Racing: Silverdale should strike gold

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If there is such a thing as justice - a rare racetrack commodity - Silverdale will win today's $70,000 Windsor Park Hawkes Bay Cup at Hastings.

Stephen Autridge has been magnificently patient with Silverdale (No 5, R8) and success today would go a long way toward repaying that.

Largely, Autridge kept Silverdale away from what was to be his future - middle distance racing - waiting for the horse to develop.

Stepped up to 2100m last start at Hastings, Silverdale bolted home and with that added experience on the Hastings course he should be ready to win his first feature race.

Hastings, like Tauranga, has a heavy track, but that is unlikely to be problematic. His four starts on the heavy have resulted in a win and two placings.

The Tidy Express (No 7) has a good wet track record and has for a while been racing extremely well. Her form tells you she is better than most of the opposition.

Two interesting runners in the second race at Hastings are Kate (No 8) and Sonata (No 5). Kate looked up to group Australian form 18 months ago, but things went wrong in Melbourne. She didn't come up last spring either, but her one run back this time suggests better.

She handles wet tracks well and don't be surprised if she puts a lie to her current formline.

Sonata has had two starts back this preparation on tracks that have probably been a touch good for her and she can also bounce back on a wet track here.

Whosyourmaster (No 4, R6) deserves a victory. With recent seconds to Antonio Lombardo and Natuzzi he looks ready to break through for a victory against a field that is slightly easier than those two recent victors. The wet track will be no problem.

At Tauranga, Magic Belle (No 1, R2) resumed on a firm track here last month, fading late in the race after leading. Carrying 59kg topweight is never easy for a mare, but Magic Belle has a bit on this field in terms of class.

Wanabefamous (No 5, R5) resumes after a horror term last season with injury. He is a mudder with real class and finished third to Bounding and Chambord at the recent Cambridge trials, showing he was at least somewhat close to fitness.

Perfect Star (No 7, R6) is going to find this mob easier than chasing Viadana and co around last start. He is going to relish the switch to wet tracks and is a previous Tauranga winner.

Mat Dillon (No 8, R8) has turned in pretty good runs in two appearances this preparation and comes into this on a wet track. He has had one start in the heavy for a win.