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By Nick Berney

NEWCASTLE – BEST BET: Race 5 # 4 - MERIDIANA

Meridiana (Pic: Bradley Photos).

She's gone to a new level this prep, and both of her runs this campaign have been full of merit. First up, she overcame the race shape to win, and she had too much to do last start in The Four Pillars (1500m). The mare was huge against the day's pattern, and the clock backed up her late visual strength. She brings strong form lines into this event, and all key indicators suggest she can improve again out to 1600m. In addition, Jason Collett rides for the first time and Newcastle suits, allowing her to build momentum in the straight to savage the line.

NEWCASTLE – NEXT BEST: Race 10 # 14 – BRAVE ONE

He's an improving type and went out on a career peak figure last prep before his run, having merit first-up at Randwick. The gelding was carried 61.5kg, had the bias against and wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape on a testing surface. Further, although outsprinted, he built momentum and hit the line hard, clocking fast closing splits. The Hawkes galloper will appreciate the rise in trip, maps to be smothered away doing no work, and although up in class, he gets in with no weight.

NEWCASTLE – VALUE BET: Race 8 # 16 – CLEAR THINKING

She's a lightly raced galloper with a fantastic record and is on an upward ratings spiral. The mare was run to suit last start when winning The Kosciuszko (1200m), but she did it in style and clocked solid time/sectionals that suggest she can make the step-in grade. Further, the blinkers went on for the first time, and she produced a career peak figure that lines up well relative to her opposition. She will get back, but with the anticipated race shape and spacious track, with even luck, she can have the last shot.

CANTERBURY – FRIDAY NIGHT BET: Race 8 # 3 – BALKANS

He was brave in defeat two starts back at Warwick Farm when battling on for third in what was a high-rating race that has produced two subsequent winners. Happy to forgive his last start at Randwick when racing on his non-preferred surface and had to be restrained from a tricky draw. However, to his credit, he tried hard to the line, making his run through the inferior ground and had to exert all his energy between the 600m and 200m due to the race shape. He receives a significant barrier change, allowing him to have a much more economical run, and he has a strong record at this track/distance.

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