Dick Powell's Australian Pick of the Week for July 31

Race 7 at Hawkesbury (Australia A) on Wednesday night is a class 1 handicap going 5 1/2 furlongs. The track is expected to be "Good 4" so we will lean towards those that have some success or at least experience over firmer ground. FREE International Past Performances every day at Brisnet.com! #1 MANLY COVE was a sharp front-end winner three starts back on Good turf going five furlongs in fast time. He tired next time out on Soft ground then came back here over Soft ground again and had the lead in deep stretch before weakening going five furlongs in fast time. The son of Bernardini gets a major rider upgrade to Kerrin McEvoy (15% with his last 350 starters) and trainer Bjorn Baker wins 19% over the same span. I like the fact that he has taken money in all his pari-mutuel starts and he has carried 130 pounds successfully. #4 DUNBRODY POWER seems to have a class edge over this group but can she handle the short distance over Good ground? She won her first race as the heavy favorite in her sixth try last out at Kembla Grange but it was over very Soft ground going five furlongs in slow time. This is her second start off a layoff and trainer John Thompson is winning 20% with his last 50 starters. Daughter of four-time group one stakes winner All Too Hard, a half-brother to the immortal Black Caviar, is out of a dam by top broodmare sire Fastnet Rock. #7 DREAM CIRCLE is a two-year-old colt that gets in here with 125 pounds. He went gate-to-wire two starts back on Soft ground then came back in Heavy going and ran poorly on a track he clearly hated. The son of Dream Ahead (winner of five Group 1 sprints and voted champion sprinter in 2011) is out of a dam by Anabaa (broodmare sire of 19 Group 1 winners including Goldikova and Treve) draws inside with Glyn Schofield. Manly Cove should benefit the most from the firmer ground here and he has the speed to take advantage of it. 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.