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By Ray Hickson

All two-year-olds on debut over the short course. 8. Mystical was saved from the Golden Gift last week to run here and has come up with a nice gate to help her out. Had to like how she breezed through the line in her only public trial and the stable has been lethal with their youngsters so she commands respect.

Dangers: 3. Seeiaye has the inside gate advantage and if he can make use of it, based on the how he went about it winning his latest trial, he should be very hard to beat. Looked to be full of running and that’s a good sign. 1. Elio has the Waterhouse/Bott polish and just had the one trial leading in when just touched out by Threesome, who did run well in the Golden Gift. He was scratched from a trial on Thursday so that says he’s ready to race. 4. Tenenbaum was a $750,000 yearling and he’s done everything right in winning both barrier trials to date. Market a handy guide in general given they’re all inexperienced.

How to play it: Mystical WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

This is a big race for 9. Strawberry Impact whose record stands at one win from 10 starts with six second placings. Found the line well in tough conditions at Randwick two weeks ago, comes back to Midway company and a drier track suits. Not sure where he finds himself from the tricky gate but this is a race he should be in the finish of.

Dangers: 7. Diamond Show hit the ground running this preparation with a dominant enough performance when resuming at Hawkesbury. That was her first win when fresh and the mile will suit. Gets a nice run here and can measure up. 8. Perfect Justice is another last start Hawkesbury winner and he was a solid favourite when getting the job done at the mile. Last run in this grade was a game effort beaten a length at the Scone carnival. In the mix. 2. Prince Of Sorts battled on fairly in midfield in the Four Pillars but this race might suit him with not a lot of speed on paper, if he can get up on speed from the wide gate.

How to play it: Strawberry Impact WIN ($2 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Upwardly Mobile is bursting to win a Highway and this one looks a good opportunity for her. She’s been dictated to a bit by barriers getting a long way back in three runs in this grade but continues to hit the line just behind the placings. Draw’s a bit more in her favour this time and if she can hold a position a bit closer she’s hard to hold off.

Dangers: 5. Off The Scale is a big watch resuming at the mile in what’s likely been a target race for her. Raced consistently last time in winning a couple just beyond a mile. Travelled well in her recent trial and can show up. 6. Pharoahzano found himself a fair way back in the Highway at Randwick two weeks ago and did a solid job to run on beaten two lengths in sticky conditions. Back on top of the ground and if he can run the mile out he’s in the finish. 7. Next Pay Run improved with each run this time in and dominated when she reached the 1410m at Grafton a few weeks ago. You’d have to think she will push forward again and give herself every chance.

How to play it: Upwardly Mobile WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wide open race and 9. Miss Hades looks a good each-way chance first-up. She’s been scratched a couple of times and comes up with the inside gate on the back of two pretty nice trials. She does tend to run well fresh and is at her best on top of the ground, from the draw she should land right on the back of the speed and give herself every chance.

Dangers: 10. Maid Of Moolah was a scratching at the barriers at Randwick on Big Dance day and has been back to the trials. Led all the way to win at Hawkesbury a month ago, up and comer who can give a good sight. 1. Waimarie ran an improved race second-up at Randwick, while she had her chance she stayed on okay and comes back a grade or two here. Penalised with top weight but keep in mind. 2. Yankee One didn’t do much when resuming then a bit better at Randwick two weeks ago, though weakened a bit late. Back on top pf the ground here she can lift.

How to play it: Miss Hades EACH-WAY ($12 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Meridiana was enormous in defeat in the Four Pillars, she had no right to finish as close as she did given the ground she gave away around the turn. She’s a promising mare, you’d expect her to take up more of a position this time around up to the mile and gets a good chance to atone.

Dangers: 10. Éclair Encore won a good form race at Newcastle first-up then seemed to struggle in the heavy ground at Rosehill. Down 5kg and back onto the home track she can run a cheeky race. 8. Rotagilla ran right up to his luckless first-up effort when cruising home at Randwick two weeks ago. He’s won up to 1800m already so the mile will suit him. Hard to leave out. 5. Fear No Evil led all the way for a comfortable first-up win at Bendigo and from the wide gate he’d be more than likely to look for the front again. Has a strong winning record and well worth including.

How to play it: Meridiana WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Happy to stay with 1. Hollywood Hero who was game in running second in the Little Dance at his second run back. Down sharply in class here and while he is very effective in the wet he’s pretty consistent all around. With his racing style of settling back a little the extra trip should hold no fears and he’ll be running on.

Dangers: 4. Pocketing is showing signs of getting back to form finishing close up in his past two. Did battle a bit in the heavy ground at Rosehill last time, but draws well and back onto a good track he has the chance to fire. 10. Belle Detelle settled last and found the line okay running into third behind Rotagilla when resuming at Randwick. She’ll appreciate the step up in distance and no surprise to see her finish closer. 11. Kind Words is fitter for two runs back for two placings and if she can offset the wide gate this looks a race she’s been targeted at and should run well in.

How to play it: Hollywood Hero EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Green Spaces only beat three rivals in winning at Wyong recently but it was his first go at the mile and he was strong at the finish as he edged away. No doubt this is a hike in class but he’s on the up and from that inside gate he can park right behind the speed once again. Bit of a leap of faith but a number of rivals are in a similar boat.

Dangers: 1. Grand Prairie is the benchmark being a Group 3 winner already and he’s performed against some of the better three-year-olds this spring. Can forgive his Flemington failure and he’s also drawn to get all the favours. 6. Ratify is an interesting runner. He's settled well back in both starts at 1400m and ran on when the race was all over so he’s going to relish the mile. He might be a next prep type of horse but expect him to be running on. 8. Probability Theory is on the back up after winning at Hawkesbury last week where she posted her second win at the Hawkesbury 1300m. Shapes as though the mile will suit and she could be up to the task. 7. Long Legs comes off an easy all the way win at Rosehill and is next best. She’s yet to see a dry track.

How to play it: Green Spaces WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

14. Yorkshire is clearly the most promising horse in this race and he’s arriving first-up since a dominant win over the Randwick mile in February. Won six of eight and showed he’s ready to return with a stylish trial win last week. This promises to be a strongly run race which can suit him with the light weight, he’ll just need to land in a good spot.

Dangers: 16. Clear Thinking has won five from seven and is unbeaten against country opposition. Her two defeats have been in Group 3 mares company where she’s run on well from the back and placed in one of them. First go beyond 1200m but the way she won The Kosciuszko you’d be certain another 100m will be no problem. Has quality and must be respected. 3. Coal Crusher won this race two years ago and was third last year. He’s coming off an enormous run in the Russell Balding where he sat three wide on speed all the way and still boxed on to run fourth. That’s the best form leading into this race and you know what you’re going to get from him. Will give a sight. 2. Robusto has been freshened up since taking on weight-for-age company in two starts since winning the Winter Challenge. The draw really suits him and he can put himself somewhere in the finish. 11. Accredited gets the chance to measure up while 8. Brudenell could be a good roughie who can sneak into a placing.

How to play it: Yorkshire WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

6. Grand Pierro brings some handy form from Victoria to this race and finds his preferred dry surface. Placed behind Half Yours in the Naturalism and he was a bit stiff in the Moonee Valley Cup as he was tightened up late. Didn’t cost him a win but 2.4 lengths is a bit misleading. Strong stayer and chance to break through.

Dangers: 2. Maison Louis can be forgiven for his failure when well supported in the Rosehill Gold Cup, go on his closing third behind Lindermann second-up. Derby winner in Queensland and chance to bounce back onto a dry track. 7. Firm Agreement has run on quite fairly in two runs back and has the blinkers on first time which is interesting. Not sure where he goes from the wide gate but he was placed in the ATC Derby and is a chance to improve. 3. Future History should get some on pace favours and he brings some sound Group form from Victoria out of his last couple. Open race and has to be a chance.

How to play it: Grand Pierro WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

18. Bojangles doesn’t always have the best of luck but he was excellent chasing home Midnight Dynamite at Randwick two weeks ago. There was about four lengths to third and he didn’t give up the chase. Right down in the weights to 52.5kg and drawn to get another perfect run. He has to be a good each-way hope.

Dangers: 14. Brave One is the logical horse to beat, he’s an up and comer and he attacked the line with gusto when it was all over when resuming at 1100m. The trip suits him, the only box he has to tick is a dry track but he’ll get every chance to do that here. 5. Whinchat can be problematic at the gates but when he jumps with them he can land in front and take running on. Ran a blinder first-up last prep in the Luskin Star at Scone over this trip off a 61 week break. Trialled well and definite chance but you hold your breath at the start. 15. Midnight Opal was six weeks between runs when placed behind Carbonados at Randwick. Had his chance there but fitter and draws well and is up to this on his best form. 1. Xidaki is another who can run well here fresh coming from the back.

How to play it: Bojangles EACH-WAY ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Newcastle