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By Gary Harley

The Hawkes stable's speedy filly Shohei ($1.85 favourite on TAB) can kick favourite backers off to a flying start when she contests the Canadian Club Maiden Plate (1350m) at Thursday’s Wyong race meeting. Bred and raced by Gerry Harvey the daughter of Japanese sire Mikki Isle made her debut in a Newcastle Maiden on March 17.

Shohei drew the outside of the field of 10 and Willie Pike set her alight when the gates opened and she led clearly. The filly was taken on at the 800m but she had a kick in the straight only to be run down late. That race was on a soft 5 and the chance of a wet track on Thursday won’t be a problem as her breeding suggests. Pike will have the mount again.

The Snowden family will send four of their team to Wyong and Sam Clipperton will ride the stables two best chances. Thousand Years ($2.30 fav) runs in the Coca-Cola Class 1 Handicap (1600m). The Dundeel filly has no speed and she has stormed home from the tail of the field in all three race starts.

She was impressive winning a 1500m Kembla Maiden in September and she resumed from a spell when runner-up to the in-form Cross The Rubicon at Goulburn on March 1.

Last start winner Game Theory ($4.80) can win again when he steps out in the Wyong’s Next Meeting April 14 Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m). The 4yo raced in second place when successful at Gosford on a heavy track on March 12.

The lightly raced Way To The Stars ($3.10 fav) was narrowly beaten at Hawkesbury two weeks ago can go one better in the final event the Carlton Draught Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). Josh Parr had his first ride on the colt at Hawkesbury and he has the mount on Thursday.

RACE 1, CANADIAN CLUB MAIDEN PLATE, 1350M: Shohei ($1.85 fav) is a fast filly from the Hawkes stable and Willie Pike rides. The wizard was aboard her when she set a fast pace at Newcastle on debut recently only to be run down late. The prospect of a wet track won’t be a problem. Definitely Maybe ($4) has placed in two of three starts while Mirra View ($10) will be fitter.
SELECTIONS: 8 SHOHEI, 4 DEFINITELY MAYBE, 7 MIRRA VIEW

RACE 2, GREAT NORTHERN PROVINCIAL & COUNTRY MAIDEN, 1350M: Oxford Vision ($1.50 fav) caught the eye with a fast-finishing second at Gosford on debut on March 12. He was disappointing when a well beaten third on the Beaumont Track last start. He has drawn well on his home his home track. Fromdustwemust ($5.50) was narrowly beaten at Hawkesbury last start and he has a 1½kg claim. Party Stop ($16) failed in Victoria in his only start but he is now trained at Wyong.
SELECTIONS: 1 OXFORD VISION, 7 FROMDUSTWEMUST, 2 PARTY STOP

RACE 3, VALE CAM McBRIEN MAIDEN, 1000M: Tempestas ($1.90 fav) is quick and this is a winnable race. She was run down late in a 900m Newcastle Maiden in February. The filly has been runner-up in her past two starts at Canberra and Hawkesbury. She will jump and run from barrier two. Prefer To Be Ready ($4.80) was placed at Gosford and Tuncurry late last year and she won a recent trial. Tikitiboo ($7.50) has trialled okay.
SELECTIONS: 6 TEMPESTAS, 3 PREFER TO BE READY, 7 TIKITIBOO

RACE 4, TAB.COM.AU MAIDEN PLATE, 2000M: Essential Sky ($4.20) was placed in a strong Class 1 on the Beaumont Track on March 22. The mare was a fast-finishing third in a Newcastle Maiden three starts back. She has been placed on a heavy track. Sky Ace ($3.50 fav) has good country form and Aphrodotti ($9.50) has a chance.
SELECTIONS: 8 ESSENTIAL SKY, 3 SKY ACE, 6 APHRODOTTI

RACE 5, COCA COLA CLASS 1 HANDICAP, 1600M: Thousand Years ($2.30 fav) is a back marker which will appreciate the 1600m. She stormed home from last in a big field when runner-up over 1400m first-up at Goulburn recently. She again came from the tail of the field when she won a Kembla Maiden in September. Publicist ($3.50) led all the way to win a Warwick Farm Maiden in January. Champions League ($6) won first-up at Kembla before a Canberra placing.
SELECTIONS: 6 THOUSAND YEARS, 2 PUBLICIST, 4 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

RACE 6, GO ELECTRICAL CLASS 1 HANDICAP, 1350M: Brillar ($2.60 fav) won well first-up at Hawkesbury recently. He is lightly raced and late last year he was placed at Gosford and on the Kensington Track. He has drawn well and can race on the speed. Decadent Tale ($3.90) led all the way to win on the Beaumont Track last start and Stay Wealthy ($3.10) has a place chance.
SELECTIONS: 1 BRILLAR, 5 DECADENT TALE, 3 STAY WEALTHY

RACE 7, WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING APRIL 14 BM68, 1350M: Different Strokes ($3.50 fav) is the class runner and he didn’t have a lot of luck in the Provincial Qualifier at Newcastle. He is unbeaten on this track and he won a Midway at Randwick in October. The 3kg claim is a big plus. Never Cry ($4.80) is a last start Hawkesbury winner and has barrier one. Game Theory ($4.80) won second-up at Gosford.
SELECTIONS: 1 DIFFERENT STROKES, 8 NEVER CRY, 2 GAME THEORY

RACE 8, CARLTON DRAUGHT BENCHMARK 64, 1100M: Way To The Stars ($3.10 fav) missed the start when narrowly beaten at Hawkesbury last start. The colt has won two of his five starts and has barrier one and Josh Parr. Cassy’s Sister ($7.50) has very good country form and has a 3kg allowance and Coal Crusher ($4.80) has a chance.
SELECTIONS: 3 WAY TO THE STARS, 1 CASSY’S SISTER, 2 COAL CRUSHER

LATE MAIL
RACE 1
8 SHOHEI – VERY FAST. STANDS OUT
4 DEFINITELY MAYBE – PLACED 2 OF 3
7 MIRRA VIEW – FITTER THIS TIME
1 GWAN SO – PLACE

RACE 2
1 OXFORD VISION – HAS THE BEST FORM
7 FROMDUSTWEMUST – LAST RUN HER BEST
2 PARTY STOP – EX VICTORIAN IN GOOD STABLE
10 SUPREME PLAY – TOP 4 CHANCE

RACE 3
6 TEMPESTAS – SPEEDY. LOOKS THE WINNER
3 PREFER TO BE READY – RUNNER UP BOTH STARTS
7 TIKITIBOO – 1ST START. TRIAL OK
4 DONA ANTONIA – ON DEBUT. RUN DOWN LATE IN TRIAL

RACE 4
8 ESSENTIAL SKY – TWO NEWCASTLE PLACINGS RECENTLY
3 SKY ACE – PLACED LAST 2 COUNTRY STARTS
6 APHRODOTTI – JUST MISSED LAST RUN
4 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG – GOULBURN FORM OK

RACE 5
6 THOUSAND YEARS – GETS BACK STRONG LATE
2 PUBLICIST – HAS SOUND METRO FORM
4 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – GOOD FORM BEFORE LAST RUN
7 JACK DUGGAN – CLOSE TO A WIN

RACE 6
1 BRILLAR – NICE WIN 1ST UP
5 DECADENT TALE – 6 STARTS 1 WIN 5 PLACINGS
3 STAY WEALTHY – HAD ISSUES LAST RUN
4 SPATS PAV BOWIE – HAS A GOOD RECORD

RACE 7
1 DIFFERENT STROKES – CLASS RUNNER. UNBEATEN HERE
8 NEVER CRY – STRONG HAWKESBURY WIN
2 GAME THEORY – HAS GOOD RECORD
9 TICKET TO ANYWHERE – FORM HARD TO FAULT

RACE 8
3 WAY TO THE STARS – NO LUCK LAST START
1 CASSYS SISTER – SMART COUNTRY SPRINTER
2 COAL CRUSHER – GOOD FORM LAST PREP
4 STANDING BEAR – 1ST UP. GOOD PROVINCIAL FORM

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here