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Good 4 and rail out 4m from 1100m to 450m & True the remainder:

3. Columbus is a progressive three-year-old and has this at his mercy, drawn the inside and stepping up to a mile. Has been beaten under a length in two provincial starts to launch his career, the latest running home strong from midfield to miss by a long neck as a hot favourite. Leading jockey steers this time. 1. Black Babylon is a staying type emerging over the odds, resuming off two trials with changes from a soft cover draw. Watch the betting closely on 2. Johnson returning as a gelding with gear changes behind two winning trials up to 1200m. 5. Sir Loyne improving into his second start, and 6. Ironheart who was right behind Columbus in that race a fortnight ago; both go into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Columbus to win

2. Rewrite is a debutant colt by Written Tycoon in the Michael Freedman stable who can claim a tricky maiden with predominantly first starters on show. Has been working well, strong through the line in two trials, and drawn to get the right run. 4. Confidentiality, a filly by Shalaa, is on debut for the Joe Pride stable, drawn inside and has trialled well. 8. Straight Sets has plenty of ability, and resumes for only her second start with a string of gear changes off two quiet trials. 9. Triple Play is a Capitalist filly on debut for the Chris Waller-James McDonald combination behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Rewrite to win

4. Gwendie is an underrated mare who represents superior value deep into the prep, despite dropping sharply in distance. Hit the line from well back in a better CL1 before an average effort in BM 64 grade over further. Less depth on show here and she’s hard fit. 1. Bluebird Bay ran home okay first-up at Scone off a lengthy break, although a shade under the odds from a tricky draw and back in provincial company. 2. Squeezebox is in the mix fourth-up with blinkers back on. 3. Miss Hvar can peak third-up after two fair closing runs at Kembla, and winkers have been added.

How to play it: Gwendie to win

1. El Qasabi is an emerging and well bred four-year-old who is the one to beat resuming for only his third start. Did very little in two country runs earlier in the year, but has improved lengths since. Won the second of two metropolitan trials, and makes big appeal in what is a very plain maiden. 9. Sassy Abbey is the logical threat with one run back under her belt and blinkers going on, but will need to show all her customary speed from a wide barrier. 2. Fuadee is a big watch on debut in blinkers off three improving trials; while 7. Great Heights can improve sharply dropping back from deeper metropolitan company.

How to play it: El Qasabi to win

3. Horizons is a talented mare who can make it two straight third-up and continue pushing through the grades. Ran home hard into a place when resuming in heavy ground before taken to the front and bolting in a CL1 at Kembla over this journey. Proven she has versatility in the run, and has all the options here from the inside draw. 6. Prefer Diamonds is trained on the track, and won her last two from just behind the speed, but tackling some better ones here. 2. Just Shane is another local who fought hard to win a similar-graded race at Newcastle before failing to fire a shot in the Coonamble Cup just four days ago. 1. Debello is an honest type well into his campaign, and better suited coming back from higher graded city races. Scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here.

How to play it: Horizons to win

5. Presley is a sparingly-raced improver, and best placed to score second-up in an open race with many chances. Progressed nicely earlier in the year when dominating a BM 64 at Newcastle before failing in metro company on a heavy track when reloading off a break. Was good late behind a smart one when resuming in a stronger midweek race at Rosehill, and this shapes as an ideal trip, settling back with cover. 2. Format is well bred, and also a big watch second-up getting out to this disatnce with blinkers back on. 6. Jacob’s Time has ability, and draws to utilise good tactical speed. 10. Magic Pharaoh is an improver also drawn to get a soft run deep into the prep; while 4. Affermato coming off a dominant front-running win here; and ex-Kiwi 1. The Budgiesmugla, resuming as a gelding off two trials in his first outing for the Bjorn Baker stable; are both capable of finishing in the minor money.

How to play it: Presley to win

7. Fast Track is a promising and lightly raced Randwick mare well placed to strike fresh off two progressive trials. Swept home to win on debut at the provincials back in early autumn before her form tapered off through three more spaced runs up to BM 64 grade. Give plenty of time to strengthen up, and signalled she’s ready to go winning a 1045m trial, and running a slicker final 600m than both the open class trial winners. 3. Maid Of Moolah worked across before claiming his maiden when fresh at Newcastle, and despite drawing wide again is up to fillies and mares grade at this level. 2. Pretty Tavi is trained on the course and dropping in grade; while 1. Bonjour Madame is longer priced value second-up, with a senior jockey taking over.

How to play it: Fast Track to win

8. Aligned is a consistent three-year-old with more to offer than his lean record suggests. Was only a long head from the winner at Newcastle two starts back before missing by a whisker in a better BM 64 than this. Hard fit and will take some beating. 2. Beau Bandit is lightly raced and caused a long-priced upset third-up when denying the top selection. 3. Orthies wasn’t far away when resuming at Kembla after being backed from $4.20 into $3.10. 12. Green Spaces is an ex-Godolphin colt having his first run for the Baker stable off two trials; while 9. Prorata is a second-up improver.

How to play it: Aligned to win

BEST BETS:
R4 1. EL QASABI
R5 3. HORIZONS

BEST VALUE:
R7 7. FAST TRACK

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