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By Brad Gray

7. Duck Egg Blue is back in trip but to offset that she is four weeks between runs and back from Listed company over The Championships. The lightly-raced filly was racing out of her grade in the South Pacific Classic yet overachieved, finishing a close up fifth. She was held up in the straight too. Prior to that she ran third to Mogul Monarch at BM72 level, while first up she edged past two subsequent winners at Kembla Grange. Confident that all she has to do is get the start right to win this. She jumped half a length in front two starts ago which should see her use the inside draw. Third the fence is perfect. A pair further back and things get problematic. Of the last 14 races run at Gosford, 12 of the winners settled no further back than third in the run.

Dangers: 5. Don’t Doubt Merlin looks the likely leader. The gamble is how vulnerable he’ll be late first up over 1200m. Hasn’t won beyond 1100m. Has only raced over 1200m once before and he knocked up to be well beaten, albeit the heavy track took the brunt of the blame. Has trialled well on two occasions. 3. Monte Kate looks well paired with Adam Hyeronimus again. Was posted wide throughout last start and that perhaps told at the finish. Keep waiting for her to repeat her Kembla Grange performance from the backend of last campaign. That may never come again. 1. The Great Houdini maps to be well back in the run but comes into this an impressive last start winner. 6. Mad Darcey is always thereabouts at this level.

How To Play It: Duck Egg Blue WIN

1. Sequsita found herself posted three wide outside of the leaders in the Percy Sykes Stakes before sticking on well to run fourth. That was behind Tempted who proved to be one of the standout two-year-olds of the season. Within The Law ran third. Plus she was only first up. She tackles this four weeks between runs and has been tasked with carrying 58kg under the handicap conditions but she has the best CV to this point. How the first 400m plays out will be critical to her chances. She perhaps has the most natural speed of any of the runners engaged here but there will be pressure kicking up underneath her in the early stages. If he can cross without doing too much work, they’ll be doing well to chase her down.

Dangers: 6. Hidden Achievement will need to get the start right too. Had he shown any early speed in his trials or on debut he’d be on top here. Some chance he ends up buried away worse than midfield in the run. Like the way he closed off at Canterbury on debut, giving away race experience. He beat third by three lengths. 7. Chicama was ridden conservatively at Hawkesbury last start behind Grand Eagle. Has won a trial since from in front. Expect more urgency out to 1200m now. 4. Green Spaces made good improvement from his debut at Moonee Valley to win first up at Geelong. Showed tractability to lead and quicken when it counted, running out a strong 1200m.

How To Play It: Sequsita WIN

4. Joiselle jumps 1000m to 1200m but has raced well in the past off the same preparation. The last time the four-year-old tackled this trip was in Highway company at Randwick back in January. She led, kicked like the winner only to be run down late by Clear Thinking and Highway Strip. One of the deepest Highways we’ve seen in some time. She bombed the start at Wyong thereafter so forgive her that. Two weeks ago she ran in Highway company over 1000m and kept closing when third behind Massira. There is a lot of 1000m and 1100m form in this race. Joiselle runs a strong 1200m at this level. There is evidence of that already. Looks a clever claim taking 2kg off with Anna Roper.

Dangers: 1. Jolly Good Fellow made it two wins from three starts for Dean Mirfin when too classy at Bathurst last start. Draws wide but has gate speed and a recent 1400m win under his belt. Was only three lengths off Engine Room first up in town. 8. Ritzsun has been solid recently without winning. Didn’t look to have any excuses at Mudgee last start having settled outside of the leader. The query has to be him running out the trip. Has a head-to-head victory over Joiselle in the past but it was over 1000m. 9. Super Norwest is a Highway winner out to 1400m. She knocked up to run sixth in the Clear Thinking Highway first up last campaign. The amount of work she’ll likely be forced to do to cross from a wide gate will leave her vulnerable late. Respect 17. Atmospheric Rock if he’s here despite the barrier and weight.

How To Play It: Joiselle WIN

1. Yankee One used barrier 1 to stalk the speed at Randwick last start before running out a dominant winner. Drawing the same gate here should see her enjoy a similar run in transit, which sees her settle in front of her main dangers. The four-year-old finds herself in career best form having won three from four for Bjorn Baker. At her past two starts she’s improved again, which coincided with getting out to 1400m for the first time and the blinkers going back on. A tearaway leader a fortnight ago made it a testing 1400m. The official last 600m split was 37.47s. She was entitled to feel the pinch late. That’ll toughen her up for her first try at the mile. Rises 1.5kg after the claim of Anna Roper, in the same BM72 grade. The early price seems more than fair.

Dangers: No argument that 4. Engine Room is likely to end up the best horse in the field. He might already be. However, the draw and his racing pattern make things a touch problematic around a tight Gosford track. He’ll need a clever ride from Alysha Collett, who takes back over from Zac Lloyd. Jumps straight out from 1250m to the mile third up. 5. Last Command appears to have lost his early speed but has been great in two runs back. He came from last to be beaten a length by Alabama Fox first up before arriving in time at Kembla Grange. 2. Enter The Dragon has won four of his six starts. Was tenacious when chasing down a tearaway leader at Hawkesbury last start. 15. Bellenth jumps from 1200m to 1600m but tackles this fourth up. Looks ready to win.

How To Play It: Yankee One WIN

2. So Dazzling hasn’t won for 137 weeks. Let’s get that out of the way first. There is a pattern in her form that her second up runs are among her best. That included last time in when second to Saltcoats, where Tavi Time ran third, in BM88 grade. It was as a $101 chance, however. Thereafter she was kept to that grade and better, finishing the summer in Listed company. As her rating continues to tumble, she now finds herself back in BM78 company. She found the line well first up behind Know Thyself, who is the favourite for The Coast. There’s depth to her form that none of these can match. The majority of these bring midweek staying form. The conviction is obvious with one win from 25 starts but there’s enough in the price to take the punt. She is… due.

Dangers: 9. Cormac T kept closing first up over 1550m when third to Our Empress Zoe, who has since run second again in midweek company. Steps straight out to 2100m second up. Can settle in the first couple. That looks a big advantage given how evenly matched this field is on paper. 14. Mr Buster could have done a touch more at Caulfield last start but he was second up after a year long layoff. He was entitled to flatten off having overachieved first up. Maps well. 15. Trapalanda at least has upside. The Irish import did enough in his first Australian run over 1800m. That was just his fourth career start. Won his maiden over 2400m. 7. Awesome Wonder fits in well but has a wide gate to overcome.

How To Play It: So Dazzling EACH WAY

12. Rantan raced her way back into form at the backend of last campaign. The three-year-old filly looks well set up to resume where she left off. Don’t think it’s any coincidence that her three wins to date have come over 900m and 1000m. She appreciates the short trips. This is slightly tougher grade than what she has tackled in the past but she ended last preparation in Saturday grade with a second to Polyglot. The I Am Invincible sprinter carries just 51kg after the claim of Maddie Owen. She has trialled well and maps to get the drop on the leaders, who are likely to ensure a truly run race. Should be in the stalking position to get last look.

Dangers: The best of 1. Mogo Magic would beat these. He didn’t show up in two runs last campaign, most recently in Group Three company. Scott Collings didn’t press on, instead electing to freshen up with eight weeks between runs. Has a great 1000m record and has won a Goulburn trial since. Imagine the tactics will be handlebars down on a hard fit 4. One Destiny, on the seven day turnaround and 1100m back to 1000m. Any rain would be a bonus for him. 10. Lulumon isn’t a genuine 1000m horse, having won out to 1300m but she fits in well at this level and she too has trialled well. 13. Cassiel faces the task of eyeballing One Destiny. Kerrin McEvoy used his speed to win at Canterbury first up.

How To Play It: Rantan WIN

*BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY*

3. Hezashocka won this race 12 months ago and he looks to be going just as well now. He carries an extra 3.5kg but his preparation is exactly the same tackling this fourth up after runs in the Ajax, Sellwood and JRA Plate. He has even improved at the same rate in the three lead ins. Last start in the JRA he put the writing on the wall that another win is close. That was on a Soft 5 too. He chased home all the way winner Bois D’argent. Gosford is unlikely to be a heavy track as it was this time last year at Newcastle (the meeting was moved) but as long as there is some cut in the ground, which should be a given, the Price and Kent-trained gelding will get his chance. Like the map too having drawn barrier 1.

Dangers: 2. New Endeavour also comes through the JRA Plate. Had no excuses but respect that he jumped $3.90 and was firm late. That was after running well in two runs over 1500m prior. Am starting to wonder whether he more effective over the mile. Gets the chance to prove otherwise on Saturday. 9. Les Vampires ticked off the 1800m box last start. Now he needs to answer the 2100m question. Flying Bandit franked the form through his BM94 victory last start. Will be ridden positively to offset the wide gate. 4. Naval College finished on the heels of Hezashocka and New Endeavour three weeks ago and tends to improve with a run under his belt. Just don’t know where he gets to in the run.

How To Play It: Hezashocka WIN

Expecting 3. Townsend to improve sharply second up out to the mile with the potential of getting on speed favours. There doesn’t look to be a lot of pressure on paper. He was the first horse beaten first up at Randwick first up having settled outside of the leader. He didn’t appear to appreciate being dictated to by Sandpaper who ran along at a genuine clip. Cool Jakey and Punch Lane have both won coming out of that race since. Townsend knocked up to be beaten five lengths. Keep going back to what he did second up last campaign, producing a career best where he took no prisoners from in front and ran his rivals ragged. It’s a leap of faith to suggest that he can find that form again off what we saw three weeks ago but we’re getting the right price to find out.

Dangers: The Corstens yard won this race last year with Magnaspin and are represented by 1. Lady In Pink this time. A benchmark rating of 102 tells you that she is a classy mare. She won a G2 Tristarc over the spring. Was touched off late in Adelaide last start, giving 3.5kg to the winner. Winning has become a habit for 10. Know Thyself. The prospect of a soft track suits. This is harder again and the barrier does him no favours but he’s entitled to be well found in betting. Still think he’s too short currently. Could be guilty of jumping off 4. Wooton Verni too soon. 2. Depth Of Character was a dominant last start winner of the Queensland Guineas. He’s been busy but continues to show up. Look for 8. Mare Of Mt Buller late.

How To Play It: Townsend EACH WAY

15. Accredited progressed quickly through the grades last campaign, winning three of his five starts. Two by three and four lengths. He was luckless in one of those defeats too. This looks a real target race for the Joe Pride-trained sprinter. Pride has won this Gosford sprint feature five times in the past already. Most recently it was with Think About It who two starts later won a Stradbroke as favourite. Pride’s other winners are Kuro, Ball Of Muscle, See The World and Title. This five-year-old fits that profile. Accredited gets in on the minimum given where he is at in his career. He draws perfectly and has trialled well. The market tells you it’s a competitive race but thought he was entitled to be clear favourite.

Dangers: 9. Pereille is dangerous fresh. His first up record is 6:2-2-1. He has form around the right horses from last campaign and the prospect of a soft track suits. He too has caught the eye in two trials. Love the inside gate draw for 7. Xidaki. He’ll settle closer. Might want 1400m now. That’s the knock with him. 1. Ostraka also comes through the Hall Mark won by Mazu. He didn’t finish off having led. Not sure what that means for Ostraka tactics-wise from the wide gate here. 13. Shezanalister also draws awkwardly but is in career-best form.

How To Play It: Accredited WIN

10. Raikkonen was on a sharp upward spiral in his first racing preparation. His midweek win at his third start was impressive, putting four lengths on his rivals having settled outside of the leader. That saw him start favourite in the G3 Vo Rogue in Queensland. He made a mess of the start, blundering badly, and it was race over. Her was asked to hunt forward but ended up wide and working. Was tipped straight out. That’s not the first time he has begun awkwardly. Hopefully he has put that behind him now. The three-year-old has trialled twice ahead of his return, asked to do more in the most recent at Warwick Farm. That was over 1207m which suggests he’s forward for this first up.

Dangers: Would respect any market confidence around for mare 3. Gumdrops, having her first run for Chris Waller. Was a Group Two winner in Melbourne over 1200m in March last year. Hard to get much of a read on her two trials. 4. Memoria maps to lead, having drawn inside of 2. Deprivation, and continues to hold her form. Must respect that she has never raced better. Deprivation does his best racing from in front. He’ll need to be flying early to cross Memoria, which is the knock. 6. Crafty Eagle has won four races. Three of them have come first up. Needs the breaks at the right time from the inside draw but he’s dangerous at odds. 5. King Of Roseau looks close to another win. Don’t like the map.

How To Play It: Raikkonen WIN4

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Gosford meeting