The fillies and mares face off in Hawkesburyâs Godolphin Crown 2016 this Saturday, betting tips and the latest odds update for the showdown found below.
Ammirata is a genuine top three hope in the 2016 Godolphin Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Due to jump as Hawkesbury Race 6 at 2:55pm (AEST), this seasonâs $175,000 Group 3 2016 Godolphin Crown (1300m) field features a full 14 hopefuls.
Current Godolphin Crown odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by Fitou ($5), the John OâShea-trained Street Cry four-year-old to be ridden by in-form jockey James McDonald from barrier six.
She won two on the trot back in December before a close first-up fifth behind Trafalgar over 1300m at Warwick Farm on April 13, a run sheâs tipped to improve on second-up over the same distance on Saturday.
Fitou is followed in Godolphin Crown betting this autumn by six other single figure fancies including the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Newcastle Newmarket Handicap runner-up Nancy ($6) who has winning form at the track and the returning Gai Waterhouse-trained five-year-old Role Model ($8), drawn opposite ends of the field in gates three and 14 respectively.
So will the favourite salute or is there value further down the markets from the likes of Joe Prideâs last-start Randwick winning Nadeem four-year-old Ammirata ($8.50), Canterbury Classic winner Cradle Me ($9) or the always-honest Two Blue ($9) coming off a Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) win from April 9?
1st
#9 Nancy ($6)
In-form daughter of Big Brown prepared by Team Snowden, this smart four-year-old is still only lightly-raced (9-3-3-1) having just her 10th career run on the weekend. She has previous winning form at the track, a good record over the distance (3-1-2-0), was runner-up in Group 3 class two back when narrowly beaten and was also close to the winner for her fourth at Randwick last time out. She crossed 1.6 lengths off Hawkesbury Cup hope Mighty Lucky that day over 1400m and is drawn a treat to improve on Saturday from barrier three.
2nd
#6 Ammirata ($8.50)
Brenton Avdulla jumps on this four-year-old in place of Sam Clipperton, the mare shooting for her fourth win on the trot. She took out the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf at Gosford over a mile in January before returning with a 1200m success at Randwick a fortnight ago, so the 1300m second-up should be ideal and set weights plus penalties sees her get in on a manageable 58kg.
3rd
#1 Two Blue ($9)
Carries 59kg top weight but is drawn to get the run of the race from barrier four. This Kristen Buchanan-trained seven-year-old daughter of Dubleo has a host of Group 2 and 3 seconds to her name and also won the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) by nearly two lengths last time out at Randwick. That was with five kilos less, but she still has the class to finish in the money under the big weight this weekend with the right run.
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