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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true

We start the Showcase Cup day meeting over the short course, and lightly raced four-year-old 1. Panuara Boy is the one to beat third-up in his first full prep. Has sat on-speed and only gone down narrowly in two runs back, and strikes peak fitness now. Has the early tactical speed to off-set a wider draw, and the jockey who steered him home on debut last July gets back aboard.

Dangers: Resuming colt 6. Sir Havachat is drawn even further out, but also boasts early speed, and has trialled well. Keep a close watch on 2. The Sherpa who is over the odds first-up with gear changes and behind two trials; while including 3. Managua and 4. Rayock in wider exotics.

How to play it: Panuara Boy to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Same distance for the maidens, and improving three-year-old 6. Supidoman can go one better after being run down here resuming on Boxing Day. Had trialled well leading in, but that was his first start for nearly six months so will come on plenty from that.

Dangers: Despite a wide draw, promising 4. Bean Groovy is the logical threat after getting home late on debut in metropolitan company over the border when found trouble under an ugly ride, but key jockey change has been made. Will likely settle well back again, but watch for him thundering home. Speedy four-year-old 3. Toy Boy Run is also right in the hunt having just been edged out when resuming at Coffs over a shorter trip; but the way he stuck on strong down a much longer straight augers well for a big showing here on the smaller course. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Supidoman to win and box exacta 3,4,6
Odds and Evens: Evens

Still with the maidens, but out over a middle distance. Keen at the value here aboard honest five-year-old 8. Mahomes who is still chasing a breakthrough win ahead of his 33rd start. Worked home well in two consecutive runs around this district before doing too much work from the wide gate only six days ago. The quick back-up is a good stable sign, and he draws to get a much softer run over a bit more ground.

Dangers: Progressive Qld four-year-old 5. Jimmy Giggle is a stand-out threat second-up from an ideal trailing draw; while 7. King Tereus resuming from the inside draw; and 11. Elmita with a 2kg claim; head the rest.

How to play it: Mahomes each way and quinella 5 and 8
Odds and Evens: Split

Wide open battle here over further, with many chances. Keen on tough and still progressive mare 8. Beef Week Princess who is ready to pounce again deep into the prep. Placed twice in her last two, and loved the way she attacked the line under a big weight at last time. This is stronger, but dropping 3.5kg from a softer draw over further, she only needs clear air from the 400m to produce a superior closing burst.

Dangers: Tough 2. Dorset Coast circled early last time from midfield before surging away to win a weaker race. He's hard fit having campaigned since early spring, and carries weight well. Similarly, 3. Kingstar Bullet has been racing against stronger, and also a reliable weight carrier. Gets back out to a more suitable trip having beaten all bar the winner in two of her last three, and is comfortably over the odds. Junior claiming rider is the query. Must include Gold Coast-based 4. Jetfoil who has been finding the line okay across shorter trips, and makes his debut at the track. Included in trifectas and first fours 5. Savaheat back in trip with winkers replacing blinkers; front-running mare 6. Rahaan; and 7. Vantastic who draws the fence fifth-up.

How to play it: Beef Week Princess to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive four-year-old 1. Al Ash Lad only needs his share of room from the turn to break through here second-up. Stuck on well chasing home at Ipswich three weeks ago, and will again roll forward into the leading group in what looks a weaker race.

Dangers: Drawn right alongside, 2. Nano Star is a clear threat having hit the line well in a deeper metro field 16 days ago. At bigger odds, keep safe 13. Revontulet who can improve into her second start over 100m further.

How to play it: Al Ash Lad to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Good quality and depth in this sprint, with several strong chances. Progressive mare 11. Palawa Kani has taken big strides winning her last two up to CL3 level, both times coming from midfield, and while this is tougher, she can again settle back off a good speed and produce a sustained finish. Over the odds.

Dangers: Toowoomba eight-year-old 1. Let's Party Marty has been through four stables in two states, but maintains a smart fresh record. Faces a big task, though, drawn off the track with a big weight and rookie claiming jockey. Watch for a big first-up run from 2. Parksville who comes to hand quickly and was dominant in a recent trial. Include 8. Star Magnum resuming off an open class trial win; and 9. Light Of Boom who draws to get a soft run around midfield; in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Palawa Kani each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Naturally plenty of chances in the feature Cup over a middle distance. Settled on Gold Coast-based five-year-old 6. Mix who hasn't missed a place in his last four, including a spectacular last-to-first performance at Eagle Farm nine days ago. Looks well treated back down to 58.5kg here, just may need to get rolling earlier coming back to a smaller and tighter track.

Dangers: Smart five-year-old 5. Spangler is a big threat fourth-up. Charged home to win at Canterbury two starts back before against finishing hard in metro BM 78 company. The down side is a far inferior rider gets on from a a very tricky draw. Capable 4. Sagacious is one of a few runners over the odds having finished best to claim a BM 85 third-up; while last start Xmas Cup winner at this track 8. The Tyler is hard fit, and another strong each way hope from a soft trailing draw.

How to play it: Mix each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Can't go past talented and rising Coffs three-year-old 6. Olakau'atu behind a dominant first-up CL1 win at home. Has enough early speed to take advantage of a low draw, and as long as he gets room from the 350m, boasts superior closing acceleration.

Dangers: Respect for 3. Ascot Express who has been in and around the money in Qld all prep, and sneaks down in the weights; while locally-trained 1. Eyes To Eye can run into the money second-up.

How to play it: Olakau'atu to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R1 1. PANUARA BOY
R5 1. AL ASH LAD

BEST VALUE:
R6 11. PALAWA KANI

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