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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Dubbo meeting. Selections based on a soft to good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

5. Pee Dee ran his rivals ragged at Scone 38 days ago, clocked fast overall time, and won by a dominant margin. Further, the gelding ran sustained sectionals throughout and produced his career peak performance which is the clear best last start figure relative to his rivals. The five-year-old rises in grade but has natural gate speed and maps to control the pace. In addition, he races well fresh, and repeating his previous effort will make him hard to catch.

Dangers: 4. Universal Thief was unsuited last start after getting too far back in a slow pace. Moreover, the nine-year-old made significant ground up and clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the day in 12.72. He is suited back to his home track and has no weight. 3. Defeat has been well beaten in both starts this prep but can bounce back with a key gear change. 6. All Words is suited back to a dry track and maps well.

How to play it: Pee Dee WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Pee Dee wins at Scone on August 23

Forgiving of 2. Sir Diamond’s last start in stronger grade where he had too much to do after making an early move and raced wide. The five-year-old has a solid platform leading into this event and is ready to peak fourth-up over the 2200m. In addition, he receives Grant Buckley for the first time, blinkers go back on, drops in grade and has multiple winning figures. Each-way.

Dangers: 5. Dunlee ran time when winning at Scone last start, and there was a margin to third confirming the quality. He is rock-hard fit and brings the best last-start figure. Definite chance. 1. Rockamo can bounce back down in grade, and is in career-best form. 8. Yak is an honest type and will roll forward.

How to play it: Sir Diamond E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sir Diamond last start at Tamworth on September 12

Debutant 5. Bonjour Rupert, who was restrained from a wide draw in a recent heat, went through the line full of energy and wasn’t extended. The Brett Cavanough trained galloper has style and expect an aggressive ride from the wide draw.

Dangers: 11. Timmy was fancied $6-$4.8 late in the trade last start at this track but had excuses. The gelding can bounce back with a significant barrier change, the drying track suits, and he can rate to win. 4. Aquarter won a recent trial at Muswellbrook with ease. Add 2. Charm Factor and 1. Starane to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Bonjour Rupert WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Bonjour Rupert runs third in a recent trial at Scone on August 23

6. Kora Magic resumes without an official trial but finds a winnable race and has a positive setup. First-up last prep, the mare led and won easily at Wellington, breaking through for her maiden victory. Expect an aggressive ride, and she will take some catching. In addition, Jockey Jake Pracey-Holmes has ridden her twice for a win and a place.

Dangers: 3. Kit And Caboodle is an interesting runner now in trainer Clint Lundholm’s hands. Moreover, he has past figures that can win this race and is a key late market watch. 5. Money Not My God brings a fitness edge and is a consistent type. 1. The Big Seal is suited back to a drier surface and can press forward from the tricky gate.

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

Kora Magic wins first-up last prep at Wellington on January 14

5. Hurn Court’s first-up performance had hidden merit in a TAB Highway (1000m) at Randwick. The five-year-old gelding had the bias against it and was checked/blocked at critical stages. Further, to his credit, he still clocked one of the fastest final 600m splits of the meeting in 34.56 and that race rated highly relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. The Brett Robb trained runner has a strong second-up record, returns to his home track and will be undoubtedly hitting the line hard. Expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 10. Knight Driver resumed at Gilgandra after having 402 days off and ran on well over an unsuitable distance. The four-year-old mare always promised ability and is a key late market watch as some query second-up after a long break. 3. Lady River was specked $13-$10 last start at Scone but got too far back and found the line well. She can settle closer and finds a winnable race. 7. Emeriz has trialled well, can sprint fresh and is a consistent type. Add 13. Diggers Reach to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Hurn Court WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Hurn Court’s last start at Randwick on September 17

3. Bridges To Babylon had the pace/bias against six days ago at Rosehill in a TAB Highway (1500m) and ran on ok. Further, that race produced a high-rating last sectional relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. The six-year-old mare is coming out of time/sectional merit races this prep and is ticking over well. Additionally, she is reaching optimal fitness and is ready to peak fourth-up.

Dangers: 7. Royal Affair started a $3.20 favourite at this track/distance 15 days ago and had excuses. She can settle closer and bounce back into the winner’s stall. 6. Dente Queen was run to suit when winning a Newcastle last start, but she did it easily. The mare brings provincial form lines and can win again. Add 11. On the Eighthday and 8. Yallah Sunrise to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Bridges To Babylon WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Bridges To Babylon last start at Rosehill on September 24

17. Quick Angel resumes and has trialled well in a recent heat at Scone. The four-year-old mare looks to have come back improved and brings strong provincial form lines. Further, she maps to have all favours and is suited over 1300m first-up. Each-way.

Dangers: 10. Supreme Speed comes out of a high-rating race, and the drier track suits. 5. Crystal Beanz is racing well and has a favourable map. Add 3. Dispute and 4. The Drafter to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Quick Angel E/W ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Quick Angel runs third in a trial at Scone on August 31

1. Vital Verse led at a moderate tempo last start and tried hard in defeat. Moreover, he ran second and beat the rest easily in a solid time race. The winner out of that race, Syrian Star, has since started hard in the market in a stronger grade race and ran well. The five-year-old gelding maps to have all favours is racing consistently and gets in well at the weights after the astute claim for Zac Wadick.

Dangers: 2. Dynastic was unsuited, getting too far back in a slow pace last start and ran on well. The eight-year-old is a significant improver going onto a dry surface, and the bigger track suits. 10. Owhata Crumpet is racing consistently and add 14. Blue Collar Boy to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Vital Verse WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Vital Verse runs second at Dubbo on September 11

3. Madison Point returns without an official public trial but has a strong fresh record. First-up last prep, he got too far back throughout transit but hit the line hard and clocked one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 11.44. Expect him to be running on, and he can rate to win. Each-way.

Dangers: 1. Nest In The Hills broke through for his maiden win last start and brings the best last start figure. He maps to have all favours and Ben Looker rides. 1. Very Sharp had excuses last start and brings strong form lines to this event. She will have to overcome a tricky draw and is a market watch. 6. Gossip is a consistent type and 9. Harley Fat Boy is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Madison Point E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Madison Point first-up last prep at Dubbo on January 31

Best Bet: Race 5 # 9 - Hurn Court

Next Best: Race 1 # 5 - Pee Dee

Best Value: Race 2 # 2 - Sir Diamond

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