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Team Hawkes can continue their stellar recent run with the resuming Darciwood in the Bushnell Outdoor Products Restricted 78 Handicap (1200m) at Sandown today.
A promising four-year-old son of Darci Brahma, Darciwood has been sent down to the Hawkes’ Victoria stable and can launch a promising winter campaign this afternoon.
He debuted south of the Murray River back in May last year before going straight to Sydney where he spent the rest of his debut racing preparation, and all of last campaign.
Darciwood resumed with a win at Canterbury last campaign then was narrowly edged out at Canterbury before a respectable sixth behind the likes of Rolston and Vilanova at Rosehill before a spell.
Vilanova has just completed his Queensland Derby preparation where he finished a narrow third behind Sonntag on Saturday.
The best thing about Darciwood’s campaign over the summer was his ratings progression – he improved every time he stepped out.
The resuming win at Canterbury earned a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 87, which he’d steadily improved to 91 before that effort at Rosehill.
I’d expect he’ll have improved over the break, and that he’s almost ready for a breakout campaign, and the figures he produced last preparation suggest that may be right on the mark.
Don’t be surprised if he goes to a new peak today, which would be enough to win this race.
With the scratching of Written Intent, Esprit’s Choice looks to provide the stiffest opposition to Darciwood.
The Heath Conners mare has finished second in both runs since resuming, beaten just a nose at Geelong 19 days back running to a weight-adjusted Timeform figure of 91, level with Darciwood’s best.
She’s drawn very well in gate two, and will likely settle just off the pace, with plenty of cover.
Esprit’s Choice has won third-up before, and stays at 1200m for this which has proven to be her best distance in the past.
She looks ready to win, and should be there when the whips are cracking this afternoon.
It’s hard to see the winner coming from outside those top two with several of these resuming over an unsuitable journey.
If you’re looking for one at a bit of value, take a glance towards the resuming Tanjil from the Mario Farrugia yard.
He had one too many runs last campaign after finishing fourth to Knoydart in the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington, beaten 6.2L after running to a weight-adjusted rating of 87.
He’s a five-time winner over this trip and has placed in five of six starts fresh so don’t be surprised if he does something at a price.