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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

3. Diacon, a filly by Tassort and trained by Bjorn Baker, can hit the ground running on debut. Fitted with two city trials, and drawn to get the right run on speed. 8. Precious Girl signalled she was in for a much better second prep leading for a long way when resuming at Newcastle, and drawn to dictate again on a smaller turning track that should advantage her. 4. Take Flight is a filly by Flying Artie in the David Payne stable who kicks off behind two solid Rosehill trials. 1. Bobby is a three-year-old son of Menari, and another market watch on debut for the Paul Perry stable behind two winning trials. 6. Fine Wine is the best of the rest drawn inside.

How to play it: Diacon to win

1. Prize Writer is a well-touted mare by Written By in the team Archibald stable, and the one to beat from the fence draw having improved sharply to win the second of two trials at Scone. Gets in only a half kilo over the minimum weight after the jockey’s claim. 4. Oakfield Mars is lightly raced and big second-up improver. 5. Love You Anyway is much better placed here third-up coming back from a pair of deeper Super Maidens at Newcastle. 3. Miss Molly Rocket finished off well just behind the place-getters on debut in the country; while 8. Tampa Bay gets some overdue weight relief third-up.

How to play it: Prize Writer to win

9. Liyah’s Girl is an improving metropolitan mare who represents terrific each way value peaking fourth-up. Like the way she found the line at Canberra last start, and drawn to get a cosy run behind the speed here, she’s well over the odds. 2. My Greek God is a tough and fit metro four-year-old banging on the door for a second career win deep into the prep. Too strong in a handy provincial CL1 three straits back before close-up in his next two up to a deeper grade. Will need to find cover early from a tricky draw, but with any decent run will be storming home. 3. The Stars Align is lightly raced and over the odds third-up. 8. Little Lunch gets blinkers added fourth-up.

How to play it: Liyah’s Girl each way

2. Oakfield Saturn is a progressive provincial mare who has this at her mercy second-up. Was always in the money last prep, including a dominant maiden win at this track, and she can pay punters back after missing narrowly when fresh at Newcastle as a heavily backed favourite. 4. Call Me Sassy is an emerging city mare who finished best from a nice trail to win second-up at Hawkesbury, and carries 2kg less for the rise in grade. 6. Matchsticks is clear next best after leading all the way with plenty in a hand at Canberra, although tackling a few betters ones here. Gap to the rest headed by 1. Jamais and 5. Roman Forum who both go in all wider exotics.

How to play it: Oakfield Saturn to win

6. Hereward is a very progressive three-year-old who can return with a bang off a near six month spell. Led for a long way in two runs on heavy ground late autumn over 1400m, but on a smaller course here over a furlong less, he can strike fresh behind an eye-catching trial. 5. Good Hotspur is a lightly raced and classy colt resuming off a 34 week break. Ran high quality Skyhook to three lengths in Group 2 company as a two-year-old in early autumn. 12. Lambertina is a well bred filly on debut behind two improving trials for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable at Randwick. 3. Composed is an each way chance to good odds after two improving runs at Hawkesbury to launch his career; while 2. Fuadee heads the rest coming off a fighting effort on debut when beaten less than a length.

How to play it: Hereward to win

1. Ridgeback is lightly raced, and can go one better after fading late behind a dominant winner when resuming at Hawkesbury. Had come off a six week break via two trials that day, but race fitter now on an eight day turnaround points to him opening his account. 2. Phoenix Legend is knocking on the door fifth-up after finding the line well in his last two. 3. Bohemian Art represents value second-up with some weight relief. 6. Autumn Heir seven weeks between runs, and 7. Bondi Blossom with blinkers coming off after a poor run at Kembla; both go through trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Ridgeback to win

6. Emballee is well placed to go back-to-back fourth-up after a dominant maiden win at Hawkesbury where she started the hottest of favourites. That was behind two sound closing efforts in deeper company, and she naturally has plenty of upside. Drawn to get the right trail just off speed. 7. Inception is another last start winner, digging in hard to lead all the way fourth-up at Scone. 4. Invasive Dreams will relish the drop in class after two fair efforts against tougher metro opposition. 3. Jacenza who led from barrier to box to win a country BM 82 last start, and 9. Drunken Sailor, dominant winner of a weak country CL3 nine days ago, head the rest.

How to play it: Emballee to win

6. Still Alice finds the right peaking race fourth-up from a sound trailing draw, and six weeks between runs. Has shown solid improvement in three provincial efforts this prep, chasing home a smart fillies and mares winner under a big weight. 3. Crepe Myrtle is a progressive mare from a leading metro yard who will be hard to hold out second-up if she gets across from an awkward draw. 1. Gold Card steps up from a fast-finishing win in a weaker country race. 5. Calido Magic can run into the minor money at big odds, along with 7. Sunday Tycoon who is honest.

How to play it: Still Alice to win

BEST BETS:
R2 1. PRIZE WRITER
R4 2. OAKFIELD SATURN

BEST VALUE:
R5 6. HEREWARD

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