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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 5 and rail True for Showcase Cup meeting

The more experienced sprinters get us underway, with the Rail unmoved from Wednesday. Good speed on here should set it up nicely for consistent Taree four-year-old 11. Standing Bear who resumes without publicly trialling but comes to hand quickly. Right at home on soft ground, and can settle just off the speed and run over them.

Dangers: Tough six-year-old 7. Wallace Street hasn't been missed by the handicapper with 60kg, but has a sound fresh and soft track record, and is well over the odds. Coffs mare 5. In A Step has good early speed, and looks well placed after the 4kg weight claim coming back in grade; while 8. Tobasco goes in exotics.

How to play it: Standing Bear each way. Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen on Gold Coast three-year-old 3. Edification who is ready to win again from an ideal trailing draw. Been given three weeks between runs coming back a little in distance since flashing home from well back in a similar race.

Dangers: Progressive local mare 10. La Cronica is the immediate threat fourth-up and rising in trip after finishing harder in a better race, was preferred here to Wednesday's meeting. Improving three-year-old 5. Four Egos is best of the rest third-up and dropping in grade.

How to play it: Edification to win and box exacta 3,5,10. Odds and Evens: Split

A good field of fillies and mare lock horns, although not much natural speed about. Progressive provincial five-year-old 2. Think Free can make it two straight after sweeping home for a dominant second-up win in the Wauchope Cup. Proven weight carrier who should get the right run off the speed with cover, and five of her six career wins have come in soft going.

Dangers: Smart four-year-old 6. Hard Labour has won four from eight, and been freshened via a forward trial. Has superior metro form over the border, although getting back from the inside gate might be a hurdle. Far North Coast mare 4. Zac Attack is building an impressive record, and was charging home late in the John Carlton Cup here 11 days ago. Expecting a big run from 5. Amicitia on the fresh side after a trial, and with winkers added; while provincial mare 1. Oakfield Missile has to cart a big weight third-up, but she's closed off well in consecutive stronger metro races, and will naturally find this easier.

How to play it: Think Free to win and trifecta 2,6/1,2,4,5,6/1,2,4,5,6. Odds and Evens: Evens a special

The youngsters will be on full throttle right from the jump here. Like QLD visitor 3. Derani back in trip fourth-up with blinkers coming off. Charged late to win a 2YO sprint at Doomben before close-up over further at Ipswich, and drew to get an ideal trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Promising and well bred 2. Buck Pharoah has put two wins together in heavy ground, both times stalking the speed and finishing best. A much tougher draw here and up in distance leave him under the odds.

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

Tricky sprint. Resuming 8. I Am Beauty has been trialling strongly, and resumes from the inside draw.

Dangers: Lightly raced mare 5. Amber Deluxe closed off well second-up, and wants more ground. Was scratched from Wednesday's card to run here. Watch the betting on both tough three-year-old 13. Latin Dayz; and local three-year-old 15. Ambridge who worked home stylishly on debut at Coffs.

How to play it: I Am Beauty to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Smart Tamworth three-year-old 10. Ice In Vancouver is third-up, and likely to dominate betting with blinkers going on. Toyed with his rivals first-up at home before failing to finish off in a high class metro BM 78 chasing a powerhouse front-runner. Looks the winner back in this company after missing a start in Wednesday's Ramornie, although wouldn't be diving into too short a quote.

Dangers: Progressive Scone four-year-old 12. Unpredicted has put two wins together up to BM 64 provincial grade, and has the necessary speed to hold his position from the inside barrier. Capable six-year-old 8. The Drake only got warmed up late in the Wauchope Sprint fresh off an eight week spell, and extra trip and more pressure up front will see him thundering home. Include 14. Cassy's Sister in wider exotics.

How to play it: Ice In Vancouver to win and quinella 10 and 12. Odds and Evens: Evens

Now for the Listed feature, and typically there are a stack of chances with a solid tempo expected. Keen on super consistent five-year-old 7. Parry Sound who hasn't missed a place in five runs, the latest three all in Listed company. Carries half kilo less than a solid McKell Cup effort over 2000m, and much better off back out to this journey.

Dangers: Doubt one has ever had such a bigger weight drop on a quick back-up than seven-year-old 6. Berdibek who is also desperate for this longer trip. Charged home to beat all bar Stockman in that McKell Cup before carting 66kg at Rosehill just five days ago. Drops a massive 14kg for this on an improving track. Talented six-year-old 3. Laure Me In will appreciate getting onto a bigger track after not getting much room in the Listed Ipswich Cup working home strong from the back. Ready for this longer journey, and the more the track dries out the better. Talented and lightly raced mare 10. Purrfect Deal careered away for an easy Cup Prelude win, and also gets huge relief down to the limit weight for a significant rise in class. Tough six-year-old and last-start metro BM 88 winner 13. Spencer deep into his prep; and Victorian topweight 1. Mirage Dancer; are big-priced knock-out hopes.

How to play it: Parry Sound each way and box trifecta 3,6,7,10. Odds and Evens: Split

We wrap it up over the short course, and now that high class Scone four-year-old 4. Remlaps Gem has returned to winning ways via a dominant display at home, he can go on with it. Drops 6kg from that effort when he ran some time, and the one to beat despite the wider draw.

Dangers: Local five-year-old 3. Jule's Spirit can figure fourth-up down in weight from the inside barrier. Consistent seven-year-old 6. Attila charged home to win the Cannonball at Coonamble, and while this is harder, he rarely runs a bad one. Both 9. Lord Tony who won the Lightning at Gunnedah; and speedy 12. Pearl Roan coming back from two solid efforts in metro class; are over the odds.

How to play it: Remlaps Gem to win. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R4 3. DERANI
R8 4. REMLAPS GEM

BEST VALUE:
R3 2. THINK FREE

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Grafton Cup meeting