Australian Racing: Robusto can smoke the opposition

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Thursday including at Hawkesbury where an eight-race card is scheduled.

Race 7 Hawkesbury

Robusto @ 7.50

Race 5 Muswellbrook

Oakfield Mamselle @ 6.00

Race 6 Pinjarra

New Expression @ 8.50

Robusto to take Rowley Mile

The Listed Rowley Mile over 1600m comes up as the penultimate race of the day at Hawkesbury.

Williamsburg is expected to jump as favourite, with the gelding having registered his first win of 2024 when saluting in a 1500m contest at Rosehill earlier this month.

The five-year-old came home just over half-a-length clear of his 10 rivals when racing on a good track that day, however he has also gone well on wet tracks this prep.

This son of Snitzel had registered three consecutive placed efforts on wet tracks prior to that Rosehill success, including when third when racing at this level over 2000m at Randwick in June.

However, ROBUSTO, down the field behind Williamsburg at Rosehill last time out, is preferred on this occasion.

The gelding had previously delivered a narrow victory when contesting a 1300m Benchmark 88 handicap at the same venue when racing first up this prep.

Robusto demonstrated good form last season, including when beaten less than two lengths in a Group 2 contest over 1500m at Rosehill in March.

The five-year-old was spelled following that Group 2 effort having lost out by a narrow margin when runner-up in a Benchmark 100 handicap over 1400m at the same track prior.

Robusto’s trainer Chris Waller saddles multiple runners here, as he bids for his fifth win in the last seven renewals of this race and Tommy Berry’s mount is taken to return to winning ways.

Oakfield for Muswellbrook glory

The fifth race of the day at Muswellbrook is an interesting 1280m Benchmark 66 handicap restricted to fillies and mares.

Chelsea Hillier’s mount Drama Dodger is expected to have her supporters, having placed on two of her three starts this prep.

Kristen Buchanan’s mare arrives here on the back of a close second, when contesting a Benchmark 64 handicap over 1200m at Wyong last month.

Drama Dodger raced on a sound surface on that occasion but had encountered wet tracks in her two previous outings this prep.

The first of those saw her place second in a 1000m Benchmark 64 handicap at Wyong in June and she rates highly in this event.

Kris Lees-trained OAKFIELD MAMSELLE is the pick here however, having registered two wins from three starts last prep.

The first of those victories came when taking out a 1300m maiden when racing first up at Taree in November.

Oakfield Mamselle raced on a good 4 track on that occasion and, while she suffered a defeat next time out, she did manage a solid second place effort when stepped up to 1450m at Kempsey.

This daughter of top European sire Siyouni returned to winning ways back at Taree, when saluting by a length in a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap at the start of January.

Oakfield Mamselle has had a couple of outings in barrier trials ahead of her return to action and she is expected to have improved for those efforts.

An inside barrier is a positive in this contest and she is taken to return with a victory.

Expression to deliver Pinjarra victory

The sixth race at Pinjarra is an interesting 1000m Class 1 handicap event set to take place on a soft 6 surface.

Top weight NEW EXPRESSION takes the eye here having debuted with a victory by just over half-a-length in an 1122m maiden at Bunbury last month.

While the pick has failed to score in two subsequent starts, he has acquitted himself well on both occasions, including when third over 1003m on his return to Bunbury next time.

Both of those efforts came on soft surfaces, with the gelding encountering a heavy 8 track when beaten just over a length over 1000m at Belmont earlier this month.

The son of Squamosa remains open to improvement and, while barrier nine isn’t ideal here, he looks capable of returning to winning ways.