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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5/6 and Rail out 2m so reasonably on-pace before gradually trend towards the middle

Competitive race for the youngsters. Scone filly 8. Cosmic Haze did her best work late in the strong Inglis Challenge at Scone, and the form out of that carnival has been dynamite! Longer trip a plus.

Dangers: Well-bred Newcastle gelding 1. Controlthewitness debuted with a narrow win at Port Macquarie over this trip when stalking the speed, and senior rider goes on, but up sharply in weight in a race with more quality. Warwick Farm colt 3. Big Parade (Deep Field x Crystal Rock by Fastnet Rock) debuts off a couple of nice trials, the latest really attacking the line, but has drawn a wide gate. Punters were all over rival Newcastle colt 2. Dodecanese when he thundered home for a dominant third-up win at Muswellbrook, but also climbs abruptly in weight, and again will be forced a long way back from a wide barrier.

How to play it: Cosmic Haze each way and box trifecta 1-2-3-8.

Zoustar-sired former Kiwi filly 11. Zaniah now with Newcastle's top stable only has to overcome a wide barrier to be the one to beat. Hasn't raced for more than seven months but looked smart cruising home in a recent trial win and senior hoop has been booked.

Dangers: Muswellbrook 3YO gelding 6. Two Big Fari (Walking or Dancing x Miss Spoken by Stratum) is well placed on debut off his latest home trial chasing right through the line, although looked a little green, and the blinkers have been applied. Local filly 9. Peachies Dream has had two honest runs back from a spell when well in the market, and draws to get a lovely trail just off the speed. Wyong 3YO gelding 5. Tann Hills (Lope de Vega x Very Speed by Silver Hawk) hasn't done a lot at the trials, but draws the fence for debut and is clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Zaniah to win and quinella 6 and 11.

Very modest lot, and looks a race for exotic players. Going with Gosford mare 12. Zandaya at big odds who didn't fire first run back at Port Macquarie, but took on better company in late spring, and should improve significantly from a good draw.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by Newcastle filly 2. Free Verse who was unwanted in betting second-up but still closed off okay, and draws even better here with senior rider jumping on. Rival Newcastle 3YO gelding 7. Gone West has shown enough improvement in two runs back to figure, and not finishing far behind debut winner Controlthewitness looks a strong enough form-line for this. Wyong filly 9. Schengen has had three runs back from a spell and should be peaking from the inside draw. Port Macquarie filly 4. Little Funny Bunny comes out of that same maiden as Free Verse when over-run late, but draws right off the track.

How to play it: Zandaya each way and first four 2-7-12/2-4-7-9-12.

Convinced the Scone-trained girls have it between them! Beautifully-bred mare 4. Artefiori gets the nod second-up at the longer trip for leading stable. Finished off nicely resuming in a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, and best form earlier in the year was around this distance or longer.

Dangers: Liked the way rival 3YO filly 8. True Finesse finished off second-up in a decent BM 58 at Dubbo. Drops in weight here and draws a nice trailing barrier. Be shocked if anything else wins, although last two runs from Coffs Harbour 5YO mare 5. Eye Was have been sound enough behind a couple of progressive horses; while Kempsey 4YO gelding 1. Bontazola can hit the line hard on his day, but mixes his runs, although senior jockey booking is significant.

How to play it: Artefiori to win and quinella 4 and 8.

Artefiori's first-up fifth at Muswellbrook on May 26

Good pressure sprint sets up nicely second-up for Port Macquarie 5YO mare 5. Typhoon Bonny who was right on the speed all the way resuming, and fitter now, again draws to trail the pace and launch early in the straight.

Dangers: Port Macquarie mare 1. Maid Marilyn closed off okay resuming in a CL2 at Newcastle, and normally peaks second-up. Rider's 3kg claim crucial over this trip. Wyong mare 7. Classy Anna has been consistent enough without winning, but looks better placed in this despite the wide barrier. Port Macquarie gelding 2. Crackneck has plenty of ability but can be very hard to catch. Hasn't won a for a while, but capable on his best form, although drawn right off the track. The barrier first-up might be the sticking point too for Kempsey 5YO gelding 5. Aberration who normally goes well early in the prep, but has to zoom across from a wide draw with 60.5kg on his back.

How to play it: Typhoon Bonny to win.

One of the feature races has talented 3YO Gosford gelding 6. Bill 'N' Ted stepping to this trip for the first time. Only missed a place twice from eight starts, and if he can be tucked away just off the speed, has superior acceleration when it counts.

Dangers: Fitting Brown hops on a real chance in his own race. Gosford 4YO mare 7. Maui Princess flew home to win this grade first-up at Armidale, and has found the line strong in two runs since. Needs cover early, but suited by slightly longer trip, and stable has a terrific strike rate. Muswellbrook 4YO gelding 10. Roy's Command normally needs a couple of runs before finding his best, but does come back from an even effort in a stronger Rosehill Highway. Port Macquarie 4YO gelding 1. Mister Smartee is used to carting big weights, and resumed with a nice effort this grade at Coffs Harbour. Second-up last prep hit the line hard in a stronger heat of the country championships, and has had multiple gear changes for this.

How to play it: Bill 'N' Ted to win and trifecta 6-7/1-6-7-10.

The other feature brings together a fairly even group of milers, but going with the one on the rise and quick back-up. Port Macquarie 4YO gelding 9. The Kroc swept home from a mile back for a dominant BM 58 win at Coffs harbour just seven days ago. Admittedly up in class in a deeper race, but is on a real peak, and drops a significant 6kg from that win. The one to beat!

Dangers: Local 5YO gelding 5. Subtle Grey doesn't want it any further, but recent form in similar company has been very solid, and should be able to park at the flanks of the speed. In well at the weights after rider's claim. Newcastle 4YO gelding 2. Marathon improved sharply third-up in a strong BM 70 behind the flying Barricade, and gets his softest draw in a while, but again weighted right to his best, and racing in bar plates for the first time. Muswellbrook 4YO gelding 6. Yuralla Boy is another with strong enough form to be in the finish, but will need plenty of luck from an awkward barrier. Include Coffs Harbour 4YO gelding 8. Sawtell who stormed home two runs back in a CL4 at Eagle Farm, but inside gate unlikely to suit his back-marker pattern.

How to play it: The Kroc each way and first four 2-5-9/2-5-6-8-9.

Very keen on promising 3YO Newcastle gelding 5. Marakawa who came off a nice trial to cruise home first-up at Mudgee, and only advantaged by the extra trip from an economical draw.

Dangers: The 3YO stablemate 6. Ultimate Power can complete a Kris Lees quinella after fighting hard to win his maiden under a big weight at Gunnedah. Local 3YO gelding and former Victorian 2. Dulette looks very nicely placed third-up after charging home late in last two runs on this track. Another Lees-trained runner 3YO filly 10. Airlie Avenue continues to improve sweeping home to win her maiden at Port Macquarie last start; while Coffs Harbour 4YO gelding 3. Inwithachance has produced two runs back way better than his long price suggested, although much more depth here.

How to play it: Marakawa to win and quinella 5 and 6.

Marakawa win at Mudgee on May 18

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