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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail True:

Home track four-year-old 1. Pleading is extra smart and has won all three starts this prep surging home from off the speed. Up in weight, but drawn to get a soft trail, and should again put this lot to the sword.

Dangers: Doubt there are any but 3. Cathay can peak after four runs back; and 2. Sprout Wings held her ground first-up okay at Kembla.

How to play it: Pleading to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Now the boys' turn in a race with more depth. Local five-year-old 3. Dollareuro charged home from a mile back under a hefty 63kg first-up, and while this is tougher, he gets nice weight relief and an ideal further 200m.

Dangers: Tough finishing six-year-old 1. Gidgee Guy hasn't missed a place in five runs across only eight weeks, and this is a little drop in class. Resuming 2. Blazing has been fitted with two forward trials, and winkers come off; while watching for 4. Canzonet getting home late.

How to play it: Dollareuro to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen on three-year-old Brazen Beau filly 10. I Am Brazen who dominated a recent provincial trial, and makes her debut from an economical draw. Trial rider sticks in a thin race.

Dangers: Resuming filly 1. Centro Storico trialled nicely behind a smart one, and took on Group 2 company in her first prep. Include another debutant 7. Amazing Nicci in exotics.

How to play it: I Am Brazen to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Improving four-year-old 3. Segal is ready to strike third-up getting out to the mile. Has been hard in the market working home behind the winner in two runs back, and a senior rider gets back on.

Dangers: 4. Sindagar improved sharply at his second start, and another senior metro rider hops aboard over a bit further.

How to play it: Segal to win. Odds and Evens: Split

This stacks up nicely for promising filly 12. Beep Test who has been freshened up after covering too much ground in metro class five weeks ago. Had showed her ability on debut when luckless charging home on heavy ground at this track, and she can progress big time now as a three-year-old.

Dangers: Watch the betting on well-bred colt 11. Wolfburn who resumes behind a smart trial win; while 6. Baranof hasn't had much go his way in three runs back, but has enough ability and draws better. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Beep Test to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Very keen on under-rated Canberra five-year-old 2. Vallauris who drops back in trip and significantly from metro BM 78 grade, with blinkers applied. Naturally up in weight, but can improve sharply on his preferred soft track.

Dangers: Improving five-year-old 1. Unamerican will also find this easier after an ordinary effort in a stronger metro field, and back out to a more suitable distance. Included in exotics 5. Zudin fifth-up and 6. Justitia who is hard fit, and finds a slightly weaker race.

How to play it: Vallauris to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Headwater mare 3. Head On Up hasn't quite reached the level she promised early, but her best can take care of this lot third-up. Was run down late by a smart sprinter resuming before again collared late in the country. Better when ridden in behind, and she gets the right draw to do that here.

Dangers: Got plenty of time for lightly raced filly 12. All Girls who resumes off two progressive trials. Winning Rupert filly 4. Winning Verse also returns off an impressive trial win.

How to play it: Head On Up to win. Odds and Evens: Split

One of the more open races of the day saved for last. This is as far as six-year-old 1. New Tycoon wants, but his third-up effort from a wide draw at Newcastle was strong, and he can give a huge sight back at home from a softer gate.

Dangers: Provincial seven-year-old 2. Big Surprise has been a model of consistency this prep, and enough speed to overcome an awkward barrier. Was right behind New Tycoon in that same race, and meets him 3.5kg better at the weights.

How to play it: New Tycoon to win and quinella 1 and 2. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 10. I AM BRAZEN
R5 12. BEEP TEST

BEST VALUE:
R6 2. VALLAURIS

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