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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail out 6m.

2. Storm Park is an improving four-year-old ready to win again third-up in only his second prep. Worked home okay when resuming at Wyong before again doing his best work late at Hawkesbury. At peak fitness now in a race with less depth, 2kg jockey’s claim is pivotal and bred to relish these conditions. 7. Faye Runaway hit the line impressively second-up over a mile, and is drawn to be in the finish. 3. Hippy Dreams improves sharply third-up back on preferred ground. 4. Farraige is trained on the course and only missed a place once in his last four. 1. Artzino is a market watch having his first start for the new Hawkesbury stable after switching from Qld where he hadn’t won in a long time.

How to play it: Storm Park to win

3. Dollars is a hard fit four-year-old who can finally break through in suitable going after placing in three of his last four. Charged home here as a solid favourite in a handy maiden two starts back before again close-up when ridden on speed in a metro two and three-year-old battle. Back at home and drawn to get plenty of cover just off the speed, he only needs a clear shot at them over the final 350m. 1. Ridgeback didn’t shirk the task when chasing home a dominant winner at Kembla, and the step up 300m in trip is an obvious plus. 2. Brut Nature, a four-year-old by Brutal, debuts for the Blake Ryan stable behind two forward trials. Big gap to the rest headed by 7. Painted Wings down in weight at her fourth start.

How to play it: Dollars to win

10. Savvy Hallie is a smart provincial filly, and the clear one to beat resuming behind two strong trials. Placed three times from four starts as a two-year-old in autumn, the latest a close second to high class Tempted in the Group 2 Percy Sykes after leading. Will start very short after the early market rival was preferred at Wednesday’s Kensington meeting. 4. Ruination can run a big race on debut for the Michael Freedman stable after three improving trials; while 7. Dietrich ran home okay on debut in the country.

How to play it: Savvy Hallie to win

8. Quein Step is a tough and consistent metropolitan mare resuming in an ideal short-course affair, 11 weeks after a dominant country maiden win. Ran a good time from the front that day on a soft 7 rating, and fresh here with significant weight relief, can either lead or sit right behind from the inside draw. 2. Wal’s Me Mate is a progressive four-year-old who let down powerfully from the trail to thrash his maiden opposition first-up at Wyong. Can take that form in to this, although the drop back to a flying 900m is a query in what is a more than handy Class 1 field. 4. Zounaka is a consistent mare resuming off two progressive trials, winning the latest and beating home a talented one who then scored first-up. 1. Last Druid, an ex-Godolphin four-year-old resuming for the new Tracey Bartley stable at Wyong, and 3. Rockbarton Max reloading seven weeks after a fighting Super Maiden win here; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Quein Step to win

8. The Stars is an improving city mare who finds a moderate and very winnable race for the older maidens third-up. Was beaten only a half length here on debut as a hot favourite before nothing went to plan at Warwick Farm, missing the start, caught wide and copping early interference. Bred to thrive in heavy. 5. Floral Legend, an ex-Sydney mare, looks very forward and set to run a big race fresh from the inside for the new Victorian stable. Won the second of two trials in heavy going, and draws to get a soft run. 1. California Command is lightly raced and can improve sharply after a flat return at Gosford five weeks back. 3. In And Out is a big betting watch resuming for his first run since autumn for the Chris Waller yard behind two easy trials.

How to play it: The Stars to win

3. Aged Care went to the front in a deeper provincial race third-up and faded to miss a place, but the drop in trip and coming back a notch in grade are big plusses. Finds an average race, with the main fancy also preferred at the Kensington meeting on Wednesday. Is much better off when taking a sit just off the speed. 4. Frontex can run a big race fresh starting his second campaign behind two improving trials. 6. Orthies is well over the odds after a fighting CL1 win fresh; while 11. Tong Ho heads the rest coming off a second-up maiden win at Kembla.

How to play it: Aged Care to win

2. Inncourt is an emerging Irish-bred five-year-old returning nine weeks after an impressive Super Maiden win at Wyong where he finished hard from near the back after being heavily backed. Loved the heavy track trial over 1200m where he cruised around near the speed from a wide draw, and with oodles of scope and naturally being bred to get further, he can win again. 3. Cinsault is a talented metro mare and likely favourite having her first run for Michael Freedman after transferring from Godolphin. Thrashed her same sex maiden opposition as the hottest of favourites 19 days ago, and the new stable has immediately rung the gear changes. 1. Omnic will need to improve in a deeper line-up after running home okay at Gosford, and drawn to get a favourable trail. 4. Homeric who ran home into a place here last start in tougher grade, and 8. Azarax reloading three weeks after a tough provincial win as a two-year-old; can both add value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Inncourt to win

8. Spandex is a locally trained four-year-old on the rise and shooting for a third straight win a month between runs in a very open race. Tracked the speed before going home best at Tamworth and Scone, is right up to this level, drawn to get cover right behind the speed and right at home on rain-affected ground. 7. Unreal Expectation steps up from consecutive country wins, the latest in heavy going, and is drawn to get a handy trail near the speed. 5. Orthie’s Boys charged home from near the back to beat all bar the winner at Hawkesbury, and both wins so far from eight starts have come on soft ground. 4. Mizella is an honest mare who will appreciate the drop back from consecutive Midway BM 72 races. 2. Oakfield Mamselle afforded a more economical run third-up at bigger odds, and 3. Surreal I Am trained on the track and fitter; are both capable of running into the minor money.

How to play it: Spandex to win

BEST BETS:
R4 8. QUEIN STEP
R5 8. THE STARS

BEST VALUE:
R7 2. INNCOURT

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