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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail true

The stayers kick off the Showcase meeting on a surface drying out all the time, and it shapes well for progressive four-year-old 6. Mindspace on a 10-day turnaround from a tough closing second placing in the Cup Prelude here. That was on a heavy 8, and even better suited now in betting going, and afforded a cosy run off the speed from the inside draw, he can capture a third win from six starts this prep.

Dangers: Keep safe at good odds 1. Gulf Of Tomini who is also hard fit deep into the prep, and advantaged by a drier track; while 4. Six Foot Song who was heavily backed in the Cup Prelude, but failed badly in the going, is best of the rest and goes in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Mindspace to win

Hard to go past talented three-year-old 5. Superstitious who resumes as a likely short priced favourite with key gear changes behind a smart trial win. Was very competitive against tougher city opposition last prep, and this rates as an ideal starting point.

Dangers: Watch the betting on 1. Barron, who has charged home to miss narrowly in his last three runs, and despite a sharp weight increase, has been afforded 24 days between runs to off-set the drop back in distance. Local two-year old 12. Jumbled reloads 10 days after a solid debut run here in heavy ground, with a more experienced jockey taking over. Include 7. Brisket who drew the fence third-up with winkers being added in trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Superstitious to win

Love the value here about progressive 7. Wee Kahuna who can rubber-stamp some improving form deep into the current prep, and crucially back on a drier surface. Came off a fair closing effort in a handy maiden at Scone to twice hit the line hard in this region when solid enough in the market. Right at his peak now, and drawn to get cover back around midfield.

Dangers: Sunshine Coast filly and early favourite 11. Miss Dynamo is a worthy measuring stick coming off two sound closing efforts over the border, the latest missing narrowly in a handy midweek maiden at Eagle Farm, and draws to get a lovely trail just off the speed. Big watch too on improving filly 10. Lost Illusions who looks set to peak third-up over a bit more ground. Plenty of respect for 1. Clubhouse who has worked home into a place in his last three starts, and gets a much needed rise in distance. Keep safe at big odds, hard fit 5. More Elements who drew the inside, with a leading country jockey taking over.

How to play it: Wee Kahuna each way

Lightly raced three-year-old 7. My Mum's Toyboy has plenty of ability for this level, and resumes for a second prep behind a strong trial win in heavy going. Bolted in on debut last time, loves any cut out of the ground, and only needs to slide across from the wider barrier to be the one to beat.

Dangers: Despite being lumped with 61kg, 1. Town Crier is a worthy threat third-up after a commanding win at Dalby in Qld as a hot favorite, although more depth in this field. Keep safe 4. Cavaup, resuming from a handy draw for a leading country stable off a steady trial at Doomben. Included in trifecta and first fours at bigger odds, stablemates 5. Field Of Myrtle and 8. The Lion's Gate, both jumping from low draws third-up.

How to play it: My Mum's Toyboy to win

Open and tricky race over the mile, but no better value than Gold Coast-based four-year-old 9. Hayaku who is primed fourth-up at good odds coming back from CL2 metro level. Bolted in a weaker race over the border three runs back before again hitting the line in a BM 58, then an even effort at Eagle Farm on an unsuitable Heavy 9 surface where he was drawn in the wrong part of the track. Can be ridden quieter here on the limit weight, and cut loose over the final 350m.

Dangers: Improving 1. Barazin will be hard to beat from an ideal cover draw third-up after working home solidly at Wyong three weeks ago. Honest mare 2. Vadamos Queen hasn't won for a while and is guilty of mixing her form, but suited coming back in distance from a deeper provincial BM 64. Tough 3. Twin Turbo is right in the hunt after beating all bar the winner in his last two at Hawkesbury, the latest after being backed from $2.50 into $2.30. 4. Gallic Fox off a fresh win in a provincial CL1; and 5. Externus who fought on bravely into a place at Wyong when coming off a five week let-up; head the rest ahead of improving Qld-based mare 7. Better Yet third-up with a significant jockey change.

How to play it: Hayaku to win

The main support and non-claiming race run under Quality conditions for three-year-olds stacks up nicely for talented three-year-old 9. Impendor who will relish the extra furlong fifth-up, with blinkers coming off. Swept home to easily win his maiden as the hottest of favorites three starts ago before running home well in a CL1 at Doomben. Then again found the line late in a deeper BM 70 at Eagle Farm. That form reads very well for this dropping 3.5kg.

Dangers: Naturally 5. Toes In The Water has never raced better, winning her last two including a dominant CL3 Highway win at Rosehill. Best weighted runner under the conditions of the race, but still threatens to around under the odds from a wide draw. 4. Change The Date made it three straight wins leading all the way in the Guineas Prelude here, and dropping 4kg, but taking on a much smarter field. Progressive filly 7. Soul Lady wasn't far away in that same Highway won by Toes In The Water, and drops 2.5kg for this from a soft draw; while 8. Kaihoko is another each way chance coming through that same Highway formline, and slipping down to the limit weight.

How to play it: Impendor to win

Smart Godolphin four-year-old 3. Pereille can claim the feature Listed sprint third-up, and a month between runs. Should have won the Listed Hinkler at Eagle Farm when charging home late under 56.5kg to miss by a half length. Been kept ticking over nicely at the trials, and placed ideally coming back 100m in trip off the freshen-up. Drawn to settle back, and get to the outside early in the straight.Thrives on any rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Metro mare 4. Tashi has good ability, and also did her best work late in Group 3 company at Eagle Farm 19 days ago. Keep safe Qld mare 7. Bezique who has found one better in his last three at Listed level, and has the tactical speed to off-set a tricky draw. At very big odds, 17. Dalaalaat can run into the money second-up from a low draw; while 2. King Kapa and 8. Ka Bling both coming back from Group 3 level; and 11. Kayobi six weeks after flopping in a BM 94 at Randwick; can all add plenty of value into trifecta and first four returns.

How to play it: Pereille to win

In the toughest and widest betting race on the program, improving filly 13. Winter's Promise can strike third-up off a month-long break. Was run down late in heavy going first-up before claiming her maiden at home as a heavily backed favourite 24 days ago. Right up to this tougher assignment, and she boasts superior tactical speed.

Dangers: 1. Draft Day is over the odds second-up from a soft draw with the blinkers removed, and with a 3kg claim to off-set the big weight. Expecting sharp improvement from 4. Miss Thatcher back on drier ground fourth-up. Big watch on underrated mare 5. Allay who continues to improve, and was scratched from Dubbo on Monday to be saved for this. Include 3. Clipper Ship who drew the fence; and improving mare 7. Sycamore in wider exotic bets.

How to play it: Winter's Promise each way

BEST BETS:
R1 6. MINDSPACE
R4 7. MY MUM'S TOYBOY

BEST VALUE:
R6 9. IMPENDOR

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