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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail out 3m:

2. Purple Kitty is well placed, resuming for only his second start with a 1.5kg claim. Found the line well on debut in a handy maiden at Armidale, and he can park a bit closer in the run here from a better draw. By Bon Hoffa so the more the track dries out the better served he is. 1. King Soleil can run a big race resuming from the inside draw. Finished last prep with three close placings, and just needs a clear run from the turn parking right behind the speed. 6. Crazy Mikki chased home well here first-up off a 16 week spell, although likely to settle further back here from a tougher draw. 3. Moroccan Thunder is another one drawn to run a forward race first-up behind an easy provincial trial. 5. Sigsaly is trained on the track, and was even through the line on debut here in a maiden with a shade more depth.

How to play it: Purply Kitty to win

6. Yorikiri is primed to take the next step, and claim a third straight win. Has settled midfield from low draws in his last couple and finished over the top with something in hand. Drawn to find a similar spot carrying 1.5kg less for the rise in grade, and the extra furlong is a further plus. 4. Hammoon Thunder is tracking to make it two wins from his last three, back a shade in trip with a superior and stronger jockey taking over. 2. Mindspace can peak here over significantly more ground third-up, and is well treated at the weights after a 4kg allowance coming back from BM 74 level. 3. Tajawal jumps in weight third-up, but still better suited here, dropping back from a deeper provincial race.

How to play it: Yorikiri to win

8. Bonjour Madame is an emerging provincial filly by Pariah ready to break through at her second start. Worked across to the front and held on for a long way here on debut, but is drawn to park right behind the speed this time, and improves enough over a longer trip. 5. Imarealamerican is a threat coming back from a smarter provincial race second-up where he finished just over a length from the winner. Jockey change is significant, and so is the addition of blinkers. Must include. 6. Jason Darren is also primed to peak third-up from a handy forward draw. 11. Saraya is a big betting watch, resuming off two trials for the Kris Lees stable with blinkers going on. 3. Divine Bene returns off a lengthy break and has to overcome a tough draw, but will relish getting back on firmer ground after a string of runs on heavy last winter.

How to play it: Bonjour Madame to win

4. Phoenix Power is an improving three-year-old, drawn ideally over more ground fourth-up. Was close-up in a better maiden at Newcastle two starts ago before working home okay in a handy maiden at Coffs 15 days ago. Draws to get the right run, and was scratched from Grafton on Sunday to be saved for this. 5. Pierant will appreciate getting back on better ground after dropping out a long way in heavy going at Goulburn. Blinkers go back on, and jockey change is significant. 6. Cup Of Ambition is an honest mare still chasing a breakthrough win ahead of his 23rd start. 11. Acireale Jayne has been around the money all prep, and a weight drop is timely, but still needs to find a length or two in this line-up. 7. Fastnet Warrior is a locally-trained improver who can run into the minor money.

How to play it: Phoenix Power to win

2. Toy Story is a tough local and primed to win well into the current campaign in an open battle. Missed by a long neck in similar company two starts back before plain here last start when backed from $3.90 into $3.30. Looking for the mile now, and senior rider back on is very significant. 1. Highly Tempted is an honest stablemate who hasn't missed a place in five runs this prep. Rolls forward again from a middle gate, and should be in the finish. 3. Tsunoda has claims too fourth-up and suitably over a furlong further. Be very surprised if the winner comes outside those three, but 8. Yamba's Girl who missed by a whisker in weaker grade last start and drops in weight, and at even bigger odds 6. Full Regalia hard fit fifth-up; can both add value into exotic plays.

How to play it: Toy Story to win

6. Golden Dubai is an improving four-year-old well placed to strike third-up in another open affair. Given 23 days since finding the line late in a handy CL1 at Lismore, and hits peak fitness here carrying a little less weight. Also by-passed Grafton to run here. 9. So You Suggest is lightly raced and must be kept safe resuming off an 11 month break and handy trial. 1. El Beatle gets in nicely at the weights after the 3kg claim, and can grab a second win in three starts. 2. Launch Sequence stuck on well, resuming off a six week break, but under the odds here from a wide draw. 5. Aquafire improves again second-up, and is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Golden Dubai to win

9. In Spades is a tough and consistent sprinting mare, well placed to lift her winning strike rate to near 20 percent from 32 starts in another wide and open race. Hit the line well first-up at Tamworth before sitting closer and finishing over the top late here three weeks back. Drawn to get a charmed run behind the speed, and only needs a clear crack at them over the final 300m. 12. Dis Is Heaven chased home the top selection into a place second-up, and is the best weighted runner in the race dropping 4.5kg to the 55kg limit. 3. De Poet is a more than handy five-year-old who rates over the odds resuming behind a trial win here. Two of his five career wins from only 20 starts have come fresh. 5. Lady Tulessa is another one resuming well over the mark. Won twice last prep up to BM 66 level, and while this is tougher, she loves this trip. 4. Debussy fifth-up but drawn wide; and 6. Fill A Promise who was close-up at Wyong ending a run of four straight wins, but also drawn off the track; can both value into exotic plays.

How to play it: In Spades to win

10. Floss's One is a very capable mare who has been up for a long time, but well placed to snatch a fourth career win from just 14 starts. Missed by a whisker in BM 74 grade three starts ago before just behind the placegetters in a tougher Country C'ship qualifying race, then finished off okay in a CL3 at Coffs. Banging on the door back in a race with a little less depth, and is drawn to get cover just off the speed. 6. Critical Threat must be a threat hard fit and drawn inside. 8. Silver Halo is over the odds coming back from a deeper provincial race third-up. 11. Mosgiel Daisy is another strong each-way chance second-up from a handy draw. 13. King Larry hit the line impressively here third-up behind the top selection from the previous race, and only needs to tuck in from a wide draw to be in the finish again. Gap to the rest headed by 16. Prorata dropping back from the Listed Canberra Guineas third-up.

How to play it: Floss's One to win

BEST BETS:
R2 6. YORIKIRI
R3 8. BONJOUR MADAME

BEST VALUE:
R7 9. IN SPADES

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