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By Ray Hickson

NEWCASTLE – BEST BET: Race 4 # 4 – BULLETS HIGH

Joe Pride has a habit of finding horses that progress through the grades quickly and this gelding shapes as one who should do just that. The form out of his first-up win at 1400m has held up nicely with the runner-up scoring easily during the week and he had just that little bit more work to do than the winner at Rosehill last start. He still attacked the line strongly and the mile around Newcastle should be ideal for him. Hopefully that middle barrier draw means he’s around midfield or so and not right out the back as the pace in the race looks moderate. Still, he has a nice turn of foot and will be hard to hold out.

Floating (Pic: Bradley Photos)

NEWCASTLE – BEST VALUE: Race 6 # 3 – FLOATING

Wouldn’t be too hard on him for his midfield finish in the Big Dance, it takes a huge performance to come from second last in a field of 20 and run past them up but he stuck to his job well to be beaten just under six lengths by Gringotts. This is a massive class drop, back to the level of his last win which was over the Randwick mile and he cantered in that day with half a kilo less than he’ll carry after the claim. Any give in the track is a plus for him and he has a handy record at Newcastle from earlier in his career including a Midway win at this meeting two years ago. He should be pressing for favouritism in this field.

NEWCASTLE – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 9 # 4 – WYCLIF

Produced comfortably the fastest last 600m out of the Rosehill Gold Cup two weeks ago to miss narrowly to Fawkner Park. He is a backmarker but has a turn of foot as he showed in that race, with Punter’s Intelligence recording his last 600m in 33.91. That was almost three lengths faster than anything else in the race. He’s dashed 11.20 from the 400m-200m and his last 200m was 11.56 so he’s sustained a long run. Proven at this track and distance with his second in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup in September, where he hit the lead and was run down late, and he looks close to another win.

KEMBLA GRANGE – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 1 # 4 – BRAZIL

Well bred and lightly raced four-year-old who was in a Midway at Newcastle but has been saved for a Class 1 on his home track where he looks extremely well placed. Brilliant winner over the 1500m at home two starts back then was about to chime in with the leaders when he was shut out of a run when runner-up at Newcastle two weeks ago. Did a good job to recover there and claim the second spot. He’ll likely be popular and he should be very hard to beat.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Newcastle meeting