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By Neil Evans

Track likely Good 4 and rail out 6m:

The youngsters get us rolling at set weights on a track that should stay in the Good range. Well bred colt 4. Robusto is by multiple Group 1 Irish star Churchill out of the good Redoute's Choice mare She's Clean who had a near 20 percent winning strike rate up to Group 3 level. Returns for only his second start since an impressive closing effort in Listed company last spring, and finished best in the second of two recent trials for the leading stable.

Dangers: Keep safe Godolphin colt 5. Sandpaper who makes his debut in blinkers off two recent trials; while Caravaggio colt 2. Great Siege also debuts behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Robusto to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Now the three-year-olds lock horns over the same trip, and this augurs well for resuming I Am Invincible filly 4. California Surreal from a low barrier where she can track the speed. Trialed in ultra smart fashion only 11 days ago, and she's a real line-finder.

Dangers: Progressive 1. Solvere has a little fitness edge third-up in his first prep after leading for a long way as a well backed fancy here three weeks ago; while beautifully bred filly 7. Taizai second-up; and improving 2. Nickelback can add some meat to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: California Surreal to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Plenty of chances in this, and keen at the value around improving four-year-old 5. Amber One who comes to town second-up after working home strongly at Wyong over the mile.

Dangers: Must include emerging filly 6. Pretes off a handy closing debut at Warwick Farm in what should prove a good form maiden. Watch the betting on four-year-old 1. Inuwashi who charged home late on debut at big odds at the provincials. Is by Group 1-winning Irish sire Free Eagle, and will relish the extra 250m. Pierro three-year-old 3. Spitfire missed out narrowly second-up on the South Coast in heavy ground, and was preferred here to Gosford on Thursday, but more depth in this. The sharp drop in trip is a key for 4. Tailoring whose form was solid enough before failing to run out the 2000m under 59kg on the Beaumont track.

How to play it: Amber One each way and trifecta 1,5,6/1,3,4,5,6/1,3,4,5,6. Odds and Evens: Split

Good competitive middle distance battle. Capable five-year-old 2. Savoury was disappointing on face value 15 days ago at Warwick Farm, but the track was shifty and certainly played worse than a Soft 6. Back on firmer footing, he can be ridden a little quieter fifth-up, and be saved for one final surge. Over the odds considering he was scratched early from a stronger race at Rosehill on Saturday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Drawn inside, 6. Fiordland didn't finish off after tracking the speed in a deeper Saturday BM 72, but is well placed carrying the same weight for this. No doubt 4. Maccomo has the ability over this distance with a 2kg allowance having led all the way here two starts back, but trickier draw and he doesn't always hit the line.

How to play it: Savoury to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Out in distance we go for the most open race on the card. Ocean Park four-year-old 1. Fortified finds a nice second-up trip after working home okay over 1400m 16 days ago, and the winner then won again at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Debatable whether he gets enough speed up front in a field reduced to six, but he's the strongest closer and has won up to 2210m.

Dangers: Don't under-sell five-year-old 2. Athena's Lad who comes to the city behind consecutive country wins, the latest a terrific fighting effort in the Cowra Cup when held up for a long way. Honest 3. Just A Jedi can bounce back on the quick back-up from a soft draw after dropping out early in the straight here last time. Included in exotics 4. Mars who has kept improving in four runs back this prep, but drawn off the track; and 9. Josephus who has placed in all three runs across weaker grades this prep.

How to play it: Fortified to win and box trifecta 1,2,3. Odds and Evens: Split

A few chances again, but none more than lightly raced four-year-old 6. Texcel who resumes off two forward trials over a suitable distance. Comes to hand quickly, and from this draw can settle just behind the speed and produce superior acceleration from the 400m.

Dangers: Honest four-year-old 4. Finally Realise can peak third-up after two solid closing runs in Saturday Midway company. Keep safe 8. Retiro who will appreciate more ground after working home nicely first-up, and was scratched from Gosford on Thursday to run here; while the market will tell a story with country-based 3. Island Bay Boy who resumes in blinkers off a smart trial win.

How to play it: Texcel to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Another smart one resuming 2. Able Willie can also strike nice and fresh behind two trials. Destroyed a handy maiden field on debut last spring before charging late into a place at Listed level. Put away with much bigger targets in mind, and he takes the first step here.

Dangers: Exciting and unbeaten colt 7. Way To The Stars is the logical threat from a good draw over this trip. Gave nothing else a chance from the front resuming at Gosford a fortnight back running good time, although likely a shade under the odds up to this grade. Watch the betting on improving filly 4. Sky Command who gets blinkers added second-up.

How to play it: Able Willie to win and quinella 2 and 7. Odds and Evens: Split

We close the meeting with another open affair for the older sprinters. Improving five-year-old 10. Secretively has been close-up in three runs since a dominant CL1 win first-up at the provincials seven weeks ago. Drawn to sit right behind the speed, and down 3.5kg in weight with a leading jockey booked. Convinced the stable has gone the right way here instead of Rosehill on Saturday.

Dangers: Provincial five-year-old 6. Two Up likes to roll forward and rates well over the odds fourth-up despite a rise in class. Perennial big finisher 3. Accelerato has had two runs back from a spell and is desperate for any extra trip, but all six wins in 51 starts have come on rain-affected ground. Include fresh runners 4. Ashim and 9. Sweet Angelina in wider exotics.

How to play it: Secretively to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R2 4. CALIFORNIA SURREAL
R6 6. TEXCEL

BEST VALUE:
R8 10. SECRETIVELY

All the fields, form and replays for Friday night's Canterbury meeting