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By Neil Evans

Track improving to Soft 5 and rail out 2m from 1300m to 1100m and True the remainder:

We start with the youngsters in a competitive maiden on an improving track. Talented filly 12. Golden Queen will relish getting back on a drier track after compounding from the front in a deeper juvenile race second-up. Had previously stuck on well in Listed grade, and has superior tactical speed.

Dangers: Beautifully-bred 2. Communist chased solidly on debut at Newcastle, and can improve here on firmer ground. Watch the betting on Pariah colt 5. Haather who has been taken along patiently at the trials, and was strong through the line in a Soft 7 hit-out nine days ago. Stablemate colt to the top selection 9. Vinnie's Spirit has stuck on well in two runs this prep, and gets a key gear change.

How to play it: Golden Queen to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Still with the maidens over the shorter course, and this shapes nicely for promising metro filly 12. Wonderwomen who is bred for speed. Hit the line well in a good quality provincial maiden first-up in very heavy going, and better suited here on a significant weight drop.

Dangers: Hard to fathom how 11. Why Doubt is still chasing a breakthrough win at her 12th attempt, although she hasn't finished further back than fourth in the last five before having a break. Has progressed nicely at the trials, and this looks a suitable assignment 10 weeks between runs. Included in exotics improving local 3. Secret Hunter fourth-up.

How to play it: Wonderwomen to win and quinella 11 and 12
Odds and Evens: Split

Very handy depth in this maiden as well, headed by improving and tough three-year-old 1. Uno Artie who can strike back on his home track fifth-up at good odds. Like the way he hit the line from midfield last run, and a senior country rider gets back on at the right time.

Dangers: Newcastle-based 4. Pacheco is still to live up to his potential, but well capable of figuring here third-up. Was only fair through the line two weeks ago, but gets a 2.5kg weight drop after the claim. Provincial three-year-old 8. Globe Runner is good value deep into the prep. Has been well beaten by the winner into second place in the last couple, but is bred to be far more effective on firmer ground, and draws to park right behind the speed. Watch for any market move on resuming home tracker 5. The Himalayas behind two progressive trials; while local four-year-old 10. Sovereign Express second-up; and 14. Devilish Dude fourth-up; are the best of those in double figure odds.

How to play it: Uno Artie each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive metro three-year-old 2. Portnoy can break through here third-up, six weeks between runs with blinkers being added. Tracked the speed and stuck on strong in two runs up to the mile, and kept ticking over with a comfortable 1250m trial at this track.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by two-year-old Capitalist filly 11. Capital Elle who produced sharp improvement second-up at Goulburn hitting the line from well back, and extra 250m looks ideal. Must keep safe promising filly 6. Luisana; and 10. Zentime second-up off a long break.

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

Like four-year-old local So You Think mare 9. Good Omens second-up, with some key gear changes. Stuck on well after having a torrid run here resuming, and has solid enough city form up to 2000m. Draws to get a more economical run, and was scratched from Newcastle on saturday to run in this.

Dangers: Kermadec three-year-old 1. Matlock has tactical speed, and is the logical threat after a dominant first-up win here in heavy going. Will take some catching again, although wouldn't be diving into too short a price over a further 100m and rising to 59kg. The extra trip should be ideal for 2. Patton who has worked home okay in two runs back; while 3. Aramis second-up is the clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Good Omens to win and quinella 1 and 9
Odds and Evens: Odds

Tough race over the longer journey, but no better value than improving metro three-year-old 6. Roccaforte who is hard fit and can make it two wins from his last three. Stalked the speed at Kembla under 59kg before finishing best, then boxed on okay after leading here 19 days ago. Better when ridden just off the speed, and looks serious value at the weights.

Dangers: On his day, four-year-old 2. Real Peace has superior talent than anything in the race, and is a proven weight carrier, but still has to lump 59.5kg from a tricky draw. Keep safe 5. Al Sahara who can peak fourth-up despite drawing wide; while improving 3. Pentacost fourth-up in his first real prep; and lightly raced filly 8. Auspicious Cloud second-up; can run into the mimor end of the prize.

How to play it: Roccaforte each way and trifecta 2,5,6/2,3,5,6,8/2,3,5,6,8
Odds and Evens: Split

Open sprint with plenty of chances, and not much between the leading few. Keen on smart filly 5. Rita May who resumes for a second prep, is trained on the track, and reloads after missing a run at last Monday's abandoned Goulburn meeting. Won two from four against deeper opposition last time out showing tactical speed and good acceleration early in the straight. Looks ready to rock after a 1000m trial win, and bred to handle all ground being by dual Group 1-winning NZ sire Xtravagant.

Dangers: Big watch on Godolphin three-year-old 6. Oryx who was an impressive fresh winner here five weeks back before dropping right out on a bog track at Canterbury and was slow to recover. Watch the market too on resuming provincial mare 7. Either Oar has ability, and returns off a narrow trial win.

How to play it: Rita May to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in the closer as well, although hard to go past promising metro filly 4. Carartie who swept home to effortlessly win her maiden first-up at Goulburn. Having run six placings prior, often in much deeper metro company, she looks to have gone to another level, and can park off the speed before finishing over the top.

Dangers: Keep safe provincial filly 11. Denetta who powered home to win a country maiden second-up, and drew to get plenty of cover, while 7. Cool Encounter is over the odds third-up from the inside draw.

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

BEST BETS:
R2 12. WONDERWOMEN
R5 9. GOOD OMENS

BEST VALUE:
R4 2. PORTNOY

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