Hawaii Five Oh targets Stradbroke Handicap following Hawkesbury Guineas win

Hawaii Five Oh stormed into the conversation for the Group 1 $3m Stradbroke Handicap after his outstanding Hawkesbury Guineas win last Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Hawaii Five Oh only defeated a Group 3 field of three-year-olds at Hawkesbury but it was the emphatic nature of his win that has him rated a Stradbroke contender.

Bott said Hawaii Five Oh had pulled up well after his easy Hawkesbury romp and a campaign aimed at Queensland's premier sprint at Eagle Farm over 1400m on June 10 was now the likely option.

"We will look at something like the Fred Best (Classic, 1400m at Eagle Farm on May 27) for Hawaii Five Oh and if he continues on the upward spiral he might develop into a lightweight chance in a Stradbroke,'' Bott said.

"A high pressure race like the Stradbroke with a horse like him that is continuing to go through his grades seems to be a great option.

"We will have a chat with (owners) Singo (John Singleton) and Gerry Harvey and work out what they want to do.''

The Hawkesbury meeting was loaded with brilliant wins but none were quite as impressive as Hawaii Five Oh.

The superbly-bred galloper firmed from $26 into $11 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Stradbroke Handicap after he toyed with the Hawkesbury Guineas field, winning by more than three lengths.

Hawaii Five Oh bolts in to win the Hawkesbury Guineas. Picture: Jeremy Ng–Getty Images

"He was really impressive,'' Bott said. "It was fantastic to see him take that next step, it was a good test and he responded really well.

"A key to him is a firmer track and I also think the month between runs helped as he was nice and fresh.

"Physically, he seems a pretty tough horse, he's one of the bigger colts we have in our stable and he has pulled up super.

"I feel 1400m is his sweet spot but the way he settled at Hawkesbury then was so explosive in the way he put them away suggests to me he could easily stretch to a mile which would open up more options going forward.

"But there is no need to do that just now as there are plenty of races at 1400m that suit him in the next few weeks.''

The Waterhouse-Bott stable can continue their winning momentum on Anzac Day with emerging stayer Yarrawonga in the Anzac Day Cup (2400m) at Randwick's Kensington meeting and boom, unbeaten White Marlin in the William Newton VC Handicap (2000m) at Flemington.

"I really like Yarrawonga, he's progressing nicely and is knocking on the door,'' Bott said.

"We have put blinkers on him because he has been hitting a flat spot in certain stages of his races so we are hoping that helps him to overcome that as he is at his peak and training well.''

White Marlin is already the $8 Melbourne Cup favourite ahead of stablemate Goldman ($11) and is aiming for his seventh win in as many starts on Tuesday.

"We thought about running White Marlin in the Mornington Cup but decided to keep him on the bigger Flemington track,'' Bott said.

"White Marlin is an exciting stayer, he's in great shape, and we are using this race to get him ready for the Andrew Ramsden (Stakes, May 13) with the Melbourne Cup in mind.''

YOU CAN BET ON IT

The Hawkesbury feature race winners Hawaii Five Oh, Princess Grace and New Mandate were all well-backed with TAB punters.

Hawaii Five Oh (Hawkesbury Guineas) started at $4.40 but there were some big bets against the boom colt including $5,000 at $4.20, $2,000 each-way at $4.20/$1.75 and $3,000 at $3.90.

Princess Grace (Hawkesbury Crown) started $4.40 favourite after some big bets including $6,000 at $4.40, $5,000 at $4.40, $5,000 at $3.80 and $10,000 at $1.90 place.

New Mandate (Hawkesbury Cup) hovered between $6 and $6.50 with bets of $5,000 at $6.50 and $5,000 at $6.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

Zardozi (race 1) maintained her unbeaten record with a consummate win in the Clarendon Stakes. The Godolphin filly is superbly bred, blessed with brilliant acceleration and should only continue to improve as she gets out in trip.

Pretty Amazing (race 5) put her rivals away with brilliant burst of speed from the top of the straight. She has returned in career-best form and is ready to go to stakes level.

Hawaii Five Oh (race 7) toyed with his rivals in the Hawkesbury Guineas. He's a physically imposing colt with abundant natural talent. He's a force on a firm deck.

Princess Grace (race 8) burst between runners and attacked the line strongly for an impressive win in the Hawkesbury Crown. Former top class American mare making an immediate impression with the Chris Waller stable. The fast-finishing third of Dalchini was also an eye catcher.

New Mandate (race 9) won his first Australian race with a dominant effort in the Hawkesbury Cup. A multiple stakes winner in England, New Mandate has regained form and looks an exciting prospect.

TURF TALK

"I will pay the connections the ($11,250) prizemoney,'' said star apprentice Zac Lloyd after weighing in light on third placegetter Sweet Mercy who was subsequently disqualified.

"This colt has so much ability but his two-year-old season was lost with wet tracks, he's lost most of his three-year-old season with wet tracks so it was good to see him win a stakes race,'' said owner John Singleton after Hawaii Five Oh won the Hawkesbury Guineas.

"As a two-year-old, New Mandate won the Royal Lodge Stakes, which is a strong Group 2 race, he was a very good horse but then he got a virus in his three-year-old season. But Ralph (Beckett, trainer) was adamant New Mandate was a good horse, he's a multiple stakes winner in the UK, and on the evidence of today's win, he is obviously quite exciting,'' said Charlie Duckworth after New Mandate won the Hawkesbury Cup.

"I got into a beautiful rhythm and wanted to get away from the inside in the straight but got put in a half dicey spot there for a couple of strides. She got through that pretty well and went on with the job. She has certainly shown she is up to Group 1 form in Australia,'' said jockey Nash Rawiller after Princess Grace won the Hawkesbury Crown.

"We were cantering to the barriers and he was that placid so I had to spark some energy into him, get the blood flowing. When we got to the start, he was ready to go and we saw a brilliant racehorse,'' said jockey Josh Parr after winning on Malkovich in the Hawkesbury Rush.

"Her attitude, the way she falls to ‘sleep' in her races and quickens up nicely is going to serve her well when she gets over more of a trip. She will tell us whether she goes to Brisbane or not but I feel she will be a strong candidate in the spring carnival,'' said Darren Beadman after Zardozi won the Clarendon Stakes.

CRUNCH TIME

Zardozi (race 1) seized control of the race when she accelerated between the 400m-200m in a fast 11.01s. The unbeaten filly ran her final 600m in 34.09s. Runner-up Californian ran his final 600m in 34.03s.

Penthouse (race 2) showed brilliant speed to cross from her wide barrier and lead most of the race, breaking 1m 3s for 1100m including a fast final 600m sectional of 33.19s.

Moonlight Grace (race 3) settled midfield, was taken wide on the turn and ripped home her final 600m in 32.96s to score an impressive win.

Malkovich (race 6) gave a brilliant display of sustained speed to win the Hawkesbury Rush over 1100m in a fast 1m 2.23s, including a final 600m in 32.76s.

Fox Fighter (race 6) produced the fastest closing 600m and 200m sectional split of entire meeting. He ran his final 600m in 32.75s with a sectional split between the 400m and 200m of a stunning 9.98s as he ran on from last to finish fourth.

STEWARDS SAY

Racing NSW stewards suspended three of Sydney's star apprentices for riding indiscretions at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting.

Zac Lloyd was suspended for three weeks from May 1-22 after weighing in light after finishing third on Sweet Mercy behind Pretty Amazing. Stewards disqualified Sweet Mercy and elevated Rita May into third placing behind Pretty Amazing and Abuela.

Dylan Gibbons was suspended from May 1-12 for careless riding on Sir Lamorak, and Reece Jones was outed for a similar offence from May 1-11.

Lord Ardmore (race 9) was held up for clear running from the 300m until approaching the 100m. Lord Ardmore was not able to fully tested over the concluding stages when awkwardly placed behind Desert Icon.

Ausbred Flirt (race 4) began awkwardly and shortly after the start was hampered by Biscayne Bay which shifted in. A post-race veterinary examination of the mare revealed it to have bled from both nostrils. She is banned from racing for three months.

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

Hawaii Five Oh has unfortunately had to live with his big pedigree and big boom but with the way he delivered on Saturday he is a chance of going on with the job going to a better level again in the future. He is a very stylish, good looking colt.

FORGET THEY RAN

Wicklow was only second-up after a month off and had to make a long sustained run before getting a touch tired late. This toughen up run will stand him in good stead for his next run over a touch further.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

It's a mere formality before stablemates Princess Grace and New Mandate win more Group class races while Moonlight Grace may just be out of maiden class but there was a lot to like about that win and her future appears bright.

RIDE OF THE DAY

You have to be in awe of the skills of Nash Rawiller with his winning treble but heads up to another new kid on the block Hannah Williams. She looked well balanced and cool with her winning double from two rides on a feature day. Her 3kg claim looks good value over the Winter months.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

#What's on in NSW racing this week:

Monday: Coffs Harbour, Sapphire Coast

Tuesday: Kensington, Gosford, Bathurst, Grafton, Nowra

Wednesday: Kembla Grange

Thursday: Wyong

Friday: Albury, Muswellbrook

Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle, Queanbeyan