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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 3m from 900m to 400m, 2m from 400m to the WP & True the remainder

Finally we get on a track that's much closer to Good then Heavy, and two runners rate above the rest in the opener. Ex-Victorian three-year-old 8. Hettinger resumes off a nine week break, and for the new home track leading stable. Has been fitted with two recent tidy trials on this course, blinkers come off, and draws to get a nice run in transit.

Dangers: Home track three-year-old 11. Perfect Point was heavily backed before finishing on to claim all but the winner on debut in heavy going on the course proper, and yearning for more ground now. Gap to the rest headed by resuming three-year-old 10. Nayziair who has trialled okay; while 12. Trumpster is ready to peak third-up from a softer draw and back on firmer ground.

How to play it: Hettinger to win and quinella 8 and 11. Odds and Evens: Split

The girls' edition is a wider affair, with a few key first starters on show. Japanese-sired home track three-year-old 5. Deelosh was ridden with purpose to win the second of two trials, and looks tuned up for a big debut, with senior stable rider taking over.

Dangers: Capable three-year-old and Kris Lees-trained stablemate 8. Paradise Island has trialled okay since a fair effort in soft ground at Taree, and the extra 150m is a plus. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Deelosh to win and quinella 5 and 8. Odds and Evens: Split

Some real potential in this maiden. Home track Capitalist filly 4. Wealthofknowledge certainly laid down a big marker for this by charging home to finish less than two lengths from the winner on debut in heavy going. She was $9.50 into $6.50 that day, and given she draws to get plenty of cover back in the field, is the one to hold out again.

Dangers: Astern filly 8. Oronoco is a threat fourth-up. Failed to run home on the course proper from an awkward gate three weeks back, but previous efforts were good, and a senior rider sticks solid. Metro five-year-old 6. Imperial Wolf can improve sharply fourth-up from the inside gate getting back on firm ground.

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

Play it again Sam for the maidens, although this is more open and potentially a lot deeper. Like the big value here about three-year-old Dundeel filly 8. Mirror Queen on debut for a leading country stable. Has performed well in two trials, the latest making up plenty of late ground behind a smart sprinter and coming through the slowest part of the track. Over the odds!

Dangers: Must keep safe tough filly 9. Miss Calculation who resumes off a quiet trial for high strike-rate provincial stable. Improving local filly 10. Star Impact was disappointing on debut as a rock solid favorite, but the track was very heavy, and she'll improve sharply back on firmer footing. Hard to fathom why provincial four-year-old 1. Sacred Delago opened at such a big price after doing his best work late on debut at Port, and blinkers have been added.

How to play it: Mirror Queen each way. Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky race. Ultra honest provincial five-year-old 1. Endless River comes through a string of very handy form races. Gets a timely drop in class here, with the big weight being off-set by a 4kg booking, and three starts back was beaten under three lengths by Conscript who has gone on to win his next two up to BM 72 metropolitan grade.

Dangers: Smart local three-year-old 6. Jet Pack missed a run 11 days ago because of the Big Wet. Finished hard to win first-up in a handy CL1 at Port, but up sharply to 59.5kg here, and threatens to go around under the odds. Keep safe improving mare 8. Flying Pretty third-up.

How to play it: Endless River to win. Odds and Evens: Split

A few chances in this too headed by promising Real Impact four-year-old 4. Akasawa who resumes off two progressive trials up to 1000m. One of the better fresh sprinters in non-metro NSW, and looks beautifully placed, drawn to get cover off the speed, with the "Raging Bull" in the saddle.

Dangers: Watch the market closely around stablemate five-year-old 1. Total Recall who also resumes behind two progressive trials. Exotic players should include at bigger odds, 3. Absolute Trust second-up; and improving metro four-year-old 8. Land Of Valens third-up with a little weight relief.

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

Another good quality affair for this grade. From the same stable as the previous top selection, three-year-old filly 10. Shalstar is well on the rise ahead of her third start. Came from a mile back in a big run on debut before landing her maiden ridden closer in handy company at Gosford. The one to beat!

Dangers: Metro mare 8. Penopera defied her double figure price to swamp them late in a handy provincial maiden, and she drew to find a decent off-speed trail. Improving provincial three-year-old 11. Rocstar Boy dug in hard to finish over the top and claim his maiden first-up at Quirindi, but this is tougher and not sure the inside draw does him any favors; while three-year-old 9. Dethroned resumes behind two quieter trials.

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

One of the more open and tougher races on the program is saved for last. Consistent home track filly 11. Dawnburst has held her form nicely since a narrow fresh win at Port. Up in distance, but she looks well treated at the weights from a handy draw, and finds a striking position on speed.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by rival local filly 12. Dawntillarvi who also likes to roll forward, and draws a nice low gate fourth-up. Keep safe improving provincial mare 13. Miss Twenty Twenty who is hard fit and also draws well; while 7. Princess Zeddy second-up is a knockout.

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

BETS BETS:
R6 4. AKASAWA
R7 10. SHALSTAR

BEST VALUE:
R5 1. ENDLESS RIVER

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Newcastle meeting