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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail true

10. Miss Jones is a talented and honest mare who has virtually done everything but win this prep, often under ordinary rides with little or no luck. Missed by a neck when working home at Canterbury two starts ago before a similar effort from an awkward draw after being backed from $4.80 in to $3.50. Drops back to provincial level deep into the prep, and has been given 23 days between runs. The one to beat. 4. Karmardo can run a big race third-up if he tucks in from a wide and tough draw, having run home well in a Wyong maiden against the older horses as a short-priced favourite. 11. Tragedies is a mare by Harry Angel, and key betting watch on debut for the Gary Portelli stable behind an easy trial. 2. Felis Chaus resumes off a 34 week spell for the new Warwick Farm stable, with blinkers added and two quiet trials behind him; while 13. Where’s My Halo resuming for only her second start won the second of two recent trials.

How to play it: Miss Jones to win

8. Extractor is a talented colt who can strike resuming for his second full prep. Ran home into a place at Listed level when fresh as a two-year-old before being thrown into the deep end in Group 1 and 3 company. Given time now, and having progressed through two eye-catching trials, can make a statement here and go on to bigger targets in the spring. 5. Banknote Hustler is lightly raced and tracking towards a breakthrough win after doing his best work late first-up since autumn in a handy maiden at Hawkesbury. 6. Benevac is a big watch resuming for just his second start as a gelding behind a nice trial, and draws the inside. 1. Banjora, a four-year-old by I Am Invincible from the Bryce Heys yard, looked strong winning the second of two trials, and can run a race on debut from a soft draw. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Extractor to win

6. Gambers is an exciting Victorian-based filly by I Am Invincible well placed to launch fresh at only her third start. Two fair efforts back in autumn up to Group 3 level on unsuitably firmer ground before spelling, but is set to return a stronger and better galloper, Won the second of two metro trials in heavy going when cruising home from just off the speed under a good hold, and naturally bred to thrive when any amount of edge is off the surface. 7. Hellabella is another emerging filly returning for her second start for the Waterhouse-Bott stable behind two smart and improving trials, and also bred to thrive in soft ground. Stablemate 13. Wangi Wangi, by prolific wet track sprint sire Exceed And Excel, starts her career behind two trials; while 3. Curie, a filly by Anders on debut for the Bjorn Baker stable off two improving trials; and another first starter 12. Rajwa by I Am Invincible in the Michael Freedman yard has also trialled okay.

How to play it: Gambers to win

4. Hard Jakka, a well bred three-year-old by All Too Hard in the Kristen Buchanan yard, can win on debut. Given plenty of time since two easy trials, and reportedly has been working well in preparation. 7. Dietrich is a filly in the local Kylie Gavenlock camp, is right in the mix at her third start. Beaten a long way at Newcastle 15 days ago, but the winner is extra smart having then won the Group 2 Silver Shadow at Randwick last Saturday. 5. Woodrow can improve sharply at his second start ridden more quietly after dropping out from the front on the Kensington track 16 days ago. 2. Koritsi, a stablemate of Dietrich by Snitzel on debut and 9. Blind Squirrel, another home track first starter by Graff; can both add value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Hard Jakka to win

7. Scottish Pearl is an improving metro mare well placed to claim a second career win second-up off a lengthy break in an average lineup for this grade. Loved the way she fought on at Newcastle fresh after leading behind a smart winner who then hit the line impressively at the Kensington track on Wednesday. Bursting for this longer trip being by Irish sire Gleneagles out of a Sea The Stars mare, and she won her maiden easily to close out last prep over 2200m. 3. Entitlement is a progressive and hard fit metropolitan mare who will be hard to stop after a dominant all-the-way maiden win at Kembla, although margin was flattered by a Heavy 10 rating. 10. Storm Park an improving stablemate of the top selection must be respected fourth-up from the inside draw. 1. Earth Dance back from the tougher Wyong Cup Prelude, and 5. Mama Joy peaking fourth-up; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Scottish Pearl to win

7. Casablanca Express can improve enough fourth-up ridden quieter to claim what is a tricky and open race. Settled closer to the speed at Kembla, but couldn’t quicken on a Heavy 9 surface, and the more the track dries out here the better placed he is. Gets a pivotal 3kg weight drop with tough jockey staying on, and was taken out of the previous race to be saved for this. 2. Aix En Provence will likely jump favourite after a string of fair efforts in deeper city company, and is suited coming black to the mile trip. 4. Irish Bliss is also better placed fourth-up dropping back from deeper metro opposition, and will appreciate getting away from heavy tracks and back on soft ground. 1. Cash Me has had a near six week freshen-up via a solid trial since claiming a weaker graded provincial race. 8. Thebes steps up from a third-up CL1 win at Hawkesbury; while 6. Faye Runaway took care of similar weak opposition third-up at Newcastle as a hot favourite.

How to play it: Casablanca Express to win

4. Mamushka is an emerging metro mare who finds an open but very winnable race first-up since autumn. Launched her career with back-to-back wins including a CL1 at this track as a heavily backed favourite before hitting the line late at Wyong in a deeper BM 64 for the girls than this. Was strong through the line in winning the second of two trials, and importantly she’s drawn to get to the outside with the jockey claiming 2kg. 6. Trafalgar Square hasn’t won for a while, but tackled tougher metro races last prep. Resumes with no public trials so watch the market closely. 3. Divine Vicky can be hard to catch, but she’s good enough to figure, and has been given seven weeks via a solid trial since charging to home to score here when second-up. 7. Perle De Chocolat is another big betting watch resuming off two improving trials, and has tactical speed. 10. Etude is the best of the rest third-up over further.

How to play it: Mamushka to win

5. Khumbila is an underrated five-year-old who represents huge value in another open race, dropping down from deeper metro opposition and significantly back a furlong in distance six weeks between runs. Beaten a long neck in BM 72 city class two starts ago before dropping out on the Kensington track when finishing through vastly inferior ground. Has the early speed to negate a wider draw, and leading on speed jockey takes over. 4. The Enchanter is a mile over the odds second-up back in provincial company, especially with the track improving. 6. Agenda Setter is a market watch resuming off a steady trial after progressing to Group 2 company in the autumn, although was well out of his depth. 2. Clancy steps up from a tough maiden win on debut at Warwick Farm. 1. Bartolf will relish a drop in grade third-up, but doubt the inside barrier will do him any favours late in the day.

How to play it: Khumbila to win

BEST BETS:
R2 8. EXTRACTOR
R7 4. MAMUSHKA

BEST VALUE:
R5 7. SCOTTISH PEARL

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Gosford meeting