The Hawkesbury tipped for impressive performance at her namesake course

The daughter of Frankel and More Joyous holds several Group 1 nominations through the autumn and Conners said the Clarendon Tavern Handicap (1300m) might only be a benchmark 64 but it's an important stepping stone.

"I was privileged to have her, I'm very thankful to have a horse of her breeding and the responsibility of looking after a horse of her value comes into thought too,'' Conners said. "She shows a lot of promise.

"I'm going there thinking that she can win and she'll run in the Surround then and go through the normal fillies campaign."

The Hawkesbury, $1.90 with TAB on Tuesday, made an impressive debut on a heavy track at Kembla Grange back in November, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths.

Conners then elected to give her a break and she returned at Newcastle on February 3 as a short-priced favourite and went down by half a length in a performance the trainer said he can forgive.

"Kembla was soft and Newcastle was very hard, it went against her a bit being a big filly,'' he said. "She was going to beat them and just didn't like the hard track."

Nash Rawiller heads to Hawkesbury to ride the filly for the first time in a race and Conners has laid out a somewhat traditional path through the carnival should he get the result he anticipates.

The filly holds a host of Group 1 nominations through the carnival and Conners said the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) are the steps into the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

The Surround Stakes (1400m) is run at Randwick on Saturday week so there's a bit on the line on Wednesday.

"I've got to get her benchmark up otherwise she won't get a run,'' Conners said.

"I had her in the Vanity in Melbourne but the track was hard there, I thought the 1200m was a bit nippy for her (Light Fingers) so we decided to pull the pin on them and go to Hawkesbury."

Jessandi makes her stable debut for Conners in the same race and the stakes aren't nearly as high for the five-year-old.

A winner of three from 24, Jessandi has been more adept on top of the ground but Conners said it's a good starting point for the mare.

"She's trialled okay but her distance is a mile or 2000m. She's a nice mare and that will only improve,'' he said.

And two-year-old gelding Iceman will be out to improve on what he showed on debut in the HRC Motel Handicap (1300m) after failing to beat a runner home first-up three weeks ago.

Conners said he is showing some ability but if still very much a novice and has added winkers to help him concentrate.

"He was a bit disappointing but it's not a real strong race so I'm hoping he can run a good race. He's a wayward horse and does things wrong,'' he said.

5. Linebacker was set to debut in town recently but was scratched at the barriers. Was well supported going into that race so no surprise to see him come up favourite. No exposure to a wet track is an obvious query but all things equal he's hard to beat.

Dangers: 2. Bosustow was also a recent scratching from a midweek city meeting and hasn't raced for a month since a sound debut chasing Fully Lit after settling near last. Better for that and looms as a danger. 6. War Ribbon is trialling very well and showed speed in the latest before being run down but held second clearly. Could give a sight here. 1. Benamera finished off his latest trial on a heavy track in good style to win quite nicely, that was at Gosford last week. That's a promising sign given the likely conditions.

How to play it: Linebacker WIN

2. Midnight Harry raced wide near the speed when he failed at Canterbury last start so that can be forgiven. Go on his previous two narrow defeats and he's not far off a win. Placed in all three soft track starts so may well like the ground. Good chance.

Dangers: 3. Miss Bayles showed some promise in her first preparation with two seconds and two fourths from four starts and was exposed to a heavy before a spell. Definite chance. 4. Summer Soiree was a sharp improver into her second trial where she led all the way to a comfortable win at Randwick a couple of weeks ago. If she handles the ground she's likely to give a sight. 6. Apres Ski was solid in betting and tried hard when placed at Newcastle second-up off a wide run, albeit at the short trip. Open to further improvement here.

How to play it: Midnight Harry WIN.

2. Reigning King had a handy first prep for Nathan Doyle and seemed to handle soft ground well. Front-runner who resumes after two trials and was run down by a smart one in the latest without being really pressured. Sure to run well fresh.

Dangers: 3. Santasia is the logical danger though she's had no wet track exposure in her three starts. Beaten favourite in the latest at Goulburn after leading. Trained here and entitled to another chance. 4. Spirit Of Varanasi made some ground to place first-up at Wyong on a soft 6 before disappointing at Gosford last time. Another capable of lifting. 6. Serafima hasn't fired in two runs back but did take a couple of runs to get going last time in and could be an improver.

How to play it: Reigning King WIN.

10. Baile Fervor was close up in a Super maiden at Kensington before a luckless fourth at Newcastle where he definitely should have gone close. Should be okay on a heavy track and chance to atone if he does handle it.

Dangers: 1. Bo Katan seemed to have his chance when an odds-on favourite first-up at Wyong but did run on into third. Has trialled okay on a heavy track and looks one of the main chances. 2. Llewellyn was placed on debut on a soft 6 and didn't do a bad job thrown in the deep end at G3 level before a spell. Handy trial recently and stays under notice. 11. The Impeckable was a couple of months between runs when fifth at Gosford first-up from on the speed. Fitter for that and wouldn't surprise if he gives a bit of a sight.

How to play it: Baile Fervor WIN; Trifecta 10/1,2,11/1,2,11.

10. Little Jeanie is a big watch at her first Australian start. Placed two from three in NZ including a couple on soft and hit the line full of running in her only public trial last week. Barrier could be a plus by this stage and any support is significant.

Dangers: 11. Redbreast started favourite on debut and led but was no match for the winner when third at Warwick Farm two weeks ago. Will go forward again here and could be harder to run down. 4. Superstitious has come back in good order with a couple of placings at Canterbury and if he can transfer that onto a wet track he's a good chance to break through. 12. Rip Off led when fourth at Canterbury first-up on a soft 6 before running on from last into third in a small field. Worth some thought.

How to play it: Little Jeanie WIN.

2. Owen County found his best form to score a dominant win at Gosford and the form has held up with the runner-up winning in town since. Proven in the wet and now he's back to something like he's best he could easily go on with it.

Dangers: 6. Whatadilemma is another proven wet tracker who wasn't disgraced when settling last at Newcastle before running on beaten a length. Strike rate becoming a worry but one of the main chances. 7. Highness strikes a wet track for the first time this prep and after an improved third at Newcastle fourth-up he might be ready to show his best. Each-way. 5. Matlock wasn't the best away when a beaten favourite at Canberra second-up. Did win nicely there fresh and has won on a heavy. Keep in mind.

How to play it: Owen County WIN; Trifecta 2/5,6,7/5,6,7.

3. The Hawkesbury made a strong debut with a heavy track win at Kembla back in November before going down as favourite on good ground at Newcastle. Promising type fitter for that run back and gets conditions she's proven in. The one to beat.

Dangers: 4. Hasty Honey was tried in good company last prep and rounded off her spring breaking through at Newcastle. Fitter for two trials and while not exposed to a wet track before she's a big watch if she lines up. 5. Starmae backed up a much improved second-up placing with an easy all the way Wyong win two weeks ago. Lightly raced and must be considered. 12. Mosht Up is an experienced wet tracker who hasn't struck a heavy for a while but she's been racing quite well of late including a placing at Gosford on a good track. If there's an upset she could be the one.

How to play it: The Hawkesbury WIN; Trifecta 3/ 4,5,12/4,5,12.

3. Capital Heart gets the blinkers on third-up after running second at Kembla a month ago on a good track. He's placed on heavy and while drawn wide it's not likely to be of any consequence come the last. Threatening to win one and has a good chance.

Dangers: 2. Navy Blood hit the lead at Wyong third-up and looked the winner before being run down late. Similar sort of task here though he's not raced on a heavy as yet and should be competitive if he gets through it. 1. Sailor is aided by the 3kg claim and he's an interesting runner resuming with some heavy track form and right back in class. One to keep very safe. 9. Flying Impala gave nothing else a chance when scoring an easy all the way maiden win at Canberra on a soft 6. Up in grade but is honest and could take running down.

How to play it: Capital Heart WIN.