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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True:

We start Showcase Cup day with the maiden sprinters, and this stacks up nicely for talented Canberra filly 5. Penthouse who is the only two-year-old in the field. Drops back significantly from Listed company on debut at Eagle Farm 23 days ago when she hit the line nicely from midfield. By boom sprinting sire Capitalist, and a stronger pilot takes over.

Dangers: Resuming home track three-year-old 2. Harley Street normally comes to hand early in the prep, and is over the odds from a low draw. Keep safe four-year-old 3. Thieving who dropped out on debut at Wagga after doing it tough from the gate, but he was well backed that day and in a smart stable. Improving provincial three-year-old 7. Brazilian Banker heads the rest.

How to play it: Penthouse to win and Harley Street each way. Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive local filly 12. Brave Maso has been given three weeks since charging home late second start at Canberra. Should be right at her peak now first go on firm ground, and big fan of the Cable Bay sireline.

Dangers: You couldn't miss the debut run of Canberra filly 14. Texas Star who rattled home from the back to just miss at Nowra in heavy ground, and dropping 3kg for this deeper test. Another emerging one from the Matt Dale stable, 4. Dream Game is a serious threat second-up if he can tuck in from the wide draw. Let punters down badly at home when beaten as a hot favorite in that same race as the top selection, but carries 1.5kg less and blinkers have been applied. Improving three-year-old 5. Hedge Fund made a mockery of his big debut price hitting the line nicely in a handy maiden. Watch the betting on metro filly 13. Honey Dew fourth-up from a better gate; while 6. Pink Panther missed his return run at Queanbeyan after being declared a late scratching, but he's been in work for a while.

How to play it: Bracve Maso each way and box exacta 4,12,14. Odds and Evens: Evens

Another very even and open contest. Progressive local six-year-old 7. Scottish Soldier finished like a train here two weeks back to pinch a handy BM 58. This is tougher, but he's still on the rise and drops a significant 3kg. Over the odds big time!

Dangers: Talented provincial mare 2. Loving Cila should again drift well back from her wider draw fourth-up, and look to power home. Flashed late here two weeks back carrying 2.5kg more, although meeting some better ones this time. Provincial mare 1. Stolen Glance has been disappointing in her last two, and while this is a significant drop in class, the handicapper still hasn't missed up 5kg to 60kg. Tough four-year-old 3. Viking Power sealed some steadily improving form finishing best to win a CL2 in heavy ground a month ago, although the inside draw won't do her pattern many favors; while consistent metro mare 4. Songbird Serenade hasn't been far off them in her last two since claiming a weaker CL1 seven weeks back.

How to play it: Scottish Soldier each way
Odds and Evens: Split

Yet another wide betting tussle with plenty of chances. Keen on emerging Real Impact three-year-old 4. Brazen Impact who has trialled well since sweeping home for a smart first-up maiden win at Wagga early last month. May need to get away from the fence, but the extra ground is right up his alley.

Dangers: Tough Canberra mare 5. Pandering took a long time to strike form, but once she cracked that maiden three starts back, has progressed along nicely, beaten narrowly in her next two at BM 58 level. Suspect she still has more to offer in a long prep, staying at the distance and importantly getting in on the limit weight. Included in exotics provincial six-year-old 1. Destacado second-up; while home filly 6. Real Salty is well over the odds second run back.

How to play it: Brazen Impact to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive Canberra filly 4. Miss Ostend is primed to strike third-up after working home late in deeper Highway grade on Boxing Day. Draws to get plenty of cover along the inside, and is well treated carrying only 1kg more here.

Dangers: Smart Canberra mare 3. Molly Nails returns from a three month spell. Sparingly raced through last year reaching Listed level, and already proven herself fresh, just needs to tuck in from the awkward gate. Tough local four-year-old 1. Dragons Breath will find this more to his fancy after wilting in stronger provincial company second-up; while local six-year-old 2. Blaazay is the clear best of the rest, dropping back from Highway grade.

How to play it: Miss Ostend to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Feature sprint on the program augurs well for another Canberra raider in lightly raced five-year-old 6. Golden Gorge who can launch third-up. Has closed off okay in consecutive CL3 Highways, and over a bit more ground, he's the best weighted runner in the race dropping 4kg to the limit.

Dangers: Rival seven-year-old 7. Mad As Zariz has never raced better, with two wins and three placings from his last five stretching back to late autumn. Also drops sharply in weight and draws to get good cover, but his best form is clearly on rain-affected going. Tough-as-teak 4. Up Trumpz hasn't won for a while, but the way he's finished hard into a place in his last two suggests he's close to breaking through. Include in exotics third-up 9. Moore Euros who is a pure dry tracker.

How to play it: Golden Gorge to win. Odds and Evens: Split

The headline race also throws up plenty of chances, but none better than hard-finishing mare 6. Girls Are Ready who draws to go back-to-back fourth-up. Was dominant from just off the speed in a BM 85 Federal at Canberra five weeks back, and while all her stand-out form is in the wet, she's capable on firm ground and beautifully treated on the limit 55kg.

Dangers: Got plenty of time for 2. Intuition who is also set to peak fourth-up after working home strongly at big odds in a metro BM 78 on Boxing Day. Despite hauling another big weight, front-running six-year-old 1. Peyton Place can give a big sight also freshened out of that same Federal race as the top selection. Loves it firm, and has won three from seven at the track. Gap to the rest headed by 5. Banger who is hard fit and went down narrowly in deeper metro grade last start.

How to play it: Girls Are Ready to win and box exacta 1,2,6. Odds and Evens: Split

We wrap it up over the short trip, and progressive local filly 8. Awesome Audrey shapes as one of the better bets on the card third-up. Has rattled home late in two runs this prep, and from a softer draw can park a bit closer this time. The one to beat.

Dangers: Capable mare 4. Emma's Gift is a big watch fresh from the inside draw for a strong Canberra stable; while both stable-mate filly to the top selection 5. Belle O'Ballee fourth up; and 2. Stone Cold can fight out the minor end of the prize.

How to play it: Awesome Audrey to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R6 6. GOLDEN GORGE
R8 8. AWESOME AUDREY

BEST VALUE:
R4 4. BRAZEN IMPACT

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