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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

4. Maikrow is a progressive three-year-old by Microphone from the Joe Pride yard who gets first use of the inside draw coming back a shade in trip, and 13 days after hitting the line hard first-up at Canberra. Drops in weight for a tougher level, and blinkers go on. The one to beat, despite a very competitive market. 2. Peace Centre hasn't started since tackling Listed company last spring, but was close-up in a heavy track trial, and looks forward enough. 1. Royal Commodore is trained on the track, with a little edge in residual fitness, and has been freshened since a tough front-running win on the Kensington track. 5. Idolised resumes for an in-form metro stable for just her third outing behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Maikrow to WIN.

6. Supreme Statement is a progressive colt by Press Statement, and well placed to strike second-up, with blinkers going on. Was coming off a long break when working home fairly in a handy Super Maiden, and he will relish both the extra furlong and a bigger track. 5. Patissier is three-year-old by Proisir in the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton yard, and a big market watch on debut with gear additions behind two trials. 7. Willie Oppa can improve sharply second-up over a furlong further, and was scratched from Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting to be saved for this. 9. Elegant Artist is over the odds second-up with some weight relief. 2. Tomcat Flowers is honest, having beaten all but the winner in two runs back at country level, but taking on some smarter ones here.

How to play it: Supreme Statement to WIN.

1. Indecisive, a three-year-old by powerhouse sprinter Brazen Beau, is primed to strike fresh off two trials, winning the latest at Kembla and running his last 600m in slick time. Drawn to get plenty of cover from a low draw, and only needs a clear shot from the 350m. 8. The Fort looms as the main rival, second-up for Godolphin off a strong closing effort in Victoria. Hard to see anything else winning, but 2. Ima Capri, a three-year-old by Rubick on debut for the Pride yard, and 11. Rare Moon, second-up after a handy closing effort at Muswellbrook and with a stronger jockey going on; are both capable of running into the money.

How to play it: Indecisive to WIN.

4. Inspired Star found the line okay on debut at Scone, and presents well here from a soft draw, especially with the early hot favourite being preferred at Warwick Farm. 8. Where's My Halo has to overcome a tricky draw, but has shown improvement at the trials. 11. Empusa, a filly by Hellbent, is a big market watch on debut for a shrewd provincial stable.

How to play it: Inspired Star to WIN.

5. Sumo Star can finally grab an overdue third career win from a low draw. Didn't have a lot of luck in a string of deeper Midway BM 72 affairs when never far away before flooding home late in a similar lineup at Kembla 12 days ago. Best weighted runner after the jockey's claim, and the extra 100m is further plus. 2. Starboard returns for a second prep behind two trials, and is primed to come to hand early. 8. Royal Bombadier is locally trained, and has been sparingly raced in a drawn out prep. Placed in three of his last five up to this grade. 3. Power Beau steps up in quality after winning three straight in the country, and draws to get a soft run back in the field. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Sumo Star to WIN.

4. Mahogany Girl is a lightly raced six-year-old mare trained on the track, and re-booting off a nine week break. Comes to hand early in the prep, and readied with an easy trial. Has won two from four here, and stable has found a nice return race where she can settle right on the speed. 4. Red Hot Lizzie is very fit and will appreciate getting back onto a bigger track. 7. Angel In The Wind is an improving mare tracking to peak fourth-up, with blinkers being added. 2. Impulsivity is over the odds from a low draw, and can run into the money fourth-up. 5. Manhattan's is another home tracker third-up from a handy trailing draw, and goes in all trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Mahogany Girl to WIN.

9. Harlow Mist is well placed to claim the qualifying feature second-up off a six week freshen. Was a dominant Midway BM 72 winner from off speed last prep, and was only three lengths from the winner in Group 3 company on the final day of 2024 before that break. Loved her fresh run at Randwick taking lengths off heavily backed winner Oh Diamond Lil, and she drops 3kg for this with a senior jockey taking over. Expect her to settle a few lengths off the pace & be very strong over the final 350m. 2. High Blue Sea has been running home okay behind a couple of smart metropolitan winners, and this is his best distance. 3. Magnatear is a tough on-speeder gunning for a third straight win, but well under the odds in this lineup from a tricky and wide gate. 5. Overriding caught the eye late at big odds when resuming in a city BM 88. 6. Bojangles down in weight deep into the prep, and 8. Rapt who has been freshened; are both capable of figuring in the minor money.

How to play it: Harlow Mist to WIN.

7. Sunset Park is a well-bred and lightly raced mare who is primed to make it two straight at only her third start. Was stiff not to win on debut at Newcastle before dominating from the front at Kembla over a mile. Fitter now under the same weight, she can control the race, and being by the great Sea The Stars, this shapes as the ideal progressive distance. 5. Vieste is tracking to peak third-up over suitably more ground, despite a sharp weight rise. 4. Big Boy George is trained on the track, and also suited by the rise in trip fifth-up. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Sunset Park to WIN.

BEST BETS:
R3 1. INDECISIVE
R5 5. SUMO STAR

BEST VALUE:
R6 4. MAHOGANY GIRL

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Hawkesbury meeting