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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

2. Mailata is only lightly raced with three starts to his name and while he’s been unplaced in each of them, he has shown his share of ability. He has started in Super Maiden company in each of those runs and the best of them was a fifth placing at Warwick Farm before being spelled. He’s had two trials to prepare for this return to racing and has performed well in each of them. 8. Gamp had win two trials before debuting with a solid second at Hawkesbury and she can show up again if she can run up to that. 9. Goldane is on debut and has won both her trials leading into this. 10. Timbourella is having her first start and has had three trials spread over a bit of time. She’s well-bred and should be primed to run well.

How to play it: Mailata WIN.

2. Fury is a well performed galloper that was a city winner at Sandown in February of last year. He performed well in a further four city runs either side of a spell and is fresh for this on the back of a recent trial in which he was down the track at Rosehill. He’s drawn well here and gets his chance to win again. 6. Merchant Gold won well on debut at the Gold Coast when safely holding his rivals. He can go on with the job in this. 3. Dark Gleam did the job well to score at Kembla Grange as favourite when last produced and looks to have the ability to run well again. 4. Cash And Cards was a winner at Canberra when resuming from a spell and wasn’t beaten far at Kembla Grange last time out. He warrants respect.

How to play it: Fury WIN.

7. The Eyes Have It is a filly by Brutal that has had four starts and been placed in three of them. She only missed a place when finishing fifth in the Widden Stakes behind subsequent Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot. She resumed from a spell when third as favourite at Wyong and should have derived benefit from that hitout. Expect her to take plenty of beating. 2. Prosperous Dragon was well in the market when leading and running third at Wyong on debut when racing erratically over the latter stages. He has the pace to overcome the wide alley. 9. Namara was on debut when finishing third at big odds on the Beaumont track here. She can make an impact again here. 11. Avalon Lady resumed from a spell with a solid third on the Beaumont track and she is capable of filling a place again.

How to play it: The Eyes Have It WIN.

9. Garland Of Roses had two runs midway through the year and missed a place in each of them. She resumed from a spell with a strong win at Goulburn on the back of two trials and she did the job well in that. She can go on with the job. 1. Elle Hudson ran home well to finish second at Wyong at his latest start and is racing well enough to give this a shake. 3. Hiawatha struggles to win but has a good place record and warrants plenty of thought against these. 7. Think Romance won well on the Beaumont track at her latest start, and she is rarely far from the action.

How to play it: Garland Of Roses EACH WAY.

1. Fire Tribe ran home well enough when resuming from a spell at Kembla Grange when finishing third. He has since finished fourth at Canterbury and Wyong and he only needs to run up to those efforts in order to be hard to hold out here. 4. Rockbarton Flash was only having his fourth start when breaking his maiden at Port Macquarie and he looks to have strong claims again. 5. Zousain Bolt ran well at Hawkesbury when resuming and is one of the leading chances again. 6. Ohtani has shown some talent in his career and shouldn’t be underestimated.

How to play it: Fire Tribe WIN.

2. Curl Curl is a winner at this track over this distance and had solid city form before being spelled. He has a handy record and can return in winning style in this. 6. Missy No Nay backed up some solid efforts when winning at Moruya at her latest start and warrants respect again. 1. No Statement is a well performed gelding that ran well at Kembla Grange at his latest start. 3. Drums Of War resumed with a Hawkesbury placing and has good claims.

How to play it: Curl Curl WIN.

3. Summer Soiree broke her maiden in emphatic style when scoring by a huge margin at Wyong at start nine. This is harder but she has gate one and can win again. 1. Krementz is a dual city winner resuming on the back of two trials. 2. Flying Thinker has a good record with two wins from four starts and can run well fresh. 5. River Pat won well at Port Macquarie last time out and is worth including among the main chances.

How to play it: Summer Soiree WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 1 (2) Mailata.
Race 5 (1) Fire Tribe.

Best Value:
Race 4 (9) Garland Of Roses.

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