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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 7m:

4. Emery is a progressive mare tracking to peak third-up over more ground, and four weeks between runs. Liked the way she ran home from the back into a place at Hawkesbury, a stronger jockey takes over, and was scratched from Canterbury on Wednesday to be saved for this. 1. Everybody Rise is banging on the door for a breakthrough win having placed twice in four runs this prep, and with eight career placings from 12 starts. Has led for a long way in his last couple and now finds a race with a little less depth. 7. Cathedral Cove is a sharp second-up improver; while 8. Heraion with weight relief deep into her prep, and 11. Moana Gold resuming behind two trials with significant gear changes; can both add plenty of value into trifecta and first fours.

How to play it: Emery to win

1. Apollo Ridge is sparingly raced, and gets the right recipe dropping back 100m in distance second-up from a low draw. Kept chasing when resuming at Hawkesbury as an easing favourite, but fitter now and primed over the short course. Should be able to settle right behind a strong speed, and is the one to beat. 3. Aeternum is a colt by Tassort, and market watch on debut for the Kristen Buchanan stable. Gear additions in play, and looked good through the line in winning the second of two trials. Watch the betting too on lightly raced 6. Trumper resuming off two handy trials, and is trained on the track. 11. Precious Girl is a speedy filly who has beaten all but the winner in two runs this campaign, and can give another big sight over this flying trip. 5. Mr Cornstar, by speed sire Super One, is another debutant trained locally who has impressed at the trials.

How to play it: Apollo Ridge to win

1. Where’s My Halo is a progressive Randwick mare primed to open her account at her fourth start with blinkers going on. Plenty to like about two closing efforts behind only the winner in provincial company, and the form has stood up well. Hard fit now, and drawn to get a softer run early in the race. 3. Federal Reserve is another lightly raced one on the rise who did his best work late first-up on the Beaumont course, and will relish the longer trip. Gap to the rest headed by 9. Serpico back a furlong in distance fourth-up. 6. So Rebellious who has found the line well in two runs back from a spell, and 13. Lightness who gets winkers added and the inside draw for her second start; can both run into the money.

How to play it: Where’s My Halo to win

2. Viktor is an improving four-year-old who finds the right race second-up at good odds. Took on some handy super maiden fields last prep before easily winning a country maiden as the hottest of favourites. Closed well at Kembla when resuming off a six month break, and drawn to get plenty of early cover staying over the trip. Also preferred here to Wednesday’s Canterbury card. 1. Copacabana is a talented and lightly raced five-year-old also primed to win again after running home late fresh in a deeper race 16 days ago. 5. Zoucratic has had three runs back this prep for the in-form Joe Pride stable, landing his maiden at this track two runs ago, and an important gear change is in play.

How to play it: Viktor to win

4. Oakfield Mercury is a lightly raced four-year-old from the leading home stable resuming for only his second campaign, and represents the clear value. Won two from three in his initial prep in the country, and has been fitted with two quiet trials. Will have to tuck in from a wide barrier, but outside of the hot favourite, the opposition is thin. 6. Oui Oui Oui is a smart mare and that clear market elect resuming off two trials, winning the latest narrowly over 1030m. Progressed through to much deeper city races last prep, and comes to hand quickly, although wouldn’t be diving into too short a price from an awkward draw. Gap to the rest headed by local mare 12. Empusa resuming behind two progressive trials. At big odds, monitor any move for 3. Cartwheels, an ex-Qld mare having her first run for the new Wyong stable off a 24 week break and two trials. 1. Dumebi resuming off a trial win, 2. Shambretta dropping in grade third-up, and 7. Bold Design who comes out of a strong provincial BM 64; are all capable of figuring in the minor money.

How to play it: Oakfield Mercury to win

1. Yabby Pump is sparingly raced, and well placed to peak third-up dropping in weight. Given five weeks after a fair closing effort fresh before hitting the line behind an impressive winner at Hawkesbury 12 days ago. This is a little tougher, but gets an ideal 100m further, and drops 3.5kg after the jockey’s claim. 3. Rebel Rhapsody is progressive and ready to win again fourth-up. 9. She Swings is knockout value coming off a tidy second-up maiden win at Hawkesbury where she was backed from $5.00 into $3.90, and drops in weight for this. 4. Coyote also comes off a tough maiden win, but is under the odds stepping up to this level from a wide draw.

How to play it: Yabby Pump to win

8. Uncle Harry is a tough and fit home tracker who doesn’t own a great strike rate, but finds a winnable race deep into the current campaign, and coming back to his best distance. Finished hard to claim a country CL3 before doing his best work late in consecutive races here up to 1900m against similar graded opposition. Gets an overdue change of jockey. 9. Stay Tuned is a big threat dropping in class, and also coming back to a more suitable trip third-up. 11. Shuri is a third-up improver for the leading local yard dropping back from a country BM 82; while both 5. Diamond Model fourth-up, and 10. Mindspace second-up; can pump plenty of value into wider exotic bets.

How to play it: Uncle Harry to win

BEST BETS:
R1 4. EMERY
R2 1. APOLLO RIDGE

BEST VALUE:
R4 2. VIKTOR

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