J-MAC TO HAWKESBURY FOR ONE RIDE?

WEDNESDAY: May 13, 2026: MICHAEL Freedman has held off making a decision as to whether favorite Our Huntress will attempt to break through for her first win at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

But the Royal Randwick trainer didn’t have to ask twice for James McDonald make the trip to the provincial track for one ride should he give the “green light” for the filly to line up in the Gremmo Hones/IMSGlobal Super Maiden Handicap (1100m).

The champion jockey’s wife Katie is a part-owner of the lightly-raced three-year-old, who has been placed at all four starts.

Our Huntress hasn’t raced since being nabbed on the post by Lucia Valentina’s daughter Erin Jo in another Super Maiden Handicap, but over 1400m at Warwick Farm on January 7.

“I’ll wait until the morning and check whatever scratchings there are and the track condition before confirming a start,” Freedman said today.

“I’m mindful that Our Huntress has a big weight (61kg topweight).”

Our Huntress has trialled twice in preparation for a resumption, finishing fourth over 898m at Canterbury on April 10, and then second over 1045m at Randwick 11 days later.

McDonald rode the daughter of Ardrossan in that latest trial, and also when she was narrowly beaten by Erin Jo at the beginning of the year.

Our Huntress, who will race without visors, this morning was at the top of the TAB.com.au market at $2.20, ahead of Miss Supernova ($4.20) and Samaka ($4.60).

Unraced three-year-old Crossways has been withdrawn, reducing the field to nine.

Hawkesbury course manager Digby Nuthall has rated the track a ‘Good 4’, with only 2mm of rain recorded yesterday, and a total of 4.5mm for the past seven days.

“We could certainly do with some rain, but obviously not until after tomorrow’s meeting,” Nuthall said.

The rail is 3m out from the 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

One of the meeting’s more interesting runners Voltage Lass unfortunately will be an absentee from the Griffo Cup F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

Canberra trainer Danielle Seib has decided against running her because of her wide barrier (nine in a field of 10).

The Too Darn Hot three-year-old has won two of her three starts – at the Sapphire Coast on debut, and then at Corowa – both last December.

Seib took her to Hawkesbury to trial on April 20, and she flew the gates and led throughout over 1000m in defeating Group 1 winner Port Lockroy.

“Voltage Lass has a nice motor, and won the trial within herself,” Seib said today.

“But I was disappointed when she drew awkwardly, and we’ll wait for another day.”

Seib accepted with the filly for the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday, but she is fourth emergency.

Voltage Lass also has been nominated for a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Tommy Berry, who will ride Private Harry in Saturday’s $1.5m Group 1 Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m) – expected to be the stallion’s final race before beginning stud duties at Segenhoe in the new season – is a runaway leader in the Hawkesbury premiership.

With 17 wins so far this season, he leads nearest rival Mitchell Bell (10) by seven.

He rides Samaka tomorrow for Freedman’s fellow Randwick trainer Peter Snowden in Our Huntress’ race, and Raskol for the same trainer in the Voltage Lass race, along with Rebel Rhapsody (Nacim Dilmi), and Escargoes (Brad Widdup).

Both Rebel Rhapsody and Escargoes are early favorites for their respective races.

. The seven-race program begins at 12.55pm, and closes at 4.40pm.