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By Nick Berney

Cross Tasman (Pic: Bradley Photos).

WYONG – BEST BET: Race 10 # 9 – CROSS TASMAN

He’s gone to a new level this prep since returning as a gelding, and both of his wins have had sectional merit. The four-year-old carried a hefty weight to win first-up and then won with authority last start at Randwick. Further, he was posted wide throughout in an even tempo but travelled well throughout and accelerated away from his rivals in style, running the meeting's fastest final 400m/200m splits. He brings a dominant last start figure, and all key indicators suggest he could improve again third-up. Additionally, although drawn wide, the 1350m back chute start is a long run to the first turn and he has the opportunity to find cover in an anticipated genuine race shape.

WYONG – NEXT BEST: Race 9 # 3 – KNOW THYSELF

He’s hard to go past with his profile and consistency to his form. The gelding was a solid winner first-up at Randwick, and although well-ridden, he knuckled down hard to score, producing one of his career peak figures. His historical second-up record/ratings suggest he can only bounce off that effort, and he gets the perfect setup from the inside draw with the 1600m suiting.

WYONG – VALUE BET: Race 7 # 14 – BEECHWORTH

He might still be one run off a peak performance, but he represents value in an open race. The lightly raced galloper always indicated he would benefit with time/maturity, and his win prior to spelling last campaign had merit. He resumed as a gelding at Canterbury 22 days ago off one soft trial and was honest in what was a high-pressure/rating race. Further, he exerted all his energy recording the meetings' quickest 800m-400m split before peaking on his effort, and he maintained a solid finishing speed to the line. The Chris Waller-trained runner could only have benefited from that outing, the rise in trip suits and expect him to be hitting the line hard with no weight on his back.

KEMBLA GRANGE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 4 # 6 – CUBAN CIGAR

He has talent and expecting him to produce a career peak third-up in this event. The Tracey Bartley-trained runner had too much to do first-up at Wyong and then had excuses last start at Newcastle after being heavily backed. He wasn’t suited to the race shape, was held up at a key stage, but once balancing up, he hit the line hard with the clock backing up his late visual strength. He finally draws a gate allowing him to settle much closer, and he has the scope to progress through the grades. Likeable profile.

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