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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail True.

We start the meeting with the maiden sprinters on a surface expected to hover around that 5/6 rating. Like the set-up here for improving filly 9. Showtime Sassy second-up off a six month break. Held her ground okay when resuming in a smarter Super Maiden, and with the extra fitness on her side and staying at the distance, she draws to get a nice trail right behind the speed.

Dangers: Expecting sharp improvement at second start from 2. Reigning Captain after dropping out on debut in deeper provincial company as an easing favourite after being caught wide early. Had previously trialled in smart fashion on a Soft 6. Honest 3. The Hoff is well into the prep, and has had plenty of outings on rain-affected ground; while Wanted mare 7. Jocund is a market watch on debut behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Showtime Sassy to win

Tricky and wide affair here with most offering inconsistent form. Ultra honest and still improving mare 7. Miss Adamas can finally break through at her 17th start, and third-up off a month-long freshening. Worked home nicely in a better provincial maiden before hitting the line late into a place on heavy ground at Muswellbrook. That run reads well for this, especially with a significant jockey change and getting out over more ground.

Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced filly 9. Poppy Boxer who is also primed to break through at her fourth start from a sound trailing draw. The market will be a good indicator with 4. Bright Legend resuming for a new Scone stable. Hasn't publicly trialled, but was solid enough against better provincial opposition last spring. The blinkers going on third-up at big odds can bring good improvement to 3. Reacquaint on a 10-day back-up and dropping to a weaker race; while debutant mare 10. Shutter by Divine Prophet and 11. Uninsurabal first-up off a handy heavy track trial; both go in exotic plays.

How to play it: Miss Adamas to win

Improving mare 2. Sacred Mistress is well placed to break through third-up in her first full prep. Worked home late from the back resuming over too short a trip before settling much closer to beat all but the winner in heavy ground three weeks ago. This looks like the right trip now, and she's bred to thrive in the wet being by dual Doncaster-winning mudlark Sacred Falls.

Dangers: Plenty of respect for 4. Starpoppy who hit the line hard third-up in a Super Maiden at Wellington. Watch the betting on resuming filly 3. So Newchee Thinks who was okay on debut in better company late last year, and hasn't been asked to do anything in two very quiet trials; while improving filly 5. Specula second-up over a furlong further is clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Sacred Mistress to win

A stack of chances over the longer trip here headed by tough four-year-old 5. Subscribe Me who has been in and around the money in stronger fields all prep, and drawn to get a soft run around midfield, with the leading jockey sticking.

Dangers: Improving 6. Piccapeppa is a genuine chance over a bit further after beating all but the winner fourth-up. The extra trip will also benefit provincial mare 7. Akauwheo who drops back from tougher opposition fifth-up, but has to overcome a wider draw, and may go to taree instead. Honest 3. Bill Peyto finishest best in a weaker field to finally capture a fourth career win deep into the current prep, although more depth in this line-up. Included in exotics, sparingly raced 1. Natural Mystic with a 4kg claimer off-setting the huge weight; and 10. Crown'm dropping back in grade fifth-up from a soft draw.

How to play it: Subscribe Me to win and box exacta 5,6,7

The veteran of the field, eight-year-old 2. Shen Gui is enjoying a strong prep. Swept home from well back to win this grade three starts ago, before again charging home in heavy ground to miss narrowly. Then did it tough from a wide draw under a big weight in a deeper field at Scone, but still finished off fairly. Gets back on preferred rain-affected ground here, with an important jockey change, and with any sort of trail from the half mile he can power over the top.

Dangers: Dubbo-based 10. Hallowed Star is very fit, stepping up from weaker garde, and well treated under a nice weight drop with a key gear change. Improving 6. Miss Nicolini steps up from an easy second-up win in a weaker BM 58. Keep safe 8. Lord Finland who gets a significant weight drop; while 1. Dawn County down in grade deep into the prep, with blinkers back on; 3. Herne Hill third-up; and 4. Just Jacky fifth-up can all run into the minor money.

How to play it: Shen Gui to win

Same graded race over the dash stacks up nicely for provincial filly 2. Gerety, resuming off a 19-week break. Has been fitted with two provincial trials, and handles all going.

Dangers: Keep safe progressive 3. Sparkingly who found the line okay third-up in a handy CL1 at Wellington. Sparingly raced 4. Pocket Picker disappointed three weeks ago when rock solid in the market, but handed a vital gear change here, and suited with the little drop back to the short course. Big watch on resuming mare 1. Villa Treville who hasn't raced since last winter when she capped a progressive prep with back-to-back wins at this level, and tuned up for her return with a solid trial. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Gerety to win

Capable filly 2. Scholl Deep is ready to salute again after four runs back from a spell, all at Newcastle finishing in a place or just behind. Handles the going and back to country level here, with a superior pilot taking over from a nice trailing draw, she can grab a second career win.

Dangers: Lightly raced 1. Cheap Gas hit the line hard as a heavily backed favorite to claim his maiden first-up at Wellington. Keep safe emerging provincial filly 6. Pisa Cake coming back a little in distance at her third start. Big gap to the rest.

How to play it: Scholl Deep to win

BEST BETS:
R3 2. SACRED MISTRESS
R7 2. SCHOLL DEEP

BEST VALUE:
R6 2. GERETY

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