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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True

1. Zoubeauty is a promising mare building a smart record, and looks well placed to win again staying at this short trip. Bolted in on the fresher side early last month before fading late when tackling much deeper company at Randwick, but bounced straight back with an all-the-way win at Nowra. Has to carry her biggest weight so far, but hard fit with superior tactical speed. 4. Play My Song is a big betting watch second-up from the inside draw for a good country stable. Both local mare 3. Ardonaugh dropping back from a much tougher Saturday Highway and 5. Keitany, who resumes behind a quiet trial; are capable of running into the minor prize.

How to play it: Zoubeauty to win

6. Showrunner is a three-year-old who can break through at his second start stepping up in distance. Given no favours on debut when running home late into a place, but the blinkers go on, and draws to do no work along the inside tracking the speed. 10. Hideyo is good value from a handy draw, reloading off a 24 day freshen-up and 1200m trial. 9. Halle Bee is trained on the track and busting to break through, having beaten all bar the winner in her last four, and has a 50 percent record in the placings from 14 starts. 13. Saintly Sands worked home nicely into a place on debut here; while 1. Apache Jack is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Showrunner to win

2. Mystery Lad is a tough seven-year-old who rarely runs a bad one, and has an imposing 33 percent winning strike rate from 12 runs at this track. Won two straight in late spring, including a dominant BM 74 win here, before three times in the placings, the latest close-up in the Inverell Cup at BM 86 level on New Year's Day. The drop back in trip off-sets the 22 days between runs, and he looms as the one to beat in a competitive sprint. 1. Deep Rouge was impressive, flooding home first-up in the Gilgandra Town Plate, and carries 2kg less here after the junior jockey's claim. Home tracker 9. Not In Doubt resumes off two trials, and gets a nice weight advantage on those top two. Gap to the rest headed by 8. Ollie's Secret who gets weight relief; and 5. Very Sharp who will appreciate the extra furlong.

How to play it: Mystery Lad to win

6. Grandini is an underrated and improving mare who can break through deep into the prep at good odds, with blinkers coming off. Placed in three consecutive races before running home well here in a handy maiden. Given a month between runs is a good trigger, given her best figures are when she's on the fresher side. Progressive and likely hot favorite 1. Dale chased home a smart one in missing by a whisker second-up, and the little step up to a mile shapes well, although under the odds back on a tighter track. 4. Parkrun is better placed here back from two provincial efforts to start his career, despite drawing wide. 12. Hell Of A Fox peaks third-up getting to the mile; and 9. Brain Wave also third-up can run into minor money.

How to play it: Grandini each way

This looks like the hot ticket for improving filly 9. Anarita, back from metro company fourth-up, and with a key gear change. Failed to attack the line two runs back at Canterbury, but ridden much quieter at Warwick Farm 15 days ago when charging home just behind the placegetters. Gets in with the same weight against lesser opposition, and is ready to break through. 4. Brilliant Knight is by Dundeel, and a big watch on debut for a leading Scone stable off a provincial trial win. Keep safe 5. Broken Wings third-up over more ground from the inside draw. 8. Starsarise is a lightly raced improver, over the odds second-up after working home nicely at Muswellbrook. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Anarita to win

5. Sonic Tycoon can bounce straight back after little or nothing went right from a tricky draw in the Gilgandra Cup. Had previously won two straight in commanding fashion up to BM 82 level, and thrives on firm ground. 1. Rematch has plenty of quality, and a natural threat resuming. Proven weight carrier, and been fitted to run out the mile fresh via two trials, winning the latest over 1200m. 6. Jessandi is a tough on-speed mare suited coming back to the mile over which she won the Narromine Cup two starts back. 2. Macleay is each-way value from a handy trailing draw after finishing only two lengths from the winner in that Gilgandra Cup. Home tracker 7. Subuki also ran home well at Gilgandra, and can fill a place.

How to play it: Sonic Tycoon to win

9. Bill Peyto hasn't won for nearly a year, but can upset plenty of stronger market fancies stepping back up in grade third-up, and four weeks between runs. Ran home late in a handy BM 58 at Quirindi last month before being edged out in weaker company on Boxing Day. Gets significant weight relief, and a far stronger and experienced jockey goes on. 1. Acotango is an honest performer who gets right back in at the weights after the jockey's 4kg claim, but hasn't for a while. 6. Time Ruler has more to offer than his modest record suggests, and can peak third-up off two handy efforts at Muswellbrook. 5. Night Patra ran home well here first-up off a lengthy break. Include 7. Arliebel from the inside barrier; and 12. Cheeky Nugget who is hard fit; in all exotic plays.

How to play it: Bill Peyto each way

5. Autofocus is a tough home track mare well placed to strike second-up from the inside draw, and significantly over a furlong further. Hit the line nicely into a place here when having her first run since late May, and she bolted in at the same stage last prep. Sparingly raced, with more than enough ability in an open affair. 8. Withstand bounced to the front and gave nothing else a chance at Muswellbrook, and while he's at his best on softer ground, is hard fit and drawn to advantage again. 1. Sanzeno is a big watch resuming, despite having not publicly trialled. 9. Cresta Run is a lightly raced and progressive filly coming off a fast-finishing maiden win at Inverell. Also lightly raced 3. Cutepi claimed her maiden first-up at the provincials before close-up in a handy country CL1, despite drifting in betting.

How to play it: Autofocus to win

BEST BETS:
R1 1. ZOUBEAUTY
R5 9. ANARITA

BEST VALUE:
R3 2. MYSTERY LAD

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