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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail out 5m from 1100m to 450m, 3m from 450m to WP and true the remainder:

A competitive and open maiden over a mile gets us rolling on a surface that will likely stay well in soft range with some showers forecast. Keen on tough and improving three-year-old 3. Subarctic who can finally break through deep into his first prep, despite coming back in distance on a five day back-up. Had worked home okay in two previous provincial runs before tracking the speed and just missing here on Saturday.

Dangers: Progressive 1. Octahedron is a clear threat second-up on a nine day turnaround having missed a place fresh as a hot favourite. Keep safe 7. Edgewise fifth-up in his first full prep; while metro filly 4. California Grass and home tracker 6. Scarparo with a nice weight drop; head the rest.

How to play it: Subarctic to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

The maiden boys lock horns, and there's little or nothing between the leading three-year-olds here. Settled on 2. Surreal Leo who looks primed to break through third-up from a soft trailing draw. At peak fitness now, and has been placed in five from eight on any rain-affected going. Was scratched from Newcastle on Wednesday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Emerging 3. Secret Revolution is also right on the cusp third-up, and hasn't missed a place so far in four runs on soft. Locally trained and lightly raced 1. Iron Man has been given six weeks since working home strong from the trail first-up; while 4. Excite Choo with blinkers going on rounds out the trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Surreal Leo to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Now the girls' edition, and all aboard Godolphin three-year-old 1. Black Iris who resumes for only her third start. Draws to get an ideal trail, and was strong through the line winning the second of two trials. Bred to thrive on soft ground.

Dangers: Watch the betting on 2. Heiress Hera who returns for only her second start off a 13 month break and two handy trials. Gap to the rest, with 8. Ringdembells first-up off a smart trial win well capable of running into the money.

How to play it: Black Iris to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Very hard to go past Godolphin three-year-old 5. Shipshape who is bursting to win third-up, and will likely to stifle the market. Finished off well fresh in a good quality provincial maiden before charging late again to miss narrowly in heavy ground against metro opposition. That reads well for this, and gets a smooth run on the inside just off the speed.

Dangers: : Improving filly 8. I Am Jade looms as the quinella runner third-up; while progressive 4. Man Of Valor went under narrowly here at his second start, and goes in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Shipshape to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive Irish-bred provincial mare 5. Lyrical Lady is ready to peak third-up in her first NSW prep over more ground. Finished off okay in a country CL1 before very stiff not winning at Scone when thundering home late from a wider draw, and drawn to get good cover.

Dangers: Big watch on 4. Mindspace fourth-up off an impressive maiden win; and 6. Sunchaser who missed by a whisker fourth-up in deeper grade, and gets winkers added; while 3. Makadeel fourth-up; and 9. Premierro dropping back sharply from Group 3 company where she was beaten out of sight; are both capable of running into the placings.

How to play it: Lyrical Lady to win
Odds and Evens: Split

This shapes nicely for progressive four-year-old 1. Hedge Fund to make it two straight. Put the writing on the wall when finishing hard two runs back before giving nothing else a chance from the front at Kembla in heavy ground when well backed.

Dangers: Keep very safe home track mare 3. Artie's Aura peaking third-up coming back from deeper metro midway company. Honest four-year-old 4. Critical Time improves third-up and is also trained on the track; and 6. So You Battle second-up with blinkers added; heads the rest.

How to play it: Hedge Fund to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Most open race of the day in a sprint with very handy depth. Promising Godolphin three-year-old 9. Selous took on Group company in his first prep last spring, and returns now as a gelding behind two steady trials.

Dangers: Big watch on 11. Chief Conductor who has been close-up in two runs back, and reboots from the inside draw having missed out when his race at Canberra last Friday was abandoned. Expecting a big first-up run from talented and sparingly raced 2. Yiska behind two solid city trials; while both 3. Lascars fourth-up with important gear changes and a month between runs; and 4. Fast Response resuming behind two trials; are in each-way contention.

How to play it: Selous to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Improving metro four-year-old 5. Strombus can land a long overdue second win fourth-up. Has chased home some smart ones in deeper grades this prep, and the more rain the better. Another one preferred here to Newcastle on Wednesday

Dangers: Big finishing 1. Damaged has hit the line late from well back in all three runs this prep against generally deeper opposition. Keep safe 4. London third-up off a midway CL1 win; while 3. Buillt five weeks after a first-up metro maiden win; and 12. Justina fifth-up and down in weight with gear changes; can both run into the mior end of the prize.

How to play it: Strombus to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R3 1. BLACK IRIS
R5 5. LYRICAL LADY

BEST VALUE:
R1 3. SUBARCTIC

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