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By Neil Evans

Track is rated a Good 4 with the rail out 3m the entire circumference.

We open up over the mile. Ex-Kiwi filly 3. Comme Bella Fille ($3.10 on TAB) is by Group 1 winner Complacent and can strike at her second run for leading Randwick stable. Did her best work late in a handy provincial BM 64 off an 11-week break, and switching to a much bigger track over more ground is ideal.

Dangers: Improving local three-year-old 2. Sian ($2.30 favourite) is the logical threat also suited on the bigger track third-up. Charged home to beat all bar the winner in a handy country BM 66, and draws to settle a little closer here over further. Hard to believe metro mare 8. Upscale ($4.20) has only won once from 28 starts but placed a further nine times. Draws to get a soft run off the speed fourth-up and is clear on the next line.

How to play it: Comme Bella Fille to win and quinella 2 and 3
Odds and Evens: Split

This should be a canter for progressive filly 12. Sur La Mer ($1.33 fav) who should have won on debut here before holding her ground okay in a stronger metro field. Back to this level from a nice trailing draw makes her the clear one to beat.

Dangers: Improving filly 10. Alighted ($9) hasn't been far away in her last couple and better off back on the bigger track; while 2. Edge Of Darkness ($13) resumes off a long spell from a soft draw and two useful trials.

How to play it: Quinella: 10 and 12
Odds and Evens: Evens a special

The youngsters get their turn in a tough affair with most getting to this distance for the first time. Tough filly 13. Carartie ($2.40 fav) is one with experience at the trip and she's ready to win fourth-up with blinkers going on. Signalled her ability with a big run fresh at Gosford after covering ground and has continued to work home well in her next two. Suspect she'll love this course.

Dangers: Big watch on Shalaa colt 6. River Bobo ($5) who debuts in blinkers. Travelled well from just off the speed to win the second of two trials although he's bred to love wet ground and may have been flattered on the heavy rating. Promising gelding 7. Uncaged ($3.20) is by 2014 US Breeders' Cup winner Bobby's Kitten. Has trialled okay since a strong closing run on debut at Bathurst but will have to slot in from the wide draw. Rubick colt 9. Alfano ($12) can improve sharply at third start over more ground with blinkers added. Include in exotics 4. Cinque Torri ($14) who has boxed on okay in two runs at the provincials and draws the inside; and improving provincial filly 11. Blinding Light ($21) third-up.

How to play it: Carartie to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this one. Emerging provincial filly 10. Queen Bellisimo ($2.50 fav) stuck on okay as a rock solid favourite first-up at Kembla. Has been given four weeks between runs, and can show her best at only her third start.

Dangers: Progressive filly 3. Global Queen ($2.70) was only collared in the last stride resuming in that same Kembla race and from the inside draw with form metro rider aboard will be competitive again. This is a nice follow-up race for 8. Leave Me Be ($8) who finished best from a good trail to claim her maiden second-up at Wyong. Keep safe provincial colt 5. Thailand ($10) who will relish this track. Was okay late first-up in a CL2 and only career win from five starts came second-up last prep by more than four lengths. Loved the way 9. Son Of Sampson ($8.50) hit the line from well back, resuming in a handy country CL1 and while this is tougher he'll appreciate the long run home over further; while blinkers go on 1. Mission Legend ($13) third-up with a 2kg claim.

How to play it: Queen Bellisimo to win and first four 3,5,8,10/3,5,8,10/1,3,5,8,9,10/1,3,5,8,9,10
Odds and Evens: Odds

Progressive three-year-old 4. Astero ($1.85 fav) is very well placed to make it two straight this prep and add a firm track success to his rain-affected prowess. Was impressive resuming in heavy ground at Hawkesbury and again draws to get the right trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 8. Tri Nations ($6) has been given five weeks since hitting the line nicely first-up in a similar race here. Capable five-year-old 1. Recondite ($8) hasn't started for 10 months but showed plenty in the second of two trials and a big weight offset with a 2kg claim; while 2. Atherton ($11) second-up and 7. Savvy Legend ($11) who resumes are on the next line.

How to play it: Astero to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Wide-open mile battle for the maidens at set weights. The stable has found a nice second-up race over more ground for improving three-year-old 1. California Sky ($5) with leading metro rider back aboard. Can tuck in midfield off the fence and be strong late.

Dangers: Huge watch on imported three-year-old 9. Wicklow ($3 fav) having his first run in nearly eight months as a gelding for the Chris Waller stable. A son of 2016 Group 1 Diamond Jubilee winner Twilight Son, his UK two-year-old form reads solid and he's been fitted with two trials. Deep Field three-year-old 5. Lucky To Win ($4.80) is better placed back on firm ground over further but still needs to find at least a length. Improving filly 10. Carolina Fire ($5) stuck on well third-up at Hawkesbury; while from that same race 12. Kiterro ($6.50) was disappointing working into third after being well backed, but suspect will be ridden quieter from the wide draw here.

How to play it: California Sky each-way
Odds and Evens: Odds

Smart four-year-old 1. Henschel ($1.95 fav) was heavily backed before letting punters down in a stronger provincial race last time after a dashing and dominant second-up win here. Draws to park right behind the speed and with a 3kg claimer off-setting the big weight, he can hit back hard.

Dangers: Keep safe provincial four-year-old 11. Ready To Roam ($10) who has been competitive enough all prep in and around this grade; while three-year-old 5. Edmond ($4.80) gets some weight relief deep into the prep.

How to play it: Henschel to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R5 4. ASTERO
R7 1. HENSCHEL

BEST VALUE
R6 1. CALIFORNIA SKY

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here