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By Neil Evans

Track is a Heavy 9 with the rail out 6m from the 1000m-300m; Cutaway then applies, True the remainder.

We start a very open card on a rain-hit track with the youngsters. After disappointing first-up here nearly a month back, Astern filly 1. Asherla ($2.50 favourite on TAB) was taken to Kempsey for an easy maiden kill. Looks well treated at the weights after the claim and got through a heavy track well enough on debut here.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by well-bred Maurice gelding 2. Daichi ($6.50) who debuts after two progressive and recent trials. Home track filly 4. Le Cygne Noir ($5.50) led all the way to win second-up on a Soft 7 rating. Another local filly 8. The Storm In Me ($4) resumes off a smart trial win but was beaten a long way in only previous heavy track run before spelling.

How to play it: Asherla to win and trifecta 1,2,4/1,2,4,8/1,2,4,8
Odds and Evens: Split

Good quality filly 1. Moremi ($1.70 fav) resumes in a weak race and has been fitted with two easy 1175m trials. Had no luck in a much stronger provincial maiden in late summer before missing by a whisker at Goulburn. The one to beat.

Dangers: Liked how progressive colt 6. The Dance ($4.80) got home late at Nowra in only his second start, while 9. Glenburn Hotel ($8) can run into a place third-up off a lengthy break.

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

This shapes as an ideal starting point for Wandjina three-year-old 5. Native Rock ($3) who has been well forward in two metro trials and bred to plough through heavy ground with winkers on.

Dangers: Monitor any market move for German-bred Protectionist filly 9. Protectabella ($7.50) who has been taken along slowly at the trials.

How to play it: Native Rock to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

The fourth-up run of provincial four-year-old 5. Berruti ($5) was very good, sticking on strong under a big weight despite covering too much ground. Draws better here with a nice weight drop and right at his peak.

Dangers: Progressive filly 1. Cathay ($3.70) surged late to win a handy Class 3 second-up at Nowra and loves rain-affected ground. Another Novacastrian 6. Hard Faith ($4.80) is super tough and has been running into a place all prep. Couldn't haul in the leader in a similar race here last outing, but the quick back-up is a strong sign, while 7. Big Surprise ($3.60 fav) ploughed through the ground and held off Hard Faith in that race, but goes up 2.5kg in a contest with more depth.

How to play it: Berruti to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Very tricky battle. Progressive filly 9. She'll Be Apples ($2.70) took a while to strike form before destroying her maiden opposition on the synthetic at Canberra. First time in these conditions but she boasts more progression than the rest.

Dangers: Watch the betting on provincial two-year-old 10. Jet Pack ($2.60 fav) who has been freshened since a first-up maiden win, while including 8. Tornado Light ($6) and 6. Arizona Night ($4.60) in exotics.

How to play it: She'll Be Apples to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Good quality battle that stacks up well for provincial three-year-old and serious wet tracker 5. One Star Shining ($2.70 fav) who can make it three straight from the outside barrier. Has swept through the early classes charging home from well back to win his last two on rain-affected ground, and gets it all to suit again.

Dangers: Improving five-year-old 2. Oakfield Target ($4.60) broke a long run of outs in a weaker race fourth-up and while he's never raced on a heavy rating, has a 33% strike rate from nine starts in soft.

How to play it: One Star Shining to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Another fairly open sprint and very much with tough local three-year-old 3. Elusive Babbz ($2.40 fav) who came off some consistent form to dominate a maiden here under 59kg in soft ground. Still on the rise and even better suited here, being by one of the great Group 1-winning heavy trackers of all time.

Dangers: Scone filly 6. Innocent Party ($4.20) bolted in her second start in soft going, while two-year-old provincial filly 5. Sebrenco ($3.40) debuted with an impressive win from off the speed and is bred to handle rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Elusive Babbz to win
Odds and Evens: Split

It doesn't get much easier in the last, although keen on lightly raced three-year-old 3. Superior Witness ($2.90) resuming. Progressed quickly off two dominant heavy track wins into Highway grade last prep and gets the right conditions again off a forward trial.

Dangers: Capable mare 4. Beauty Betty ($2.80 fav) has been given a lengthy freshen-up via a dominant trial win after dropping right out at Taree. Include 6. Mosht Up ($3.20) who is hard-fit and relishes rain-affected ground.

How to play it: Superior Witness to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R6 - 5. ONE STAR SHINING ($2.70)
R7 - 3. ELUSIVE BABBZ ($2.40)

BEST VALUE
R8 - 3. SUPERIOR WITNESS ($2.90)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Muswellbrook here