Wide Hawkesbury Guineas draw no reason to Panic

Michael Freedman has been hoping for a chance to have Panic ridden with cover, but he is unlikely to get it this weekend after the horse drew the second outside gate in the Hawkesbury Guineas.

Panic raced outside the leader to post a fighting win in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) at Randwick last start and may have to adopt similar tactics in Saturday’s Group 3 race after landing barrier 19 in the field of 16 plus four reserves.

“I’d have loved to give him the opportunity to be ridden with some cover,” Freedman said.

“While he sat outside the leader the other day and won, he is potentially a better horse when he can get a back to follow.

“But if he ran well, or better still could win it, we might have a look at a race like the Fred Best (Classic) up in Brisbane for him.”

Panic is unbeaten in two runs this campaign, coming from midfield to beat the older horses first-up at Wyong before making a successful leap into stakes company last start.

Freedman nominated the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) as a target after Panic’s Sydney autumn carnival win and said the three-year-old had continued to please him.

“When they win four from six, they’re obviously a good, genuine horse,” he said.

“He’s getting up in the grades a bit now, but Saturday looks a logical target.”

With regular jockey Tommy Berry in Brisbane to ride stablemate Ducasse in the Queensland Guineas (1600m), Rachel King has picked up the mount.

The Hawkesbury Guineas has attracted a strong field including progressive John O’Shea-trained colt Schwarz and consistent Tulloch Lodge performer Butch Cassidy, who was beaten less than a length when fourth in the Golden Rose last spring.