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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 6 and rail out 3m

1. Meet Me In Bondi gets first use of the inside ground on a track that is likely to improve back to around Soft 5. Has kept improving as the distances have slowly risen this prep, and this presents as an ideal fourth-up peak. Stuck on well at Newcastle last start after doing early work from the wide draw. 2. Sharon Drive did her best work late from the back when resuming in a stronger metropolitan race, and a bit more ground and better draw are obvious plusses. 6. Eclair Awesome comes off a dominant third start win in a Super Maiden at Albury; while 7. Antilocapra is progressive and draws to get a nice run with cover just off the speed third-up.

How to play it: Meet Me In Bondi to win

6. Extreme Diva was a good thing beaten as the hottest of favourites when resuming at Wyong. Lost ground early after being checked and crowded, then held up again at a vital stage coming into the straight before charging late to miss by a long neck. Loves soft ground, and drawn to sit even closer this time with a gear change in play. Has been given four weeks between runs, and no surprise a new jockey has been booked for a race reduced to a field of only four. 5. Emery is an emerging filly who hit the line impressively to miss narrowly when resuming on the Kensington track, and can run the quinella. Gap to the rest headed by 10. Sassy Abbey, stepping up from country level at her fourth start.

How to play it: Extreme Diva to win

1. Apollo Ridge is primed to return with a bang in a very moderate maiden off two solid trials up to 1050m. Was in and around the money across some handy maidens in his first prep last spring, and drawn to optional effect over this short course. Preferred here to the previous race. Big watch on 3. Mind Bender, a filly by So You Think on debut for the Joe Pride yard off two easy trials. 4. Rivana is the clear best of the rest, second-up from the inside draw.

How to play it: Apollo Ridge to win

6. Hampden is bursting to finally break through getting back over a longer trip. Ran home well first-up in a handy provincial maiden before missing by a whisker in consecutive races on rain-affected ground. Placed in eight from 12 so far, often without much luck, and gets some weight relief here, with a significant jockey change. 3. Bluebird Bay showed good improvement second-up when hard enough in the market, and can peak over the longer trip. Include both 4. Always Right reloading off a fast-finishing fourth-up maiden win, and 7. Cheval Gris down in weight fourth-up over more ground in exotic plays; while at bigger odds 10. That's Outstanding is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Hampden to win

9. Cathedral Cove is well placed to strike here second-up off a six week freshen. Wasn't suited when finishing in slower ground at Goulburn 18 days ago failing to hit the line as a heavily backed favorite. Much better than that, and drawn to get the right run. Big market watch on 5. Oakfield Universe, a three-year-old daughter of Written Tycoon on debut for the Kristen Buchanan stable, behind an easy trial, and leading jockey sticks solid. 3. Lord Vettori is trained on the track and drawn wide, but has enough tactical speed to get across and find a position, and naturally fitter second-up. 4. Bob's Back is suited coming back a furlong in distance at his fourth start; white 6. I Am Carrot, a colt by Castelvecchio, debuts for the Sara Ryan stable off a handy trial in soft ground.

How to play it: Cathedral Cove to win

7. Oryx is a tough metropolitan-based six-year-old who has been very stiff not to have won this prep across three runs. Held up when charging late into a place at Hawkesbury two runs ago before finding the line well again in a deeper Saturday BM 64 at Kembla. That form reads well for this jumping from a softer gate, and down 2kg for tackling a higher graded Midway race. 2. Llewellyn looms as the main threat, resuming off two progressive trials for the John Sargent stable at Randwick. Won two from three up to this level to cap his last prep, and a 3kg jockey booking off-sets the big weight. Keep safe 4. The Great Houdini who is locally trained, and resumes with no public trials. 6. All Black first-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Oryx to win

4. Gorbachev is the one to beat in what is now a weakened field off a first-up Super Maiden win here. Draws to get a cheap run right behind the speed. 2. Gandalf swept home late for a dominant provincial win on debut. 5. Tessy Tee resumes off a nice trial win; while 3. Shambretta from an ideal trailing draw third-up can run into the money.

How to play it: Gorbachev to win

2. Silencio Porfavor has been given seven weeks since dropping out in a BM 72 at Warwick Farm when resuming off a six month break, but was found to have had a poor recovery. Had previously won both starts to open his career, so must be forgiving. Has trialled easily since, and drawn to find the right sort of trail off speed in a wide race. Was scratched from Hawkesbury on Wednesday to be saved for this. 5. Manwe is a big watch first-up for the Peter Snowden yard off a soft trial. So too 6. Cool Lad, a stablemate of the top selection resuming from a handy draw, with a string of gear changes. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Silencio Porfavor to win

BEST BETS:
R2 6. EXTREME DIVA
R3 1. APOLLO RIDGE

BEST VALUE:
R6 7. ORYX

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