Hawkesbury 24 Sep 2026
GOING: G(4)
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DE BORTOLI WINES BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1800m Track: Good 4 Rain (Max: 27) Rail: True . |
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Grunge to take charge ahead of Valentiago at a strong tempo. PREFER DIAMONDS (5) win record hardly excites but finds a much weaker contest today. Closed strongly two back when third to Proxima Dea over 1800m at Rosehill. Started a firm fav with a gritty third over 2000m at this course. Blinkers come off and should run well over the 1800m. ANDRON (4) got into all sorts of trouble last start from the awkward draw with a battling seventh over 1900m at Canterbury. Visors go on today from the rails draw and Dylan Gibbons sticks. Sharp improver. BINKOU (7) won well over this track and trip three back and hasn't been that far away in his two subsequent runs. Was three weeks between runs when he jumped in trip for a plugging second over 2000m here. Genuine each way contender. KIRKUK (6) unlucky not to salute three back over the 2000m at Kembla Grange when he held a forward position. Has dropped in trip at his last two outings and worth another look today. SUGGESTED PLAY: Prefer Diamonds gets her chance to shine.
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| 1 | 111x7 |
OAKFIELD ALASKA
SCOTT SINGLETON 4YO BAY GELDING 62.0KG B Mackenzie Second run back. First-up after four months eased back early on 7th of 9 in a Bm64 at Wyong on September 4 over 1350m, 7 len behind Copacabana with 62kg at $4.60. Previously second-up won by 0.6 len in a Bm58 at Muswellbrook on April 6 over 1450m in soft going defeating Jason Darren carrying 60kg at $1.65. Still early in the prep and needs another run or two. |
7 MIKAYLA WEIR |
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| 2 | 121x3 |
VALENTIAGO
PETER SNOWDEN 4YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG S P Wilde, Ms J Novella, J R Rourke, L J Hampton, M Wilde, H Wilde, R V Frew & Miss S Bannarak Second-up. First-up after four months 3rd of 9 in a Bm64 at Wyong on September 4 over 1350m, 4 len behind Copacabana with 58kg at $26. Previously second-up 2nd of 10 in a Mdn at Bathurst on December 23 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Atlantic Diva carrying 58.5kg at $2.30. Fitter now and place preferred. |
2 TOM SHERRY |
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| 3 | x8021 |
GRUNGE
MARC CHEVALIER 6YO BAY GELDING 58.0KG Blueblood Thoroughbreds (Mgr: Mrs C Walsh), B B T Catwalk Kitty (Mgr: Mrs C Walsh), N Moller, Miss J E De Groot, N T Smith, The Armidale Group No. 2 (Mgr: B B Page), B Williams, G Westcott, L M G (Mgr: M Brennan), Ms J A Skillern, J W Whitbread & P J Bird Last start won by 1.75 len in a Mdn-Sw at Wyong on August 30 over 1625m defeating Buongiorno carrying 59kg at $4.40. The race before that gave a sight but was run down late 2nd of 8 in a Mdn-Sw at Wyong on August 2 over 1630m, neck behind My Country Boy carrying 59kg at $41. Confidence is high and can take a hand in the finish. |
5 TYLER SCHILLER |
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| 4 | x6757 |
ANDRON
M, W & J HAWKES 5YO BAY GELDING 57.0KG D V Russo, Mrs P F Collins, A R McDonald, R L Milne & Mrs A M Duggan Most recently 7th of 10 in a 5yo+ Bm72 at Canterbury on September 16 over 1900m, 6 len behind Doradus with 54.5kg at $19. The run before that 5th of 8 in a Bm72 at Randwick Kensington on September 9 over 1800m, 3 len behind Columbus with 55kg at $21. Can turn things around in this weaker contest. |
1 DYLAN GIBBONS |
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| 5 | 04533 |
PREFER DIAMONDS
JASON ATTARD 6YO BAY MARE 57.0KG Ms L K Keegan-Attard, J Attard, Mrs Y A Stephenson, Miss C M Burke & Ms J R Baker Recent form sound. At the latest run held ground to the line 3rd of 7 in a Bm64 at this track on September 10 over 2000m, 2.5 len behind Fay's Angels with 57.5kg at $2.60. The race before that made some head-way from midfield; 3rd of 12 in a Midway Bm72(70) at Rosehill on August 29 over 1800m, slow going neck behind Proxima Dea with 53kg at $51. Blinkers come off and doesn't have to improve much to win this. |
8 WINONA COSTIN |
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| 6 | 63296 |
KIRKUK
JIM & GREG LEE 6YO BAY GELDING 57.0KG F Khedoori Most recently 6th of 11 in a Bm64 at Kembla Grange on September 12 over 1600m, 1.5 len behind Tom Cruising carrying 55kg at $17. The race before that ran second last of 10 in a Cond Bm68 at Kembla Grange on August 29 over 1400m, 6 len behind Equilibrist carrying 55kg at $7. Assess on the good second three back. |
6 REGAN BAYLISS |
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| 7 | 59122 |
BINKOU
GARRY FRAZER 7YO BAY GELDING 56.0KG Mrs J M Frazer & D Stein Form hard to fault. At the latest run 2nd of 7 in a Bm64 at this track on September 10 over 2000m, 2.5 len behind Fay's Angels with 56.5kg at $8.50. Before that 2nd of 8 in a Bm64 at this track on August 20 over 1800m, slow going 2.5 len behind My Charm with 56.5kg at $6.50. In career best form and worth plenty of thought. |
4 GRANT BUCKLEY |
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| 8 | 90846 |
BEAUER
PAUL MURRAY 6YO BAY MARE 55.0KG Murray Livestock Pty Ltd (Mgr: Mrs D E Murray) Most recently 6th of 10 in a Bm58 at Goulburn on September 11 over 1600m, 2 len behind Toussaint with 57.5kg at $7.50. The race before that 4th of 8 in a Prov 5yo+ Bm64 at Wyong on September 4 over 1600m, 3 len behind Charleroi carrying 56kg at $101. Prepared to risk. |
3 JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE |
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