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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail out 9m

Honest four-year-old 4. Ramius can snap a consistent run in and around the money fifth-up. Beaten narrowly in his last couple, both times after tracking the speed, but with blinkers coming off again and staying at the distance in a race of slightly less depth, this is his chance to break through.

Dangers: Lightly raced and improving 3. Master Riley only held his ground first-up when backed from $2.90 into $2.40, but there was good depth in that Super Maiden, and he drew to get a more economical run in transit here. Keep safe 5. Persister who ran home well from the back at big odds third-up, and looking for this longer trip; while monitoring the betting on 9. Passalacqua, a colt by Starcraft on debut for the home Paul Perry stable behind two progressive trials.

How to play it: Ramius to win

This shapes ideally for progressive metro four-year-old 1. Copacabana up 150m in trip second-up. Settled at the back here after a slow release when resuming three weeks ago before doing his best work late into a place. The drying track is an added boost for one who was twice placed in deeper races during the Victorian spring before tackling the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas which he naturally found way too tough.

Dangers: 4. Maracaibo Sun emerges as the biggest threat fourth-up, with blinkers going on. Came off two solid metro runs to lead until the final stride at this track in a handy Super Maiden. Another one second-up over a bit more ground is 11. Wexford Miss who hit the line late at Hawkesbury; while including 5. Warilla Gorilla who draws better third-up, and lightly raced stablemate 9. Minehaha Falls at her third start; in all trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Copacabana to win

There's terrific value here around improving 4. Pluckten dropping back from a tougher Saturday Midway BM 72 where he made late ground behind a smart winner. Will carry the same weight in this race after the jockey's 3kg claim, and importantly is drawn to settle a bit closer in the run with cover. Swept home to blitz a handy provincial Cl 1 field the run prior.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 2. Northern Eyes shoots for a third straight win fourth-up, although tackling a deeper race here. Early favourite 6. Let's Go Bro rates under the odds despite drawing the inside and coming back from a deeper Saturday Midway BM 72. 1. Touch Of Navy steps up in weight and distance after consecutive wins in weaker country races, and looms a shade over the odds; while 7. Tartana is the best of the rest having won a country BM 66 two starts ago.

How to play it: Pluckten to win

Testing affair over the staying trip. Progressive four-year-old 1. Fioprospero powered home to win a CL1 at this track when backed from $2.35 into $2.15 favourite before getting lost well back in a Midway BM 64 at Hawkesbury. Still hit the line well late after balancing up, and carrying 3kg less here after the apprentice rider's claim and over significantly more ground, he can finish over them and claim a third career win, especially with the earlier favourite expected to come out after lining up on Wednesday at Canterbury

Dangers: 2. Demarcay failed to finish off in a heavy ground on the Kensington course third-up, but two previous closing efforts were sound and a return to firmer ground is a big plus. Keep safe 4. Fun Sunday coming off a fast-finishing BM 64 provincial win fourth-up; while 9. Dubai Showgirl deep into the prep goes into wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Fioprospero to win

Confident a talented and lightly raced filly 6. Empress Of Japan can return with a bang here off a 20 week spell. Been given two easy trials, and rushed home to win on debut at the provincials back in March. Preferred here to the Canterbury meeting on Wednesday; while an early market rival and stablemate going the other way is a further lead for punters.

Dangers: Big watch on metro rival and exciting filly 13. Snow In May who also resumes off two trials 17 weeks after an impressive debut win in a country maiden as a short-priced favourite. Scratched from Canterbury as well to be saved for this. Progressive 3. Mogul Monarch is hunting two straight wins after comfortably leading all the way fresh at Hawkesbury, but has to get over from a wider draw this time. Gap to the rest, although included in exotics at bigger odds, lightly raced 2. Bush Telegraph resuming with gear changes behind a trial win; and improving 5. Willingale back on drier ground.

How to play it: Empress Of Japan to win

Settled on 9. Spirit Of Wealth, a well-touted filly by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist on debut for the Michael Freedman stable. Has won both lead up trials on rain-affected ground, the most recent by more than three lengths, and her task made easier by one of the early market fancies being preferred at Wednesday's Canterbury card.

Dangers: A Chris Waller-trained filly on debut, 10. Take Achance On Me has also caught the eye late in two trials, and is drawn to get a soft run off speed with cover. Keep safe at much bigger odds 6. Exceedaqa who is trained on the track and can improve second-up; while another Waller runner having her first start, 7. Mia Ballerina is a market watch behind two improving trials.

How to play it: Spirit Of Wealth to win

Plenty of chances in this one headed by smart four-year-old 5. Write This Way who resumes behind two trials, with the winkers coming off. Normally comes to hand quickly in the prep, and draws to get a softer run.

Dangers: Locally-trained 6. Zoe Shark led for a long way when resuming in a country CL2, and while there's more depth and quality here, she loves to peak second-up. Gets a nice weight advantage too after the jockey's 3kg claim. The betting will tell a story with 3. Kirragirl who failed to handle the heavy ground first-up in a metropolitan race and dropped right out. Home track mare 2. Never Sorry resumes from the inside draw with a 3kg claimer aboard, although hasn't publicly trialled; while 9. Chestime is the best of the rest, improving second-up.

How to play it: Write This Way to win

The boys' edition closes the meeting, and it's almost as open, although that augurs well for the value around progressive metro four-year-old 6. Carpaccio who looks well placed to win third-up. Has twice tracked the speed as favourite and finished off okay into a place, but significantly can be ridden a touch quieter here with the blinkers coming off.

Dangers: Watch the betting closely on 8. Last Command who resumes for a second prep off two quiet trials, having progressed to much tougher Group 3 company in his first campaign in autumn. Honest 2. Unwritten is very fit, and has found the line well in two provincial runs after a dominant BM 66 country win in heavy going. Home tracker 3. French Marine finally found his best form finishing hard to win a similar-graded race here a fortnight ago, although would prefer a softer surface. Include tough 7. Crop Duster in all exotic bets.

How to play it: Carpaccio to win

BEST BETS:
R2 1. COPACABANA
R5 6. EMPRESS OF JAPAN

BEST VALUE:
R4 1. FIOPROSPERO

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