Hawkesbury races Thursday tips and full preview

Race 4: FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)

Now a weakened girls’ edition, and it shapes to be at the mercy of progressive and lightly raced Godolphin three-year-old 3. Celerity second-up. Hit the line hard into a place when resuming at Warwick Farm and was considered good enough to start her career in the autumn in black-type company. Suited in a set-weights race, and has that lovely bloodline mix being by speedster Exceed And Excel out of a mare by super tough Testa Rossa.
Dangers: Watch the betting closely on 6. Fleeting Spirit, by Per Incanto from the Ryan-Alexiou yard, having her first run behind two trials. 8. Gangsta Granny has to overcome a wide draw off a four-week freshen-up after an even debut effort on the Kensington track. Gap to the rest headed by another debutant 9. How Rude at big odds, who starts in blinkers behind two forward trials.
How to play it: Celerity to win.

Race 5: CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)

Promising four-year-old 2. Copacabana is primed third-up over a furlong further. Settled just better than midfield at Newcastle before sweeping home for an effortless win as a hot favourite a fortnight ago. From a nice cover draw, he should go on his merry way.
Dangers: Progressive stallion 1. Passima finished off well first-up in deeper company at Warwick Farm. Rises in weight, but bred to handle a sharp rise in distance, and beat a handy metro maiden field over this trip in March. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Cristal Clear reloading 18 days after a country maiden win.
How to play it: Copacabana to win.

Race 6: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (2000m)

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Progressive mare 5. Fakhra can make it two straight over a little more ground. Tracked the speed before sweeping home for a dominant maiden win at Newcastle, and the second placegetter from that race then bolted in his next start in a class 1 at Canberra.
Dangers: 1. Highborn Harry is in the mix third-up over a furlong further after finishing close-up here against similar opposition, while 2. Majorian and 10. Whisker To Whisker are capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Fakhra to win.

Race 7: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m)

One of the more open battles on the program; but it shapes best for lightly raced metro mare 11. Opal Fields resuming off two trials. Had four spaced runs earlier in the year, starting with an impressive maiden win powering home from well back at Newcastle. Can settle back off the speed here before driving down the middle late.
Dangers: 2. Oryx will find this more to his liking after a string of inconsistent efforts in deeper city company, and draws to get an economical run just off the speed. Watch for sharp second-up improvement from 3. Boss down 2.5kg in weight from a softer draw. At bigger odds keep safe ex-Kiwi 9. Sunrise who didn’t do much first-up for the new provincial stable.
How to play it: Opal Fields to win.

Race 8: BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m)

Progressive 5. Threatening can make it two wins from his last three with blinkers being added. Was heavily backed before sweeping home from midfield to claim his maiden here before being ridden quieter and finishing off late at Kembla. This is a little tougher, but he has plenty of scope for improvement.
Dangers: Despite the big weight, 1. House Of Cards is a threat third-up from a soft trailing draw, although wouldn’t be diving into too short a price given his lack of conviction when hard in the market. That said, he easily accounted for a similar field here when first-up before only average in a tougher metro grade when backed from $3.20 into $2.70. Honest 7. Carpaccio has been in the placings all three runs this prep, and ready for the rise in trip. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Threatening to win.

BEST BETS
Race 3: (4) Chibar
Race 4: (3) Celerity