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By John Schell

Selections based on a soft track

3. Kenmare Bay ran well in his first two starts at this track, then ran right up to those efforts when breaking through to score in solid style at Kembla Grange last time out. He looks suited by this distance, and looks to have plenty of potential. He can go on with the job in this.

Dangers: 6. Image Of The Sun had had four runs back from a spell and has performed well in each of them. He ran fourth in the first couple at Scone at Tamworth, and has since been placed in two starts at Scone. He has solid claims again. 4. Brief Song was a winner at Muswellbrook before being spelled, and resumed with a solid effort when second to Sebilla at Scone. She’s up in distance for this and warrants respect. 7. Lady Devine followed a Scone second placing with a last start fourth at Kembla Grange when only beaten by two lengths. She has claims here.

How to play it: Kenmare Bay WIN.

1. Interjection debuted at Wyong at the end of March and finished second in that event, then backed that up with a third at Kembla Grange. He was spelled after a fourth at Hawkesbury and has had two trials leading into this return.

Dangers: 4. Firm Agreement is on debut and has had four trials either side of a break in preparation. He won the latest of them at Randwick and should run boldly against these. 5. Maybe Now is on debut for a form stable and comes into this on the back of a down the track trial effort. He bears close watching. 3. Dream High is a stablemate of Maybe Now and his latest two trials have been good enough for him to be rated a chance on debut.

How to play it: Interjection WIN

1. Colours Of Autumn has performed well in her career and has been placed in city grade and also at this track. She resumed with a close second at Kembla Grange and is from a form stable. She can score a second victory in this line-up.

Dangers: 6. Atomic Forty Seven resumed from a spell for a new stable with a seventh at this track after leading. He followed that up with a solid third at Muswellbrook and has the talent to figure here after being scratched at Kempsey on Monday. 4. Tell Me Ma was a Gosford winner in January, and has been just behind the placegetters in two runs at this track either side of a spell. 7. Jabali Belle doesn’t figure often, but at her best she could sneak into the placings.

How to play it: Colours Of Autumn WIN.

1. Bottler has only had the four starts but he has shown his share of ability with three placings. He ran second at Wyong on debut and was third at this track before being spelled after a sixth at Kembla Grange. He resumed with a third on the Acton track at Canberra and is poised to go on with the job now.

Dangers: 4. Ferghana was placed at Nowra before being spelled, and has had two trials to prepare for this return to racing. He ran third in the latest trial at Warwick Farm. 6. Magic Shadow had been racing well in his first three starts since resuming from a spell, and wasn’t disgraced at Kembla Grange last time out. 8. Rolling Magic resumes here on the back of a solid latest trial.

How to play it: Bottler WIN.

1. Alice Mae ran well in both her starts in February this year, then resumed at Taree last month and hit the line well to finish a solid second as favourite. She should strip fitter for that run and despite the wide alley here she gets her chance to break through with a win.

Dangers: 4. Dramatic is a well-bred mare on debut for James Cummings. She’s had three trials and has shown enough in them to suggest she can run a race from the good draw. 6. Lady Ichikawa was scratched from Wyong on Sunday to be saved for this. She’s been placed in four of six starts and should figure prominently from the inside barrier. 2. Ausbred Mimosa hasn’t been beaten far when fourth and sixth at Hawkesbury in two runs back from a spell and has bright place prospects.

How to play it: Alice Mae EACH WAY.

1. Indecisive had three starts earlier in the year against good grade two-year-olds and was then spelled. He had two good trials before resuming with a fifth at Warwick Farm behind Enriched when beaten less than two lengths. His form looks strong for a race like this and he should be hard to hod out.

Dangers: 2. Marais had been placed in each of his first three starts earlier in the year, then ran well in his trials before finishing third at Hawkesbury when resuming. He should run well here. 4. Tact ran second at Nowra on debut, and has had a couple of trials, winning the latest of them, leading into this event. He should run well again here. 6. Harlem Queen followed a third on debut at Newcastle with a fourth at Rosehill. She’s won a trial leading into this and is worth plenty of thought.

How to play it: Indecisive WIN.

5. Iconic Treasure had been racing well with a win and two placings from his first four starts, then showed he was still on the way up when racing on the speed and dashing clear late to score a strong Goulburn victory last time out. He should push forward again from a wide alley here.

Dangers: 7. Tinka’s Lad resumed from more than a year away from racing with a solid fourth at Kembla Grange. He looked good in his two trials leading into that and should take a hand in the finish of this. 9. Spirit Of Varanasi comes out of the same race as Tinka’s Lad, and finished sixth in that event. She’s won and run second at Kembla Grange in her two previous starts. 11. Draco’s Fire was a winner at Goulburn back in March, then ran second at Wyong and was spelled after a solid sixth on the Kensington track at Randwick. He’s had two trials to prepare for this return to racing and was close-up when second in the latest of them at Rosehill.

How to play it: Iconic Treasure WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 6 (1) Indecisive.
Race 7 (5) Iconic Treasure.

Best Value:
Race 5 (1) Alice Mae.

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