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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True:

We start the traditional Ladies' Day meeting with the older sprinting maidens, and it shapes ideally for locally-trained mare 7. Zahdi who is ready to win fifth-up in her first full prep. Did it tough at Kembla from a wide gate two starts back before again not suited on rain-affected going 12 days ago. Back on top of the ground from a softer trailing draw where she can park right behind the speed is the ticket to breaking through.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced four-year-old 1. Magnatear, who has been given plenty of time since a strong finishing debut in mid June, and returning behind two trials, hitting the line well to win the latest. Drawn further out, 2. Last Ditch effort steps up a furlong in trip second-up; while home tracker 6. Warthog heads the rest, resuming with gear changes off a solid trial run.

How to play it: Zahdi to win

Progressive Godolphin three-year-old 8. Rhesus is primed to break through third-up in his first full prep. Has twice had solid market support, and ran through the line well from off speed to beat all bar the winner. The clear one to beat in a race of less depth.

Dangers: Expecting 4. Big Bay Wolf to improve after a fair debut run in that same race as the top selection behind Written Silk. Will relish the extra trip being bred to get much further. Another three-year-old on the rise and backing up in seven days, 6. Jared can peak over a bit further deep into his first prep; while honest 2. Perfect Point adds value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Rhesus to win

Always tricky tactical affairs at this grade over a middle distance. While there's little between the leading contenders, Randwick four-year-old 3. Eyeque boasts superior scope and progression, and depth of form. Twice charged home from the back at Newcastle up to BM 68 level to run the winner close before again doing his best work late in an even smarter race. Will enjoy the long stretch home here, and only needs a decent clip on up front to get over the top. Was scratched from Randwick on Tuesday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Improving 2. Jumeirah Beach has produced two solid runs this prep, and finished marginally in front of the top selection last start when ridden right behind the speed. Ready for this distance. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Iverson, who comes off a narrow provincial BM64 win fourth-up, and draws to get plenty of cover just off the speed. Last start third-up provincial BM 64 winner 1. Desi Emperor is in the hunt from the same on-speed draw, but is under the odds up 2kg in this.

How to play it: Eyeque to win

Testing maiden for the girls here in a bigger field, although not much speed about. That should play into the hands of emerging Godolphin filly 7. Drift Net who can roll forward and dictate at her fourth start. Has found one better in her last two efforts at Kembla, but right at peak fitness now in a race of a little less depth.

Dangers: Watch the betting closely on 8. Electric Tigress resuming for only her third start for the Maher-Eustace stable from the inside draw. Ran home okay in two mid year runs against deeper opposition before being spelled, and fitted with two easy trials up to 1200m. No doubt 10. Kind Words is a big threat third-up dropping back significantly from Saturday Listed company, but still under the odds from a tricky barrier. Both improving 1. Ain't She Swell at second start; and 9. Just Easy resuming behind two trials; can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Drift Net to win

Out over a much longer trip here, and progressive four-year-old 5. Domingo is primed to peak fourth-up staying at the distance. Failed to run home two starts back at Newcastle against the pattern before hitting the line behind a form galloper a fortnight ago when backed from $6.00 into $5.00. Down 2kg for this, and there's a real sense of timing in what is now a weakened race.

Dangers: Ultra honest performer, 3. Celestial Fury hasn't finished further back than second in four of his last five runs. Was only collared late by the former at this track three weeks ago, and will naturally cruise forward again from the inside gate. Improving third-up 4. Amarantz can figure after running home okay in a Saturday CL3 Highway; while 6. Frankie's Me Dad is the best of the longer-priced shots third-up.

How to play it: Domingo to win

Back to a middle distance for the feature race at Listed level. Very keen on sparingly raced six-year-old 2. New Mandate second-up off a month-long break, importantly with blinkers going on. Ran home late in Group 2 company nearly seven weeks ago carrying only half kilo less before a fair effort from back in the field in smart company behind a dominant winner.

Dangers: Tough stablemate 1. Skyman hasn't won for a while, but is hard fit and well placed for this coming back in trip fifth-up from Group 3 company. Keep safe 3. Jojo Was A Man who reloads second-up from a Group 3 failure 26 days between runs, and has been sharpened via a smart trial win. Expecting capable 5. Steely to bounce back hard after having no luck in the Big Dance Wild Card at Randwick third-up; while 6. Cisco Bay also back from that race third-up; and consistent mare 8. The Seven Seas down sharply in weight; represent value out in the market.

How to play it: New Mandate to win

We close with the maidens over the mile, and it shapes ideally for lightly raced colt 6. Zerkhan third-up. Was very well supported in heavy ground at Kembla when only missing by a nose, and from a softer inside draw here, he can break through for what should be the first of many wins. Trialled okay at this track three weeks ago.

Dangers: Improving 5. Kirikhan is a serious threat fourth-up despite disappointing as a well backed favourite last time, although was stuck in the worst part of the track. Promising Godolphin filly 10. Cinque Terre can peak off two strong closing runs in similar company, although wouldn't be diving into too short a price from a wider gate. Keep safe lightly raced 4. Anderson Bridge from a low draw.

How to play it: Zerkhan to win

BEST BETS:
R2 8. RHESUS
R5 5. DOMINGO

BEST VALUE:
R7 6. ZERKHAN

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