Dick Powell’s Australian Pick of the Week for August 21

Race 2 at Hawkesbury (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a maiden for three-year-olds going five furlongs. Please note that all horses in the Southern Hemisphere had their birthday on August 1 so you will not see any more races for two-year-olds. The track is expected to be “Good 4” so it should be fair to everyone. FREE International Past Performances every day at Brisnet.com! #3 ACUMEN was a good third in his career debut going 5 ½ furlongs from post 12 on Soft ground. He showed good speed that day and took money against a big field. Seven weeks later, he came back in a barrier trial and turned in a solid showing at just over five furlongs for James Cummings, who is 10 for 50 lately. Rachel King, who rode him in the trial, returns aboard Acumen. Godolphin-bred is by Exceed and Excel out of a dam by Street Cry who is a half-sister to a pair of multiple Group 1 stakes winners – Helmet and Epaulette #6 RANGES finally made his career debut after three barrier trials over very soft ground. With an apprentice rider, he broke awkwardly and moved up into contention before fading going five furlongs at Kembla Grange. He came back there under similar circumstances and was only beaten by three lengths with a better rider. Now, Ranges gets Hugh Bowman so the added seven pounds should not be a problem. Son of Shooting to Win is a half-brother to a winner of three Group 2 stakes and is trained at Randwick by the Snowdens, who are winning at 18% with their last 350 starters. #7 ROUCHEL makes his career debut for the Snowdens after winning his first barrier trial then running a close third on similar ground to this. What catches the eye is that Tommy Berry rode him in his first two trials and he makes his debut with James Mcdonald. Son of More Than Ready is out of a dam by Lion Hunter that won a Group 1 stakes race going short and is a half-sister to champion sprinter Chautauqua that won six Group 1 stakes race in Australia and Hong Kong including the T. J. Smith Stakes (G1) three times. ACUMEN looks ready to graduate for Team Godolphin whose young horses have been killing it Down Under the past few years. Don’t forget Twin Spires’ Australian Racing Bet Back offer where you may receive $5 win bet back on Australian A tracks Monday through Thursday if you opt in and play at least four races on a single day using the new TwinSpires platform. If you finish second, you get up to $5 back per race with a maximum of $50 maximum bonus per player each week.