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By Neil Evans

The track is rated a Heavy 9 with the rail in the TRUE position. There's a slight chance of a shower on Friday morning with a cloudy raceday and a top of 13 degrees.

2. HEAD KAHUNA ($3.60 on TAB) is tough and bursting to break through, having not missed a place in four runs this prep. No match for a dominant winner at Mudgee before missing narrowly in a deeper maiden at Scone. Stays at the trip and is right at home on rain-affected ground. 1. Zubba Storm ($2 favourite) is an ex-Victorian having his first run for the Mack Griffith stable at Mudgee off a break. Drawn well and the top jockey is engaged. 3. Media Spin ($11) is a second start improver trained on the track. 5. Rutley Exceeds ($9) is another local resuming off a long break but bred to handle the conditions, while 8. Foray ($13) is a market watch on debut.

How to play it: Head Kahuna to WIN

6. HONNIBALL DRIVE ($2.60 fav) is a promising filly in a strong country stable which significantly, has scratched the capable stablemate. Charged home to miss by a half length on debut after being backed from $5 into $3.90. With that race fitness under her belt and getting on to a much bigger track, she can settle back off a good speed before producing a superior closing burst. Bred to thrive in the going being out of a Press Statement mare. 1. Rubelin ($4) is trained here, has tactical speed and shoots for a second win in her first full prep. 3. Hulaland ($3.30) who drops in class deep into her first campaign. 5. Time for Speed ($6), by Supido, is a big betting watch on debut behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Honniball Drive to WIN

4. ITALUS ($2.90) is a colt by Wootton Bassett who can make an immediate statement on debut. Was solid through the line in two trials over 1000m and well fitted to run this distance out. Bred to thrive on rain-affected ground being out of a Rory's Jester mare and the jockey booking is very significant. 2. Boncapo ($2.70 fav) is a big betting watch first-up for a shrewd local yard and drawn to get a soft run. 5. Northern Exposure ($13) second-up and 9. Toke ($10) deep into the prep, are both minor money chances.

How to play it: Italus to WIN

5. STARVENA ($1.45 fav) is a promising filly by renowned wet track sire Star Turn, and looks ripe to make it two from three and really announce her arrival. Swept home for a dominant win on debut at Muswellbrook as a heavily backed favourite before beating all but an exciting youngster at Scone over this same trip. Will love the big open stretch here and is the clear one to beat. 6. Golden Vader ($12) is over the odds deep into the prep, and also coming through that same race as the top selection. Keep safe 13. Unsolved ($19) improving third-up, while 1. Quasimoto ($11) is another one emerging from that same first-up formline and the top jockey takes over.

How to play it: Starvena to WIN

5. CHAPPOLICIOUS ($4.40) is an improving filly primed to peak fourth-up staying over the distance. Given 24 days since chasing home well into a place in a handy Class 1 after being backed from $4.20 into $3.70. Gets an important gear change, bred to handle the conditions and has enough tactical speed to off-set a tricky draw. 1. Proper Twelve ($2.40 fav) is a smart and lightly raced home tracker, returning for his first run since early spring. Bolted in at this course 12 months ago to open his account and despite not publicly trialling, has reportedly been working well for a while. 3. Souls Companion ($9.50) is also first-up with important gear changes. 4. Spring Prospect ($4) is another betting watch resuming with no official trials. 8. Cool Space ($11) is trained here and rises in class third-up. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Chappolicious to WIN

2. IOWNA BENZ ($1.80 fav) is a progressive Canberra mare peaking second-up off a freshen. Has a good record on soft going (3:2-1-0) and looks the one they have to beat. 10. Gail Jeanette ($3.80) is in the hunt third-up and dropping in weight. 3. Castlebar Road ($8) is a real wet tracker and can run into the money second-up. 9. Street Parade ($8) has won twice over the distance and may fill a hole with just seven runners to go around.

How to play it: Iowna Benz to WIN

8. JAMACRI ($6.50) is a sparingly raced home track mare who can pounce deep into the campaign at big odds in a very open race. Beat all but the winner in consecutive Class 1s before holding her ground in a deeper affair at Quirindi. Then failed to hit the line against similar opposition as a short-priced favourite, but did get a poor ride on an unsuitably smaller track. Much better off here, drawn low and gets in well at the weights after the new jockey's claim. Handles wet tracks and the extra 100m is a further plus. Expect a big second-up improvement from 6. Josephine ($5.50 equal favourite) after being beaten a long way by ultra smart Chains Of Love. 12. Jenni Divine ($7) is an underrated and honest Riverina mare. 2. Tiye ($6) is another local emerging third-up from that same Chains Of Love formline. 3. Swinging High ($5.50 eq fav) has had plenty of support and fourth-upl, heads the remainder.

How to play it: Jamacri EACH-WAY

6. IKNOWYOU ($5.50 eq fav) is a hard fit and a big threat from a low draw with a jockey switch. Soft form good also (3/1-1-0). Ex-Victorian 3. Ailyak ($5.50 eq fav), resuming off a long break for the new Dubbo stable, gets a string of gear changes and can run into the minor money. 4. Turbulent ($8.50) third-up and 10. Proclivity ($13) is a minor money chance from a wide draw.

How to play it: Iknowyou to WIN

5. KRANICH ($2.70 fav) is a tough and consistent home tracker who can claim an overdue win. Was right in the money in three consecutive runs early in the prep, including a strong Country Championships Qualifier when he flashed home to be beaten under a length. Given a break before again hitting the line here against similar opposition, then did his best work late in an even deeper BM 90 over the Scone carnival. Hard fit, relishes wet tracks and he can settle back off a solid tempo before steaming home. 3. New Pharoah ($4.60) is very fit and comes off a smart BM 82 win at Inverell. 8. Stockholm ($7.50) has a solid record on his home track and drew to get a soft run on speed. 14. Scopics ($7) rises in grade third-up and has claims.

How to play it: Kranich to WIN

BEST BETS
RACE 2 - 6. HONNIBALL DRIVE ($2.60) favourite on TAB
RACE 9 - 5. KRANICH ($2.70 fav)

BEST VALUE
RACE 7 - 8. JAMACRI ($6.50)

View final fields with full form & race replays for Dubbo here