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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 2m from 1100m to WP & True the remainder:

Zousain filly 7. Tasman Bay debuts off two trials. Drawn to get the right run in behind the speed and can start her career with a bang.

Dangers: 3. Alinea resumes off two progressive trials. 6. Lady Zodiac, a filly by Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, also returns off two trials; while 1. Gunroom, a three-year-old by Snitzel in the Joe Pride yard, debuts behind three improving trials.

How to play it: Tasman Bay to win

Like the value here around 7. Inoue who re-loads 12 days after failing on debut at Newcastle in what was a messy race. Drifted well back that day after being backed into odds-on, and is much better suited over a furlong further with a superior jockey taking over.

Dangers: 5. Enhance is a serious threat after running home well behind a smart winner first-up when well supported in betting. 9. Doralee only missed by a head on debut at double figure odds; while both 10. Heavenfield, a Kermadec filly on debut for Godolphin behind two trials; and 13. Bluepinot, resuming from a low draw for just his second start off two forward trials; go in all exotic plays.

How to play it: Inoue to win

Topweight 1. Powers Of Opal surely has a mortgage on this fourth-up dropping right back from the Group 1 Flight Stakes where she led after being backed from $10.00 into $6.50 before folding up under late pressure. Still only 4kg above the minimum looks nicely treated, and she rolls forward again.

Dangers: Sparingly raced 2. Blacklist shapes as the Quinella runner third-up with blinkers back on, having missed narrowly at Kembla as an easing favourite. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Think Romance who completes the trifecta second-up.

How to play it: Powers Of Opal to win and quinella 1 & 2

Tough mare 5. Bush Girl is primed to peak third-up getting to the mile. Has hit the line nicely in two provincial runs this prep, and under a nice weight drop, she can settle a little further back from the wider draw and be brought to the outside past the 350m.

Dangers: 10. Bluebird Bay is right in the mix three weeks after a rock solid debut in heavy going at Scone. 1. C'mon Mate has to overcome the outside barrier, but he's very fit well into the prep, and drops back from a much deeper metro BM 72 company; while 7. Dunaloce is well capable of running into the money second-up.

How to play it: Bush Girl to win

Thin quality affair here for this level, but 2. Oakfield Hawk emerges as the best value in the race second-up. Settled back near last when resuming in slightly tougher grade before charging home to beat all but the winner. Won three straight to cap last prep in and around this sort of distance, and significantly the stable has wasted no time in stepping him up sharply in trip much earlier in the prep this time. Any further rain is a big plus.

Dangers: 1. So Sleek is bursting to win again after twice hitting the line from well back into a place against better metrio opposition. Still threatens to go around under the odds rising sharply to 61g from a wide draw. Keep safe 3. Wagga Wagga dropping back in grade with key gear changes fifth-up; while locally-trained 6. Grenoble and consistent 7. Alpine Kandy three weeks after a first-up BM 66 country win; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Oakfield Hawk to win

Progressive four-year-old 5. Creek can make it two from three this prep coming back 100m in trip. Rushed home to easily beat a handy Super maiden field first-up before being very stiff not to win a Class 1 12 days back. Finds a suitable race here, and capable of going on to conquer bigger targets.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced 4. Missile Defence resuming off a 13 month break as a gelding behind two trials. 8. Brutal Bowler can improve sharply second-up; while 3. Princeofcambridge resumes from a handy draw off two trials in his first outing for the new Joe Pride stable.

How to play it: Creek to win

The girls' edition is one of the widest and toughest on the program, but it shapes well enough for emerging three-year-old 13. Obscure who can go back-to-back third-up. Only got going late here when resuming before finishing best to claim her maiden at Kembla in heavy going. Still on the rise, and the extra 100m here is an obvious plus.

Dangers: Unbeaten three-year-old 10. Broadway Follies made it two from two with a dominant on speed win in weaker country grade. Keep very safe 7. Gai's Artist dropping in class third-up with the blinkers back on. Progressive mare 6. Wexford Miss broke through fourth-up at Kembla in heavy ground as a raging hot favourite, and despite drawing off the track, she boasts more than enough potential to win this. 5. Let's Go Again is well named, eyeing off a third straight win jumping from the inside gate in what is a slightly thinner race, but shoots up sharply in weight to 60kg. Include 8. Tender Streak fourth-up in wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Obscure to win

Another open one to finish. Progressive mare 2. Fugitiva has never raced better, and can make it three from four this prep. Swept home to win a CL1 as a well backed fancy when resuming before not suited inside runners in a similar race to this at Newcastle. Hit back last start charging over the top in Midway BM 64 at home.

Dangers: 4. Bindi's Choice can strike third-up from a low draw coming back from deeper city opposition. Keep safe 5. Kingston Charm who has been generally holding his own in tougher metropolitan Saturday fields. Home track mare 10. Leandra gets out to a suitable trip third-up; while 1. Cash Me down in grade fourth-up, adds value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Fugitiva to win

BEST BETS:
R4 5. BUSH GIRL
R6 5. CREEK

BEST VALUE:
R8 2. FUGITIVA

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting