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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 2m from 1200m to 350m into a cut/away:

4. Zoufame, a colt by Zoustar, was a $500,000 purchase, and debuts for the Bjorn Baker stable. Given plenty of time, and has been strong through the line in two trials, the latest sat wide on speed and finished off well only a half head from Tyreek who then scored a smart debut win at Canterbury. Naturally the stablemate 3. Senjutsu, a gelding by Fastnet Rock also debuting off two progressive trials from a wider draw, is a serious betting watch. Comfortably won the latest outing over 1200m in heavy going. 1. Whiskey George didn’t fire on the synthetic first-up off a 25 week spell, and improves here back on turf over more ground from the inside draw. 2. Kuwait is another market watch resuming behind two quiet trials, with blinkers coming off.

How to play it: Zoufame to win

3. Caravanserai is an improving Canberra four-year-old who can bounce back from an ordinary effort as a hot favourite second-up returning to firmer footing in what is a very weak lineup. Didn’t let down a fortnight ago from behind the speed, but was in the worst part of the track, and much better suited here over further ridden away from the fence. 2. C’mon Wicksy is lightly raced and ready to break through at his third start. Sat closer in heavy ground 13 days ago and stuck on to be beaten under a length when solid enough in the market, and bypassed the Moruya meeting on Sunday to be saved for this. 5. First Class Baby can improve sharply back on firmer going second-up; while 4. Brandywine improving third-up, and locally-trained 9. Vestige can add value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Caravanserai to win

2. Brutal Eyes is another progressive Canberra visitor well placed to make it back-to-back wins third-up. Led for a long way when resuming at Moruya before dominant from barrier-to-box at home on the synthetic. Up 1kg from a handy on-speed draw, and this isn’t much tougher. Was scratched from a deeper later race to be saved for this. 1. Marvel Man careered away as a heavily backed favourite to win his maiden here when coming off a four week break. Can win again, but would prefer softer ground. 3. Good Once was good late when resuming at Canberra, surging home from the back through traffic, and can finally win a second race at his 28th start. Drops in weight for the higher class, and does have a 50 percent record in the placings. 4. Wrong Footed comes off a second start maiden win at big odds; 8. Kobold likes to settle back and hit the line and has been in and around the money up to CL2 level in her last few; while home tracker 6. Bulla Vinaka resuming off an easy trial, heads the rest.

How to play it: Brutal Eyes to win

2. Slush Fund is a progressive Dubbo five-year-old in the best form of his career, and can make it three straight. Dominant in his last two against similar opposition from right on speed, and again has a nice low draw to utilise early tactical speed. Asked to carry a bit more weight, but very genuine and like most of the Capitalist stock, handles all surfaces. 1. Vis I Do is honest, with a real liking for this course, easily winning a BM 58 here three starts back, and again hit the line in a stronger field here last start. Gets back in at the weights after the jockey’s 3kg claim. 4. Lady Revolution has been freshened via a trial. 6. Hinune is a big market watch resuming for a second prep for a leading metropolitan stable behind two solid trials. Keep safe 7. Ishikari who is trained on the course, and reloads a fortnight after a narrow maiden win in heavy ground. 5. Steely Girl resumes off two trials, and normally comes to hand early in the prep.

How to play it: Slush Fund to win

5. Highwire Flyer is an honest mare with an edge in fitness well into the campaign, and can improve sharply back on drier ground. Finds a very thin race after the well fancied top weight was preferred at Sunday’s Wyong meeting. 7. Mishpat is a home track filly by All Too Hard who starts her career behind two quiet trials, so track the betting. Similar for 2. Magic Iris, a provincial-based mare by Pariah, on debut from the inside barrier behind an easy city trial. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Highwire Flyer to win

2. Sweet As A Kiss is another Dubbo visitor, eyeing off a third straight win going up in trip. Swept home from well back to thrash weaker opposition two starts back before rubber-stamping her progress by beating a similar BM 66 field here again from well off speed. Drawn to get cover back in the field, and only needs a clear shot at them over the final 400m. Destined for higher grades and bigger targets. 3. Drunken Sailor has ability, and is tracking nicely for a fourth-up peak. Outclassed in a deeper metro Qld race two starts ago before charging home to miss by under a length at Goulburn. Needs the speed on, and can finish hard again. 1. Final Comment comes back in distance deep into the prep after chasing home a smart one at Wagga. Hasn’t won for a while and carrying top weight, but capable of running into the money. Keep safe 8. Soul Taker who is looking for this journey fourth-up, and gets in light after the rider’s claim. 4. Buff In Disguise down in weight fourth-up and desperately searching for this longer trip, and 5. Stockholm who also gets much-needed weight relief up in grade, can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Sweet As A Kiss to win

1. Wandering Jack is a sparingly raced six-year-old who return with a bang off a 32-week break. Won twice late last year before close-up in consecutive Class 2 races to close out the prep. In a very good Dubbo stable, and will come to hand in what is a winnable race from an economical draw. 4. Keadool comes off a third-up BM 58 win, but best form is clearly on rain-affected ground. 5. Miss Capricorn did her best work late when resuming in a handy BM 58 at Dubbo. 3. Power Bank is trained here, and can improve sharply second-up; while 7. Man from Brussels deep into the campaign is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Wandering Jack to win

BEST BETS:
R3 2. BRUTAL EYES
R6 2. SWEET AS A KISS

BEST VALUE:
R7 1. WANDERING JACK

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Bathurst meeting