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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail out 3m

2. Covert Thinking is an improving metropolitan filly well placed to break through at her third start. Hit the line late to miss narrowly at Newcastle a month ago, and again drawn to get good cover off speed. Bred to handle heavy ground and fire over much further, and gets in terrific at the weights after the jockey's 3kg claim. 4. Southern Prince drops significantly in grade third-up, but still rates a shade under the odds from a tricky draw. Big watch on 7. Maire De Paris, a stablemate filly of the top selection who has an edge in fitness, gets blinkers added, and only missed by a half head in soft ground against country opposition last start. 6. Magenta Shores who is fit and comes through the same country race as the former, and 8. Slam Dunk, who has shown an ability to handle wet tracks and is deep into the prep, can both figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Covert Thinking to win

2. Hovland is an improving three-year-old suitably placed second-up with a claim, especially with the more fancied stablemate being preferred at Wednesday's Canterbury meeting. Is bred to get further, but should be able to settle no worse than midfield and run over them late. 5. Okami Star is hard fit, was close-up in a blanket finish at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago, and continues to build a solid wet track record. 1. Lennox is an imported four-year-old improving at his second run in Australia, although likely to need further and yet to be tested in heavy going. Gap to the rest.

How to pay it: Hovland to win

5. Noble Ruby is an honest provincial filly who has been in and around the money in a long prep, and finds a weajened and very winnable race. Include both 2. Now You've Done It who resumes off two trials with the blinkers added, and 6. Loblolly, second-up and coming back from a deeper maiden, in all first four plays.

How to play it: Noble Ruby to win

2. City Gold Field can improve sharply here staying over this sprint trip at his second start, with blinkers going on. Given a torrid run a mile off the speed on debut when easy in betting, but has ability, and can thrive in this ground settling closer in the run. Scratched from a Super Maiden later on the card to run here. 1. Donwon is working towards a breakthrough win, third-up with a gear change. Comfortable in the ground in what is a thin race, but still shapes under the odds. 6. Maximum Ride is over the odds second-up in a weaker race.

How to play it: City Gold Field to win

4. Canamble is an underrated provincial filly who can spring an upset here second-up. Wasn't beaten far from a tricky barrier in weaker country grade when resuming, but drops a significant 5.5kg for this after the claim, and handles heavy going. 1. Formal jumped to the front in this grade, travelled beautifully, and gave nothing else a chance in heavy ground at Wyong 23 days ago. That came after a string of placings against deeper opposition. Up in weight but drawn the fence to dictate again, and will likely go off a very short priced favourite. Watch the betting on 7. Zip On By, a filly resuming without any public trials, but bred to relish the conditions. 3. Lease also first-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Canamble to win and quinella 1 - 4

1. Louisburgh is a lightly raced and progressive city three-year-old who looks to have this at his mercy second-up. Beat all bar the winner when resuming in a much better race through heavy ground, and the extra 100m is a natural plus. The clear one to beat, given he was preferred here to Canterbury on Wednesday. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Whispering Rupert who is trained on the track, draws the inside, and very fit deep into the prep.

How to play it: Louisburgh to win

3. Glorioso draws the inside fourth-up in a small field, and four weeks between runs. Ready to win again after hitting the line hard to miss by a head at Wyong. 5. Oryx is the other fit and consistent performer right in the market, dropping in grade from a Saturday BM 72 when beaten less than three lengths. Huge gap to the rest headed by 4. Etched In Time fourth-up who can add value into wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Glorioso to win

2. Honey Perfume is another progressive metro filly who can continue to build a nice record deep into her first full prep. Hasn't missed a place this time in, sweeping home to win a country maiden two starts back before missing by a whisker in a CL1 on Scone Cup day behind an ultra impressive winner. That form reads big for this, and her soft track credentials suggests a heavy rating won't be a problem. 1. Divine Bene was edged out late from on-speed at Quirindi third-up, and usually saves his best form for wet tracks. 5. Tonkatsu Goddess is a stablemate of the top selection, and each-way value resuming off two quiet trials; while 9. Prince Kuro, well into the campaign, is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Honey Perfume to win

BEST BETS:
R1 2. COVERT THINKING
R7 3. GLORIOSO

BEST VALUE:
R4 2. CITY GOLD FIELD

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