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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Goulburn meeting. Selections based on a good track.

1. Eurosay was wide and too far back in stronger grade first up in the EPC Solar Handicap (1000m). Although well beaten, he ran the race’s second-fastest 400m-200m split in 10.88. The six-year-old campaigner can settle closer in the small field with a significant barrier change. He gets an astute claim in Damon Budler, who has a fantastic record on him for four rides, two wins and a second.

Dangers:3. Harley Street led and sprinted well, winning the Bermagui Cellars Showcase Maiden Handicap (1000m), and although drawn the outside gate, he should have enough natural pace to cross and lead the field. 5. Monte Drifter’s rating figure from this track and distance two starts ago lines up well and can be in the finish if he can reproduce that effort. 6. Blackhill Kitty is fit and maps to get the gun run.

How to play it: Eurosay WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Eurosay’s first-up effort at Canberra on February 4

Nothing went right for 5. I Am Brazen last preparation when starting hard in the market on both occasions. She had the bias against first-up in the Tooheys Maiden Handicap (1000m) before racing wide on a fast pace when second-up in the 1st Crop Magna Grecia Foals Plate (1100m). The Goulburn 1000m start comes out of a chute with only one turn to the final straight. I Am Brazen can have a habit of beginning awkwardly but look for an aggressive ride after two solid trials.

Dangers: 7. Smarter Than You resumes here at her home track without an official trial but raced well last prep. 1. Gypsy King was honest first-up in a fast time race and will improve with fitness. 2. Hollow Dollar has drawn well today but suspect her best form is on rain-affected ground.

How to play it: I Am Brazen WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

I Am Brazen’s first trial entering this preparation on January 24

6. Flying Witness finally broke through for her long-awaited maiden win last start in the Australian Bloodstock Maiden Plate (1850m). She showed good fight to fend off the challenger’s and ran solid time with decisive margins throughout that confirmed the race’s strength. The three-year-old filly is a very short-priced favourite but does have a string of ratings figures that are dominant to her opposition and will be hard to hold out with even luck.

Dangers: 3. Genjiro ran well last start and is proven at the distance/class. Some query on 8. Circling stepping up in the distance from 1600m-2100m, although he is coming out of proven form races this preparation.

How to play it: Trifecta 6 / 3,8 / 1,3,4,8. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Flying Witness winning last start at Newcastle on January 29

1. Mascherata must carry 60kg when resuming today but still gets in well under the weight scale. She progressed from winning the Hunter Valley Premium Meats Maiden Plate (1200m) to five runs later contesting the Listed Reginald Allen Quality (1400m). She was only beaten 3.8 lengths by the promising Fangirl after having the bias against her. The three-year-old filly has trialled well without her usual race day winkers, and the market will be a strong guide concerning fitness.

Dangers: 5. Devils Triangle was checked and blocked for part of the straight and finished honestly first-up. She is the clear danger to Mascherata and will have a tactical map advantage. 6. Ma Bella Rosie looms as a knockout chance who was not suited in her return to racing in the Bega Betta Home Living Showcase Class 2 Handicap (1200m) after having 414 days off the scene. She ran the second fastest last 200m of the race in 11.78. The drop in grade suits and gets in with a lightweight after the claim. 2. Calgary King is fitter but looks to map worse than mid-field.

How to play it: Mascherata WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Mascherata in the Listed Reginlad Allen (1400m) on October 16

2. Anythink Goes has returned well this prep after trialling well before a solid first-up performance in the Ranvet Handicap (1400m) at the maiden metropolitan level. Although the three-year-old colt finished sixth in that race, his performance had hidden merit. He was restrained early and got too far back in the run on a day where it was hard to make ground down the middle of the track. His 600m-200m sectional was the race fastest in 22.84 before fitness gave out slightly in the final furlong. The overall time of that race was fast in relation to the day, and the form has since been confirmed with a subsequent winner. Last preparation, his rating figures improved approximately two lengths between his first and second-up run which gets him well in for today’s event. Expect him to roll forward and run boldly with a much kinder draw.

Dangers: 6. Cairdeas ran fourth in the same race as Anythink Goes last start and looks ready to peak third-up going onto the bigger track. 13. Impressive Chorus is rock-hard fit and has continued to improve each run and can settle closer today with the step up in distance suiting. 1. Mirror One led and battled on ok last start. His starting price profile must be respected, and the blinkers off may suit.

How to play it: Anythink Goes WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: Even.

Anythink Goes first-up run at Kensington on February 2

Lightly raced improver 15. We've Got Tonight looks to have come back well and ready to start her second preparation after having two strong trials, with the latter run in fast overall time relative to the other 1050m heats on the day. In her first-up run last preparation, she ran the fifth-fastest last 200m of the entire meeting in 12.34. It’s worth noting the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m) winner Willowy came out of the same race that We've Got Tonight ran in before spelling. The filly is wound up for this, and in a race that lacks genuine tempo, expect her to roll forward into a prominent position.

Dangers: The in-form G Ryan & S Alexiou training partnership saddle up 10. Georgian Bay who have had 17 of their last 100 runners winning at a 5.9% profit on turnover. She finally gets to a bigger track and looks ready to peak third-up. 12. Mikasa resumes today and is a key late market watch with proven form-lines throughout her last preparation. 4. Gwan So is having his first Australian start and has trialled well against the likes of Eduardo and Expat. The late market moves will be a good guide.

How to play it: Georgian Bay WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & We've Got Tonight WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Weve Got Tonight’s latest trial on February 7

4. Da Nang Star bounced back to form in the Tozer Air & Electrical Class 1 Handicap (1250m) last start after leading the field up by approximately 2-3 lengths in a good-even pace and never shirked the task in the straight. When relating comparisons and figures relative to other races on the day, this race rated the highest. The four-year-old gelding has shown that his peak performances come deep into a preparation when at optimal fitness. The soft draw and Dylan Gibbons, who is riding at a 20.5% strike rate at Goulburn, should give him every chance to run well.

Dangers: 7. Tulla Park is a real improver back to a dry track and represents value. His figures line up and can figure. 14. Mr Aloysius will roll forward and look to replicate a dominant display when winning the East Coast Radio Country Magic Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (1400m) last start. 11. Freaky Freckles has trialled well enough for today’s assignment.

How to play it: Da Nang Star WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds) & Tulla Park WIN ($13.00). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Da Nang Star’s last start on February 5

Dawn Flight was honest in the Tozer Air & Electrical Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) last start. She stuck on well whilst racing in the inferior ground and the other on-pace runners faded badly in the straight. The combination of being down in grade and a favourable map should give her every chance to break-through for a win this preparation.

Dangers: 6. Manderboss receives the blinkers for the first time and gets a metropolitan jockey change in Brock Ryan. The step up to 1600m suits and look for him to run on strongly. 5. Budderoo Blitz is the only last-start winner in the field, and all of his best form is on dry tracks. 4. The Grundler will need luck from a wide-draw but produced his career-best effort in terms of ratings last start in the C & C Painting Group Handicap (1600m). 13. Amarantz has raced wide her last two and can improve today with luck in the run.

How to play it: Dawn Flight E/W ($7.50 TAB FIXED ODDS) Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Dawn Flight’s last start on February 5

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Goulburn meeting