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By Neil Evans

The track is a Soft 5 with the rail out 3m from the 1100m to the 450m and True the remainder.

Tricky opener despite the small field. Kembla three-year-old 6. Manoeuvre ($3.90 on TAB) has been a little disappointing so far, although around the money for most of the prep. This is his real chance to break through down in weight from a soft draw with a leading carnival rider on for the first time.

Dangers: Improving three-year-old 3. Supreme Leader ($2.80 favourite) had excuses in running third-up at the provincials and also looks well weighed after the new rider's 2kg claim. Expecting sharp second-up improvement over more ground from lightly-raced filly 4. Light Up My World ($3.50) who did too much early work resuming; while home track filly 5. Borsalina ($5) is another one who's been competitive enough this prep and draws to get a soft run behind the speed.

How to play it: Manoeuvre to win and trifecta 3,4,6/3,4,5,6/3,4,5,6
Odds and Evens: Split

Drawn alongside each other, two runners can fight this out. At only her second start, Star Turn filly 8. My Snow Queen ($1.75 fav) can strike after sticking on well in a handy two-year-old race on debut when specked in the market.

Dangers: Capable three-year-old 4. Spicy Restaurant ($2.40) resumes off a six-week break for a new metropolitan stable. Hasn't publicly trialled but expected to reboot quickly.

How to play it: My Snow Queen to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Progressive two-year-old 4. Verbek ($2 fav) is by triple Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose and hit the line hard to miss by a long head fresh at Wagga. Extra ground is a natural, plus with a leading metro jockey sticking strong.

Dangers: Local three-year-old 5. Dream Eclipse ($3.30) produced one of his better runs charging home late at Newcastle and can progress again over a longer trip. Expect 2. Papadum ($6.50) to be ridden quieter at his third start; while watching the betting on 9. Dunlee ($8.50) who was scratched from the first race to be saved for this and resumes off a quiet trial.

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

Few chances in this one including another two-year-old who comes to the surface. Tough three-year-old 1. Titanium Power ($1.65 fav) is ready to win again fourth-up and boasts a strong form line. Led for a long way here in heavy going before overhauled by Astero who then bolted in at Newcastle on Tuesday. Just needs to get across from an awkward gate.

Dangers: Must keep safe two-year-old 4. Mihocek ($4.60) who is much better placed here after enduring a tough run from the gate at his fourth start. Led all the way to claim his maiden over this trip two runs back. Include in wider exotics four-year-old 2. Blue Sky Moon ($5) who resumes for a second prep off two trials and with gear changes. Local three-year-old and last start winner 3. Shoeless Joe ($7) is on the next line

How to play it: Titanium Power to win and quinella 1 and 4
Odds and Evens: Split a special

The girls' edition looks far more clear cut with progressive Canberra filly 3. In De Sun Iwilcome ($2.10 fav) ready to make it two straight wins this prep at only her third start after a determined finish at Kembla.

Dangers: Improving mare 5. Clear Blonde ($3.80) will relish a little more ground third-up with blinkers added after working home here behind a smart one.

How to play it: In De Sun Iwilcome
Odds and Evens: Odds

Always very tactical and testing maidens getting over a longer journey at set weights. Improving three-year-old 7. Don Arcangelo ($3.30 fav) is primed to hit his straps third-up after two fair runs back over the mile. Should be ridden a bit quieter here and saved up for the long stretch home.

Dangers: Patience is nearly frayed with Godolphin filly 13. La Sagra ($3.40) but she is better placed back to this distance after failing over further at Wyong as a heavily-backed favourite. Six placings from 11 starts has her well overdue and suspect from the tough gate and on the bigger track, they'll ride her quieter this time. Be forgiving of Japanese-bred 8. Kahuka ($6) who pulled up with problems at his third start here. Previous two runs in deeper company had been solid enough to include.

How to play it: Don Arcangelo each-way and box exacta 7,8,13
Odds and Evens: Odds

One form line here is pivotal. Loved the third-up win of progressive Newcastle mare 5. Wild Sheila ($4.60) charging home between runners to beat a handy BM 68 provincial field. Is bred to run out this longer trip hard, and was competitive in deeper grade up to 2400m last prep.

Dangers: Plenty of them. Talented Scone mare 2. Deepwood Vale ($2.30 fav) comes out of that same race as the top selection when making up plenty of ground and she can also figure over this distance with winkers added. Consistent four-year-old 1. Admit It ($5.50) has fought on well in his last couple, the latest run down by Wild Sheila. Needs to get over from a wide draw but country-based jockey's 3kg claim here is crucial. Last start BM 66 country winner 6. Aperol Sprint ($7) returns to the provincials with plenty of confidence to run this out.

How to play it: Wild Sheila to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Very keen on No Nay Never three-year-old 2. Stoical ($2.90) first-up off two winning trials. Showed great cruising speed to win fresh last prep and trial jockey sticking is a big pointer.

Dangers: Progressive mare 3. Miracle Street ($2.40 fav) is the clear threat fourth-up from a low draw. Bolted in her maiden at the provincials two runs back, only query is whether she's as effective on firm ground; while filly 8. Zanzidance ($5) has been freshened via a dominant trial win.

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

BEST BETS
R3 4. VERBEK ($2 fav)
R8 2. STOICAL ($3)

BEST VALUE
R7 5. WILD SHEILA ($4.60)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here