wins from 12 and 11 rides respectively, while A B Collett has been a placing machine here with 4 placings from 5 rides.
Who’s the strongest trainer profile at Hawkesbury on this card?
C J Waller has the deepest Hawkesbury sample among the big stables engaged today: 16 runners for 3 wins and 7 placings at the track. Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald also hold their own here with 7 runners for 2 wins and 4 placings.
What are the best bets at Hawkesbury today?
My two anchors are Premium in Race 2 (recent 90 day record of 4 runs for 2 wins) and Rocket Girl in Race 1 (Waller, McDonald, barrier 3 in a two year old handicap). For an each-way play, I’m with Demmo Dermy in Race 3 from barrier 1.
Where can I find the best odds for Hawkesbury races?
Shop around with the major bookmakers and compare prices close to jump time, because midweek markets can move sharply once late mail and on-course patterns settle. For this meeting, no live odds feed was available in the data pull for these race IDs, so treat early prices with caution and re-check before you bet.
Responsible gambling
Support & resources: If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, contact Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly.
Affiliate disclosure: RacingBase may receive a commission if you click links and open an account or place a bet with partners. This does not change our selections or the way we price a race.
