Hawkesbury Betting Tips for October 8, 2026 - Brave Xena Back for Battle

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Tue 06 Oct 2026 14:49

Alex Marsh 2 hours ago

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Brave Xena and Youre Not The King are top win bets
Billapaloola and Lord Wootton offer strong value in maidens
Track upgrade likely; competitive racing expected

Hawkesbury hosts a seven-race meeting on Thursday. (Getty)

Hawkesbury stages a seven-race Thursday program, with a mix of maidens and benchmark races creating a competitive provincial card.

Hawkesbury Tips October 8
HRC Motel Maiden Handicap Tips (Race 1)
Group 1 Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate Tips (Race 3)
Blake's Marine CG&E BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 6)
St Johns Park Bowling Club F&M BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 7)

With a favourable forecast ahead, there’s a chance of an upgrade from the current Soft 5 rating.

For product analysis, comparisons and ratings of Australia’s leading operators, explore our Bookmaker Reviews.

Hawkesbury Tips October 8

HRC Motel Maiden Handicap Tips (Race 1)

Hawkesbury Value Bet - Race 1 No. 6 Billapaloola

There is plenty to like about the pedigree of Billapaloola, who comes from the same family as 13-time Group 1 winner Tie The Knot, with Group winners Cherry Tortoni and Wings Of Song among the more notable recent relations.

Very little was expected on debut at Warwick Farm on May 20 when she drifted to 90/1 for the 1100m Super Maiden, but the Ron Quinton-trained filly worked home reasonably well from off the speed for seventh of 14 in a race dominated up front by Our Emperor.

That $100,000 event has since produced three winners, with Exit Clause saluting at his next appearance and Crescent King opening his new campaign with back-to-back victories in Sydney, giving the debut performance considerably more substance.

Quinton spelled Billapaloola after that first race-day appearance, and the 1300m starting point at provincial level both look positive, while Dylan Gibbons takes the ride after beginning October with four winners from his first 12 starters leading into Wednesday’s Randwick-Kensington meeting.

Her first trial back was only fair, but she was much stronger through the line when third in the latest 1050m Randwick heat behind Graffiti Tycoon and Mindgames, with the latter subsequently bolting in at Goulburn on Tuesday, suggesting Billapaloola is ready to run a much sharper race fresh.

Group 1 Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate Tips (Race 3)

Hawkesbury Roughie - Race 3 No. 8 Lord Wootton

Plenty of patience was shown with Lord Wootton after an autumn trial, with the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained three-year-old completing another two heats before making his Newcastle debut over 1400m on September 18.

He won the final of those trials in workmanlike fashion before lacking the speed to go with them early on debut, but without ever threatening the effort was still a pass mark in a maiden that contained far more depth than the bare result suggests.

Winner Federalist had already been Group 2 placed in March, while Lafite, Nomadic and River Jordan all won at their next appearances from that Newcastle race, with Lord Wootton finishing ahead of the latter.

The jump from 1400m to 1800m is sharp at start two, but he looks exactly the type to furnish over a trip, which is supported by a strong staying family headed by half-sister Greysful Glamour, a three-time stakes winner whose black-type record included a Listed success over 2000m.

There are no obvious standouts in this field and, from barrier one under Tom Sherry, Lord Wootton should be able to settle much closer over the longer journey and give himself every chance to improve sharply.

Blake's Marine CG&E BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Hawkesbury Next Best Bet - Race 6 No. 4 Youre Not The King

The Bjorn Baker stable enjoyed an excellent September with 18 winners at a strike rate of 33%, while the Rachel King-Baker combination has produced 38 winners at 23.6% over the past 12 months with a positive return on investment.

King has partnered Youre Not The King in both September Rosehill trials, winning the first over 900m before finishing second in the latest 1030m heat on September 22, with that performance rating well on the morning against the corresponding trials, which included Australia’s leading sprinter Tempted.

The four-year-old makes his first start for Baker on Thursday after showing plenty of natural ability in Queensland, bolting in with a Sunshine Coast maiden before narrowly missing in Saturday metropolitan company at Eagle Farm.

He remained at Eagle Farm for start three in the Listed Daybreak Lover over 1400m, where there was more merit to the seventh-place finish than the margin suggests after he led and was continually pressured by a 40/1 outsider who eventually dropped away badly.

Dropping back to 1100m could prove ideal for a gelding who may ultimately be better suited at the shorter trips, and with Rachel King retaining the ride from barrier five, he gets a very suitable setup for his New South Wales debut.

St Johns Park Bowling Club F&M BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Hawkesbury Best Bet - Race 7 No. 1 Brave Xena

Although Brave Xena jumped well in her September 19 Highway return at Randwick, the wide draw forced a conservative ride once the speed kicked up inside her and she was left with plenty to do from a rearward position.

That Highway was a strong form race, with Cruizingthestars making the most of a good run in transit to record a fourth win from five starts and establish herself as an early Kosciuszko contender, while runner-up Oh Arthur was back in grade chasing a hat-trick after progressing from a Super Maiden into BM78 company.

Brave Xena finished off strongly for third and could easily have gone close to winning with the run enjoyed by the winner, particularly as she was the only horse making meaningful ground through the wider lanes.

The Luke Pepper-trained mare opened her account with a hat-trick in February, completing that sequence in a Randwick Highway over Neil, who won two starts later before finishing third in a Saturday metropolitan BM72 at Rosehill.

Her only two major failures came at the end of that first preparation in stakes company, and with her exposed form reading extremely well for a lightly raced four-year-old in a provincial BM64 against her own sex, the kinder draw and Claire Ramsbotham’s 3kg claim leave Brave Xena very well placed.