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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

7. Kermitsapet is on debut here and performed well enough in a trial in preparation for this. She’s a well-bred filly that has drawn well and has the benefit of an apprentice allowance.

Dangers: 6. Get Some Fun is also on debut and has had two solid trials leading into this. She’s drawn well and looks set to be prominent from the outset. 1. Savagoodtime has been placed in each of his two trials leading into this debut performance. He’s from a good stable and warrants plenty of respect. 2. Scattering is having his first start and comes into this on the back of a solid trial in which he performed well. A bold showing is on the cards.

How to play it: Kermitsapet WIN.

5. Justifiably has been showing improvement with racing and comes into this on the back of a last start second at Scone He was midfield at this track before that at start three, and he is ready to peak now.

Dangers: 3. Brief Song was a winner at Muswellbrook before being spelled, then resumed with a solid finishing second at Scone. She disappointed at Newcastle last time out but can improve on that here. 1. Firealarm broke his maiden on the Acton track at Canberra in July. He was down the track there at his latest start but can bounce back to form here. 4. Mystic Diva won a maiden at Moruya last month and since then was just behind the placings at Wagga. She has bright claims here.

How to play it: Justifiably WIN.

2. Gold Sluice failed to beat a runner home on debut at Tamworth, then showed improvement to finish second at this track when just edged out at start two. He broke through with an easy victory at Taree last time out and only needs to run up to that to be the one to beat here.

Dangers: 1. Oenology resumed from a spell for a new stable at his latest start and finished second at Tamworth. He’s won one race and been placed in an additional four on top of the latest effort from 12 starts and is bound to five plenty of cheek here. 3. Highly Tempted looked good winning at Taree two starts ago and was a solid third at Newcastle last time out. 6. Royal Teens loomed as the winner at Coffs Harbour last week and her run peaked late when finishing third.

How to play it: Gold Sluice WIN.

2. I’m Done ran his best race yet when finishing a close second at this track last time out. That was an improvement on his first four starts, in which he wasn’t disgraced in any. He gets his chance here.

Dangers: 1. El Beattle had his first start for a new stable and started as a short-priced favourite when fourth at Tamworth. He has talent and is capable of bouncing back. 5. Bodhi Boy is on debut and is a trial winner leading into this. 9. Exceedaqa ran second here before a last start fourth at Newcastle. That form should hold her in good stead for this.

How to play it: I’m Done EACH WAY.

1. Alice Mae has been placed in three of her four race starts and comes into this having finished second at Taree when resuming from a spell, and then being a solid finishing third at Newcastle against tougher opposition than she meets here.

Dangers: 7. That’s Outstanding has been placed in one of three starts and comes into this after a couple handy trials. He should figure prominently here. 3. Shebrings Beauty has been placed in seven of 11 starts and wasn’t beaten far when last produced at Scone. She has her share of talent and is not out of this. 9. November Air is lightly raced and is a last start placegetter that warrants thought in this.

How to play it: Alice Mae WIN.

5. Salamancas broke his maiden with a win at Kempsey when well in the market at start eight. He has three placings to his name as well and looks to have the ability to make an impact in this.

Dangers: 5. All Too Rosey took a long time to break through but has now won two of her latest three starts, including a solid win at this track last month. She was down the track here last time out before bouncing back with an all-the-way Kempsey win last time out. 8. The Young Years followed a Taree victory with a last start second here when performing well. 3. Declutter has found form winning each of his latest two starts. He’s been dominant in each of them and can’t be discounted from the main chances in this.

How to play it: Salamancas WIN.

5. Prime Impact has been racing well of late without winning. He was just behind the placings three starts ago at Tamworth over 1600m, then finished second at Hawkesbury when beaten less than a length. He comes into this on the back of a last start fifth at Canterbury when he battled on well over 1900m. He is up in distance for this but has the right form for this.

Dangers: 2. Jack Duggan had been racing well when just behind the placings in three starts at Newcastle, Canterbury and Coffs Harbour, before finishing midfield against Midway opposition at Rosehill last time out in a solid enough performance. He has claims here based on that form. 3. Olympic Gaze ran fourth in the Wyong Cup Prelude then wasn’t beaten far in Saturday city grade or in the Wyong Cup despite finishing near the rear of the field in each. He can give a sight back to this company. 8. Cenotes had handy enough Highway form in town before showing his best winning two on end at Tamworth at his latest two starts. This is tougher but he warrants thought again.

How to play it: Prime Impact WIN.

13. Beetson is a winner of two of his 10 starts and was a winner at this track over this distance when resuming from a spell this time last year. He won again at Scone two starts later then was spelled after a last placing at Gosford. He resumed again with a fourth behind Panic at Wyong in March and resumes again in this. He’s drawn well enough here and Andrew Gibbons takes the ride.

Dangers: 7. Zoe Shark resumed from a spell at this track with a second as favourite when leading and going down narrowly. She since ran a close-up third at Newcastle and should take plenty of running down again. 8. I Am Sugoi was resuming from a spell on the back of a Scone trial win when finishing midfield at Scone. He should be better for that hitout and can improve. 5. Supreme Command was a solid winner at this track last month, then ran second at Taree when close-up. He was since down the track at Kempsey but has had a solid trial since then to be readied for this.

How to play it: Beetson WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 3 (2) Gold Sluice.
Race 5 (1) Alice Mae.

Best Value:
Race 4 (2) I’m Done.

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Tuncurry Cup meeting