THREE last start winners clash in the same race in what is sure to be a highlight of Hawkesbury’s final calendar year meeting on Sunday.
Subarctic (Matthew Smith), Like Lukey (pictured Kris Lees), and Jessandi (Mack Griffith) all are scheduled to line up in the Mahoney Group Electrical Benchmark 64 Handicap (1800m).
Subarctic is coming off a Newcastle victory on December 1, whilst Like Lukey and Jessandi progress to the provincials after country successes.
Ash Morgan rides Subarctic, Jose Severo partners Like Lukey, and apprentice Braith Nock is on Jessandi.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees added intrigue to the Benchmark 64 by withdrawing Like Lukey from Friday night’s Canterbury meeting to run at Hawkesbury, whilst Mack Griffith withdrew Jessandi from a Saturday engagement at Newcastle.
Four-year-old Denman mare Like Lukey is seeking a hat-trick, having scored impressively at Scone over 1600m on November 11 and 1750m at Muswellbrook 18 days later.
“Like Lukey has had only seven starts and always shown ability, but was a bit of a barrier rogue earlier,” Lees said.
“She has really come good this preparation, and is ready to step up to provincial company.
“I decided to bypass going to Canterbury as I feel she will be better suited on the bigger track at Hawkesbury.
“Also Jose Severo has ridden Like Lukey in all three runs this campaign, and hopefully we can keep a winning combination going.”
Severo, 24, joined the Lees stable earlier this year on the recommendation of his cousin, the “Magic Man” Joao Moreira, and broke through for his first NSW provincial winner on fellow Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Churchill’s Choice at Newcastle last Saturday.
The Brazilian jockey boasts 239 winners at home, including four at Group 1 level.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has decided to run dual acceptor Hyperbolic in the Australian Horse Arenas Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
“It was 50-50 whether we went to the 1400m or the 1500m Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap,” he said.
“But I thought it was best to go to the Class 1, and I expect her to run well again.”
Stable apprentice Zac Wadick again rides the Proisir filly, on whom he won a Super Maiden Plate (1300m) at Newcastle on December 1.
Widdup went to New Zealand early last year to buy both Rose’s Legacy (runner-up at Newcastle on Saturday) and Hyperbolic as yearlings on behalf of Jedibeel’s owner, Sydney businessman Mike Gregg.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier is banking on a return to home turf enabling Without You to bounce back in the Baygreen Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).
Without You bolted away with a similar race at Hawkesbury on November 12 before failing in a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) at Wyong 11 days later.
“She didn’t seem comfortable on the tighter circuit, and is better suited on the bigger tracks,” Chevalier said.
“Without You has worked well since the Wyong race.”
. The rail is in the TRUE position for Hawkesbury’s final meeting of the calendar year, and course manager Kyle Cassim at 8am Saturday posted a “Good 4” rating, with a penetrometer reading of 5.25.
The seven-race program begins at 1.45pm.
Story John Curtis, December 14, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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