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By John Schell

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in Saturday's $150,000 Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1200m) at Gosford.

1. ANG POW (Richard & Will Freedman): Has failed to beat a runner home in each of two runs back from a spell against tougher grade first-up and against a handy one last time out. Has since showed improvement in a recent trial to prepare for this and has a good overall record. Has a wide alley to overcome but is capable of doing so.

2. DIAMOND DIESEL (Adam Duggan): Ultra consistent type which had a Midway victory last year when had been racing consistently in that grade. Had a couple of runs in December when scored in succession at Canterbury and this track and has had a recent trial in preparation for this return to racing. Set for this and drawn ideally. Should be hard to hold out.

3. UZZIAH (Scott Aspery): Had been out of the placings in a few city runs before appreciating the step up to 1600m to score in Midway company at Randwick last time out. Drops back to the 1200m in this and is drawn wide. Should be hitting the line well.

Uzziah (Pic: Steve Hart)

4. WILLINGA FREEFALL (Kris Lees): Resumes from a spell here on the back of two barrier trials. Was highly consistent last campaign when following a couple of city placings in Sydney with an Eagle Farm victory before a second behind Freedom Rally at the same track. Has the talent to give this a shake on the back of a good fresh record.

5. KAREDADA (Angela Davies): Has a good record with four wins from six starts. Failed in a Midway at Randwick before bouncing back to winning form at Canterbury then being spelled. Has had two trials to prepare for this and should take plenty of beating if he runs up to his best form.

6. BORDER CONTROL (Adam Duggan): Led throughout to score at Canterbury last month. Previous form was solid when not beaten far in any of them. Still on the up and is drawn well here. No reason he can’t give plenty of cheek again.

7. TERRA MATER (Jarrod Austin): Highly promising mare which is building up a good record. Won her latest three starts in November, December and January at Canterbury and Randwick and tuned up for this with a recent trial behind Remarque. Drawn the outside but has the ability to overcome that. Should be hard to hold out.

8. SHADOWS OF LOVE (Kim Waugh): Has a great record with five wins and three seconds from just eight starts. Won in Midway grade at Rosehill late last year before scoring in metropolitan company at Kembla Grange then ran second to Lekvarte before having a freshen-up. Returned with a strong win at Rosehill and strips fitter for this. Drawn ideally and is one of the leading contenders.

9. BUNKER HUT (Michael Freedman): Won a couple on end either side of a spell last year at Warwick Farm and Rosehill then was midfield in two city starts before being spelled. Has had a couple of trials to prepare for this and place claims look best here fresh.

10. CACOFONIX (Kris Lees): Was a winner at Doomben four starts ago then finished second at that track before finishing fourth there. Since was spelled after being near last at Eagle Farm and resumes in this on the back of two barrier trials. Needs to lift if he’s going to be a factor against these.

11. ANGARA (Paul Perry): Was a winner at Scone before finishing midfield in a couple of runs on the Kensington and Beaumont tracks before a second at Gosford. Since was back to winning form when scoring by a big margin at Wyong and while this is harder, he could sneak into the placings on best form.

12. PER INAWAY (Kris Lees): Has shown potential in her career but form was down on best throughout last year and resumed with a safely held effort at Canterbury. Would need to lift on that effort if she’s too be a factor in this.

13. OVERRIDING (Nathan Doyle): Consistent type which won three on end at Newcastle and Randwick midway through last year. Was placed in a couple on runs either side of a spell after that and then was spelled again after a fourth at Rosehill. Resumes again here and has had two trials. Drawn wide but has the talent to be prominent.

14. MEMORIA (Kris Lees): Resumed from a spell with a solid enough all the way victory at this track then followed that up with a third placing at Canterbury. Has had a tick over trial since then. Shows ability but is facing a tough task in this.

Overriding (Pic: Steve Hart)

15. WILLINGA BEAST (Kris Lees): Talented mare with only one win to her name from 13 starts but she has run well in some good grade races in her career. Is a dual Group 2 placegetter and she comes into this on the back of a fifth to subsequent Group 1 winner Lady Laguna on Magic Millions day. Capable of giving this a shake.

16. MOONLIGHT GRACE (Allan Kehoe): Won a couple at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury early last year before failing in three subsequent starts either side of a spell. Looks to be facing an uphill battle in this.

17E. LAYIN’ FOUR (Anthony Mountney): Has hit winning form of late scoring at Hawkesbury and Kembla Grange in good style at her latest two starts. This is harder but could give some cheek if she manages to sneak into the field.

18E. ZARNI (Paul Murray): Was a winner at Kembla Grange last July and since then has been placed in four of her five starts either side of a spell. Up in class for this and looks to be facing a tough task.

SPEED MAP: Diamond Diesel should take up a prominent position from the good gate with Angara going forward as well. Ang Pow may have to push forward from the wide draw, along with Willinga Freefall. Shadows Of Love can get the run of the race just behind the leaders from barrier two. Karedada, Terra Mater and Overriding will need luck from awkward alleys.

SELECTIONS:
2 DIAMOND DIESEL
8 Shadows Of Love
15 Willinga Beast
5 Karedada

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Gosford meeting