Race-by-race preview and tips for Hawkesbury on Thursday

Track Good 4 and rail True.

RACE 1

3. Texas is by Nicconi in the Bjorn Baker stable, and emerges as the one to beat on debut. Has looked right up to the mark in two strongly run trials, and drawn to get a favourable spot on the map. 4. Bivacco is drawn to do less work early in the run after a fair unplaced effort at Gosford when coming off a let-up. 5. Infant Warrior has a race fitness edge and tactical speed, having beaten all but the winner in two spaced efforts at Kembla. 1. Habib Albi is a market watch on debut coming off a handy trial for the leading local stable, while 7. In Circles, a filly by Toronado on debut for the Joe Pride stable, starts her career behind two progressive trials.

How to play it: Texas to win

Racing returns to Hawkesbury on Thursday.Credit: Getty

RACE 2

1. Gambler is fit and overdue for a second career win deep into his prep. Got a little lost at a vital stage last start behind a dominant winner before finishing OK, and again drawn to trail the speed on a suitably bigger track. Watch closely lightly raced filly 4. Balmain Darling first-up for the new Baker stable behind two forward trials. 3. Honey Perfume is a consistent mare who returns for her first run in 27 weeks, and also by-passed Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here. Fitted with two trials, and has only missed a place once from 11 starts, but nine times in the placings. 5. Howie Do It, resuming for only his second start, and 6. Charka off a tough fresh win at Gosford, both go in all exotic plays.
How to play it: Gambler to win

RACE 3

6. She Can Salsa is a debutante filly by Per Incanto trained on the course. Very forward behind three trials, the latest sitting back off a strong speed at Warwick Farm over 1207m and sweeping home with something in hand. This is a decent starting test, but she’s been working for a while, and was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to be saved for this. 2. Cosmic Avenger is a progressive three-year-old primed to break through third-up. Was huge odds when resuming on the Kensington track before improving sharply to charge home and miss by a nose at Kembla. Stays at the distance, and can springboard off that run. 3. Artistic Lady debuts for the Gary Portelli stable off two improving trials. 4. Astound Beauty is another first starter fitted with two recent trials. By Astern, and stabled with David Pfieffer. 1. The Prospect draws the inside, and can return a much stronger galloper behind two trials after a poor debut last spring.
How to play it: She Can Salsa to win

RACE 4

4. Kokatahi is a capable three-year-old in the Chris Waller yard who can improve sharply after a luckless outing second-up at Warwick Farm when severely hampered at the 300m. Pulled up with a slow recovery as well, so the drop back to provincial opposition with a senior jockey taking over leaves him as the benchmark. Stablemate 2. Indigo Star draws to get a soft run fourth-up, and will also relish the drop back from metropolitan company. 9. Fierce Critic is clear best of the rest, improving further at her third start.
How to play it: Kokatahi to win

RACE 5

6. Think We’re There is an underrated and versatile five-year-old primed to land an overdue third win deep into the campaign, and crucially on a five-day back-up. Placed twice in similar fields before settling well back and running home strong in a better lineup last Saturday when laying in for much of the final 350m, and back up in distance is a further plus. 1. Golden Smile is hard fit deep into the prep and likely to jump favourite after destroying CL1 opposition from the front on the Beaumont track. Drawn to roll to the top again, but more depth here, and she shapes under the odds. 2. Magicon has more to offer than his average form over the past few months suggests, and finds a slightly weaker race. 5. Brazil drops back from a tougher metro race, and can run into the minor money fourth-up.
How to play it: Think We’re There to win

RACE 6

3. Azarax is a lightly raced three-year-old in the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard who can resume with a bang. Fitted with two steady trials, and already proven to be a smart performer when fresh over this sort of trip. Destined for bigger races. 4. Johnny draws alongside third-up, and is well suited coming back from deeper city opposition. Gap to the rest headed by 5. In And Out improving further fourth-up with a senior jockey taking over, while 2. Shelstein gets an overdue drop in class deep into the prep.
How to play it: Azarax to win

RACE 7

10. Miss Spacegirl is a talented mare, peaking well into the prep over the right trip. Roared home from well back to upset a fillies and mares BM 78 field at Randwick before again hitting the line in an even deeper field four weeks ago. Likes her races spaced, and carrying just 55.5kg, she can run over them and claim the opening Provincial-Midway Championhip Qualifier. 9. Just In Time is well-placed third-up, and a month between runs. Finished best to win a metro BM 72 fresh before running home at big odds in a feature sprint against her own sex at the Gold Coast. Kept ticking over with a nice trial win, and she can be in this for a long way. 2. Oui Oui Oui is a lightly raced home tracker who took big strides late last year, winning all three up to Midway BM 72 level from off speed. Reloads off an eight-week break and smart trial win, and her fresh record is good. 8. Imposant resumes behind three improving trials so will be forward enough. Capped a solid campaign last spring by sweeping home to win a CL6 at Doomben after twice being outclassed at Group 3 level. Fresh record is sound, leading jockey goes on, and with any sort of cover, she can run into the finish. 1. Rolling Magic has been consistent through a long prep, having never finished further back than two lengths in his last five. Freshened up from Saturday BM 88 company, and draws to dictate. Keep safe 6. Bold And Blazen second-up who is a mile over the odds.
How to play it: Miss Spacegirl to win

RACE 8

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9. She Moves Too is a lightly raced and improving filly who represents the best value in a wide and open race. Was having her first run since last spring for the Waller stable when working home just fairly in a deeper race at Canterbury. Fitter now over a shade more ground and on a bigger circuit, she can strike at good odds. 2. Spaceballs closed off OK when resuming on the Kensington track, and now reloads for the new Newcastle stable four weeks between runs. 5. Hazel Jean rushed home late third-up in a stronger race at Rosehill, although a small query she’s looking for more ground. 6. Issy’s Star is a progressive filly who wasn’t far away first-up off a long break on the Beaumont track. 8. Vivian’s Express over a bit more ground, and 11. In Limbo third up off an easy fillies and mares maiden win at Wyong, can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: She Moves Too to win

BEST BETS: R4 4. KOKATAHI
R5 6. THINK WE’RE THERE

BEST VALUE: R6 3. AZARAX

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Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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