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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft 5-6 track.

Looks a two horse race. 7. Zenardini has been given a few chances and is on the fresh side having not raced since late May when a beaten favourite over this course. Warmed up with two trials gets in well with the claim and has to go close.

Dangers: 2. Dambulla was a drifter in the market on debut at Hawkesbury but didn’t shirk the task running second at 1500m. Improving track assists and he’ll be hard to beat. 8. Individualist was never a threat on debut at 1300m on a heavy track but expect improvement up in trip and from a soft draw. 6. Nodeel has been going well on heavy tracks of late at Nowra, if race fit and wouldn’t surprise if she finds herself in the placings.

How to play it: Zenardini WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Zenardini runs second in a Randwick trial on July 12

5. One Fire Beach has been punching around in better races and comes back in class and only a better surface. Led and faded when in the market at Randwick a few weeks back but was city placed in May. Drawn one and entitled to be in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Mustafa won at 1400m first-up last time in and comes off a two month break since the Scone carnival. Less depth here and shouldn’t be left out. 7. First Lady is racing well in easier events and with the scratchings she comes into consideration. 3. Speed Camera ran on well at Newcastle last time and the form has held up okay. A repeat effort has her in the finish.

How to play it: One Fire Beach WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

One Fire Beach runs second at Warwick Farm in May

7. Oh My Mimi is an on pacer resuming on the back of quite a nice trial at Warwick Farm recently. Her race form has been mixed but she led when runner-up here before a spell and can’t see her finish out of the top few in this race.

Dangers: 1. Rhythmic Pulse has to have found the 900m too short when resuming from a let up at Newcastle. Ran last but beaten just two lengths as favourite there and the extra ground is right in his favour. Expect sharp improvement. 2. Commute found form quickly with an all the way win second-up at Tamworth. Both wins have come when she’s led so expect similar tactics here. 5. Drifter proved far too good first-up on the synthetic at Canberra and with that confidence booster under the belt he could go on with it.

How to play it: Oh My Mimi E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Oh My Mimi runs second in a trial at Warwick Farm on July 8

7. California August was game in defeat in what looks a handy two-year-old maiden from Kembla a few weeks ago. Fitter, will race on the speed and drawn nicely. Be a surprise if he’s not in the mix.

Dangers: 6. Arthur In Charge also made a promising debut with a tidy second at Hawkesbury two weeks ago. Drawn a little better here and open to improvement. Logical threat. 3. Monstrosity will probably appreciate a firmer track than what he struck on debut at Hawkesbury when well supported. He didn’t quite finish off as expected but up to 1200m suits. Keep in mind. 10. Nevada Sunrise is the query runner on debut after running third in a Warwick Farm trial back on June 21. Has the inside alley and if there’s support for him he could show up.

How to play it: California August WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

California August runs third at Kembla Grange on June 27

10. Miss Sure Shot made a nice debut in what looks a solid maiden at Canterbury two weeks ago where she ran on into fourth. Can only be better for it and again the firmer going should suit. If there’s improvement in her she’ll be thereabouts.

Dangers: 3. Menagerie looked to have every chance when resuming at Hawkesbury as a short priced favourite but she has the inside alley here and with the run under her belt is entitled to another chance. 6. Aesop’s Fable is worth keeping safe. Hasn’t fired in two race starts but looked very good winning a trial so if she’s come back better she could be a knockout chance. 1. Caesura has been costly this time in and she had her chance after leading at Hawkesbury in the same race as Menagerie. Wide gate a minus for her but she can’t be left out of the chances.

How to play it: Miss Sure Shot WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Miss Sure Shot runs fourth at Canterbury on July 3

The first starters should run well. 2. Battle Guardian was scratched from Wednesday for this and was a nice winner of a Randwick trial leading in. Drawn well and should go forward and make his own luck. Good chance.

Dangers: 1. La Romanina trialled on the synthetic at Warwick Farm last week and wasn’t overly tested out. Will need some luck but must respect a Godolphin debutant. 3. Nature was outclassed in a strong Warwick Farm maiden before a spell but had placed at Hawkesbury before that. Very quiet trial heading into this so keep her very safe. 11. She’s Smart was right in the market on debut at Kembla but ran last and was rested straight after. Won a trial a bit over a week ago and could easily improve here.

How to play it: Battle Guardian E/W ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Battle Guardian wins a trial at Randwick on June 28

5. Herzegovina is an up and comer who has reacted to being gelded with two dominant wins. Led all the way at Muswellbrook untouched and while up to provincial level now he’ll be right on the speed and should measure up.

Dangers: 4. Bel Diablo rarely runs a bad race and proved far too strong second-up at Coonamble. Won’t be too far away in the run and he’ll run another honest race. 2. Lancaster Bomber probably gets back from a wide gate as he did here last start when narrowly beaten. Down a notch in class and sure to be hitting the line hard again. 3. Cascata Rossa chased home Star Boy at Muswellbrook last start and that form stacks up pretty well. Strike rate is the worry but he can’t be left out of the main hopes.

How to play it: Herzegovina WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Herzegovina wins easily at Muswellbrook on July 1

4. Saving comes off a very easy Hawkesbury win over 1600m and there’s no reason he won’t handle the step up in distance in his stride. Racing well and it’d be a surprise if he doesn’t feature in the finish.

Dangers: 5. Exoplanet was very well ridden when scoring in a decent enough form race at Newcastle over a mile and she could go on with it now she’s broken through. 6. The Summit is another last start winner and the runner-up from Kembla has since won so the form is good. Back a notch in distance but sure to be around the mark. 7. The Iron Maiden bobs up now and then and she wasn't beaten far over a mile at Newcastle last start. Can place.

How to play it: Saving WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Saving wins at Hawkesbury on July 4

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