Shayne O'Cass's best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury and Muswellbrook on Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets, quaddie picks and race-by-race analysis for Hawkesbury on Tuesday plus his tips for Muswellbrook.
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HAWKESBURY TIPS
BEST BET
Race 3 No.1 PATISSIER: Proisir relation to King Mufhasa who has it all ahead of him. Talented type.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.3 VAILILEE: Trialled like a bomb before a booming debut win. Harder here but goes well.
VALUE
Race 7 No.7 DALIO: Fit and ready for the step to 1800m from a good draw with a good rider.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 2,5,14
Race 5: 3
Race 6: 1,3,4,6
Race 7: 3,7
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
James McDonald is here to ride NZ Derby placegetter Golden Century (race four).
LAY OF THE DAY
Race 7 No.2 THIS IS THE MOMENT: In-form racehorse from the in-form stable in NSW at present but has some stiff competition here from horses crying out for 1800m.
HAWKESBURY INSIDE MAIL
WHERE'S MY HALO (13) was bred by Emancipation's trainer Neville Begg and is trained by Emancipation's jockey Ron Quinton. This now four-year-old mare turned in a very solid and encouraging debut here back on Feb 20. Trialled twice, won the last one – well! HURRY MISS (9) has the race fitness advantage and more to the point, she was a close second to a really nice horse (Patissier, see race 3) first-up. HARRY'S EVIDENCE (7) will be on-speed and can stick on for a medal. SHARE THE JOY (11) is just so consistent.
BET: WHERE'S MY HALO (13) each-way, quinella 9,13.
BANKNOTE HUSTLER (11) has drawn wide here but copped 11 of 11 on the Kensington track on Wednesday. He's by Capitalist out of the stakes-winner and Group 1 runner-up Torvil. Only two runs so far were in the Lonhro Plate and Todman. Trialling like a bomb! OHOPE (3) could be saved for the Kensington meeting; goes close surely wherever he fronts-up. YOU'RE THE CHOICE (7) was well beaten first-up at Gosford but beaten a potentially outstanding horse namely Valillee (see race five). COSMIC EAGLE (9) only has to do what she has been doing to figure again.
BET: BANKNOTE HUSTLER (11) to win.
PATISSIER (1) was born at Rich Hill Stud in NZ where his father, Proisir, stands. This is also the Rich Hill Stud family that delivered the 11-times Group 1 winner King Mufhasa. Same family as Kovalica too. Patissier was trialling well ahead of his really determined win at Kembla, beating the aforementioned Hurry Miss. EXCEED PERFECTION (3) has only managed one win from 17 starts but he has placed eight times and six of them are seconds. Very fit, probably leads, and has some decent Heavy track stats. AFFERMATO (2) was really warming to the task late over 1300m first-up at Kembla.
BET: PATISSIER (1) to win or of scratched, AFFERMATO (2) each-way.
GOLDEN CENTURY (2) is $101 to win the Caulfield Cup, now that would get you a few dims sums down at the restaurant of the same name down at the Crown these days! This is the former Tony Pike-trained gelding's first run for Chris Waller and his first since he ran 7th of 18 in our Derby, having run 3rd of 16 in the NZ Derby. The trials? Wow. MOUNTAIN QUEEN (14) is a Matthew Smith-trained filly by his former dual G1 winner Fierce Impact. Family of Horlicks and Brew too. Wouldn't be shocked to see this one in a Guineas or Oaks in 2025/26.
BET: GOLDEN CENTURY (2) to win, exacta/quinella 2,14.
VAILILEE (3) is, for want of no better word, untapped. The now five-year-old won a trial here by 11-lengths on July 7 then went to Gosford 12 days later and won by four, eased down. Drawn 4, same jockey (Mitchell Bell). Being an Adelaide, (I) would back him in to handle it wet but he's still got to do it. VANLEE (6) 's record at this track and distance is two starts for a close second and a half-length win. CHEEKY SMIRK (7) was impressive and emphatic when he won here on debut over 1100m.
BET: VAILILEE (3) to win, exacta 3 to beat 6, Daily Double 1st leg 3, 2nd Leg 7.
OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (4) is an acceptor for the Queen of the Valley Matchmaker at Muswellbrook. This is a harder race but she has a few things in her favour, not least barrier 2 and a whole lot of talent. COMMANDING BELLE (6) was a 'commanding' winner at Kembla second-up. Runner-up there nine days later but ran through the line with real purpose. Ditto that and then some for ALFRED (3) who has clearly come back in great order this time in.
BET: OAKFIELD NEPTUNE (4) to win or if scratched Commanding Belle to win.
DALIO (7) is a horse you could easily imagine walking around the parade ring at Pimlico or Santa Anita, given he is by American Pharoah out of a Grade 1 Natalma Stakes-winning mare. He's also in-bred to Storm Cat but I digress because what matters most is that handles the Heavy, he is in great shape, he is at a trip he will relish and he has the draw and the jockey to convert. SUNSET PARK (3) hasn't put a foot wrong in her five starts and has won here over 2000m so she's itching to get out in trip again.
BET: DALIO (7) to win.
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