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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Friday’s Wyong Cup meeting. Selections based on a good track.

This is D-Day for 9. Parveen who has finished second, third or fourth in her seven starts, her only unplaced effort two runs back when dropping to 1100m. Thought she beat herself at Hawkesbury last time but one more chance here, drawn well and entitled to win.

Dangers: 2. Corporal had a nice run and got out in plenty of time to hit the lead before being run down late at Newcastle first-up. Sure to be fitter and doesn’t have to improve a lot to go close. 5. Version Two made a very handy debut at Gosford then not beaten far and probably had some excuses at Nowra. Increase in distance looks a plus and Hugh Bowman goes on board. Must keep safe. 1. Canasta has found one better in both starts in the country and really had no excuses at Bathurst last time as an odds-on favourite. Would have to lift on that to win this but blinkers on so stays under notice.

How to play it: Parveen WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Parveen runs third at Hawkesbury on August 22

1. Katakeri probably holds the key to this race. Not too many Godolphin horses debut at four and he’s a gelding so he’s obviously showing something. Won a trial in December in good style then resurfaced at Rosehill on August 20 and was kept under a nice hold. Barrier one, Bowman, should be hard to beat.

Dangers: 3. Impudens debuted as favourite at Warwick Farm in March and wasn’t disgraced on a heavy track running third. Looked good in his latest trial and resumes in blinkers. Expect him to run very well. 4. She’s So Savvy hasn’t raced since a sound enough debut at Gosford back in February where she was just touched out for second. Trialled okay over 802m and has upside so with some luck from the wide gate she could easily run into the finish. 8. Favra was unfancied on debut but found the line pretty well to run a close third at Hawkesbury and the runner-up there has since won. Could be an improver.

How to play it: Katakeri WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Katakeri’s latest trial at Rosehill on August 20

There’s no doubt 1. Touch Of Mink is the best performed horse in this race and we’re taking her on trust after an unusual failure second-up at Canterbury. She hit the line well fresh and has trialled nicely since her last run. With a bit of speed likely she is well graded and should be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 2. Splendid Surprise is the horse on the way up and he was able to control things in his all the way win over 1100m here in a maiden a month ago. He’ll go forward again and is capable of giving a sight, but he should have more company this time. 6. Famous broke his maiden status easily first-up at Newcastle then thrown in the deep end in the Up & Coming and wasn’t up to it. Gate one gives him every chance to be in the finish of this. 3. Moana Jewel was going so well prior to an ordinary one at Canterbury a month ago when a short priced favourite. Won her only start on her home track and while 1200m is a touch short of her best she’s one to consider strongly as well.

How to play it: Touch Of Mink E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Touch Of Mink’s trial at Randwick on August 27

9. Bid’n’bare is on the back up from running a close third here on Sunday and it suggested he’s very close to a win now after two runs back. Handles all conditions, drawn well and it looks a race of few chances on paper. He’s the best of them.

Dangers: 6. Kiarra Rose was unwanted in betting first-up but tried hard in a close third at Hawkesbury over 1400m. Fitter and has three wins at the mile. No surprise to see her feature somewhere. 3. He's A Given is better on a wet track but he's been racing well in town of late on good ground. Mile is as far as he wants though so each-way claims. 2. Grand Eagle was racing consistently before an ordinary one at Newcastle over 1890m. Forgive that run and he could easily be an improver here.

How to play it: Bid’n’bare WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Bid’n’bare runs third at Wyong on Septmber 1

2. Rhythmic Pulse looks nicely placed here from a soft gate after a couple of very game efforts in town of late. Rode a solid speed and kept fighting in his third to Rock, who has won again since, at Canterbury. Only has to hold form to take stopping.

Dangers: 3. Bucephalus did get a lot of room first-up at Hawkesbury so not being too hard on his seventh placing there. He’s shown more than enough ability to win this type of race and drawn well so entitled to another chance. 10. Camp Rifle has all the upside with only two starts behind him. Dropped 100m when closing off hard late into a close third in the same race as Bucephalus and is one of the main hopes again. 1. Defeat can’t be overlooked given he won that race at Hawkesbury with a surge from the back. Sat handy when he won here on August 2. Record says he’s hit or miss so keep that in mind.

How to play it: Rhythmic Pulse WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Rhythmic Pulse runs third at Canterbury on August 21

2. My Xpression started 100/1 at her second run back and she caught the eye running into third at 1100m at Randwick two weeks ago which is short of her best trip. Clocked the fastest last 600m of the race in 32.63 (Punter's Intelligence) there. Up in weight here but has a nice gate and if she can repeat, and improve on, that last run she will be hard to beat.

Dangers: 14. Into The Abyss was held up for a run before getting to the outside in the same race and she finished on well to run fifth. Becoming costly and while My Xpression held her safely late she will be fitter and if they are coming from the back half she’ll be right there. 16. Connemara is racing so consistently and she showed she has that will to win with a dominant performance at Randwick, in lesser grade, three weeks back. Drawn perfectly for her and Nash stays on with 3.5kg less. Can’t leave out. 10. Notation is another to come out of the Toy Show at Randwick and she battled on pretty well finishing midfield. She is much better off at this sort of trip and is a very competitive type. Definite chance.

How to play it: My Xpression E/W ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

My Xpression runs third at Randwick on August 24

The Cup looks tailor made for 3. Stampede who was so brave leading and fighting on behind Wolfe with 63kg at his third run back. Once he strikes form he generally holds it and on paper he has control in the lead again here. If he’s able to dictate as it appears he’ll be hard to run down.

Dangers: 1. Sixties Groove resumes since winning the Brisbane Cup and he looked sharp winning a trial over 1200m suggesting he’s come back in good order. Placed in the Hawkesbury Cup when resuming last time in and is a threat here fresh. 14. Hogmanay has struck some form winning at Rosehill then the Taree Cup. Drawn nicely and while he’s racing in such good form he can’t be left out of the each-way chances. 2. Our Century won at 1900m first-up last time in and was excellent in all three starts in that prep. Had two trials and the trip is no issue fresh, just what luck he gets in running from the barrier.

How to play it: Stampede WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Stampede runs second at Randwick on August 17

1. Oakfield Captain was excellent winning first-up from off the speed then sat closer and was run down Lilith, but made her work for it, at Newcastle at 1200m. Expect he’ll be in the first half in running and what he’s shown in his two runs back is he’s in super form so he’s a good chance.

Dangers: 3. McCormack has an unbeaten first-up record from winning his first two starts split by a spell. Trialled nicely behind Jonker recently and if there’s some pace on as it looks he’ll be storming home. 11. Texas Storm is more a 1400m horse but fresh here he’s more than capable of swooping home late. He did run a close second in a Country Championships Qualifier at 1200m so can be sharp and is one to include in the chances. 4. Maroch did a good job to hold them off first-up for the new stable at Gosford. Tougher task here from a wide gate but yet to miss a place in five starts and can only be fitter.

How to play it: Oakfield Captain E/W ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Oakfield Captain runs second at Newcastle on August 24

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Wyong Cup meeting