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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail out 4m:

Testing middle distance maiden with plenty of hopes led by improving and lightly raced 7. Jolly Good Fellow who shapes nicely from the inside draw second-up. Worked home strongly when resuming at Warwick Farm, and parks a little closer here over further. The stablemate being preferred at the Kensington meeting on Wednesday is a further boost.

Dangers: 6. Think Romance gets a nice low draw and can roll forward again, fitter after two runs back. Keep safe 5. Top Secret who gets blinkers added at his third start. Include both 4. Maximum Dividend resuming behind two improving trials from a handy trailing draw; and 11. Celtic Sin with blinkers on second-up; in wider exotic plays.

How to play it: Jolly Good Fellow to win

Again not much between the leading contenders here. Settled on Russian Revolution colt 5. Revolt who debuts for the Gerald Ryan-Sterling Alexiou yard behind two smart trial wins over 900m, the latest clocking a slick 53.91 secs, faster than all the Open class trial winners. Starts his career sporting winkers.

Dangers: 6. Shalaa Gold resumes for a second prep as a gelding off two progressive trials, and draws the inside. Big watch on lightly raced mare 2. Fiorenza also first-up behind two trials; while 3. Gunroom was narrowly beaten on debut at Hawkesbury after a strong betting move. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Revolt to win

Talented filly 7. Emery can bounce back at good odds on her home track after punters were left frustrated on debut at Hawkesbury. Was $2.30 into $2.10 that day when held up and checked at a vital stage before beaten four lengths. Taking on some slick ones here, but won a handy trial here seven weeks ago, and should get plenty of speed up front to chase home.

Dangers: 1. Straand Beauty comes back to provincial level importantly over a shorter distance after twice being run down late against metro opposition. Progressive 6. Enhance is close to a break-through win after placing in his first two runs back.

How to play it: Emery each way

Progressive three-year-old 5. Obscure can bounce back hard here fourth-up from a softer draw. Came off a tough maiden win in heavy going to falter late in BM 64 company at Hawkesbury when covering early ground from the draw. Gets a better run in transit here with a change of jockey, and the drop back 100m in trip is a plus.

Dagers: Randwick-based 6. Phenom returned with a dominant Super Maiden win in the country leading all the way, although the second horse in that race was a certainty denied. Has tactical speed and plenty of ability, but locking horns with some smarter ones. 9. Perfumist gets winkers added second-up; while home tracker 3. River Pat can run into the minor money third-up.

How to play it: Obscure to win

The boys' edition looks ideal for promising three-year-old 8. Bartolf, resuming for only his third start behind two progressive trials up to 1000m. Won on debut as a heavily backed favourite last prep, and looks fairly treated in this class where he can settle back around midfield before producing a superior final 400m burst.

Dangers: Keep safe at the value locally-trained 2. Hydrometer who hit the line nicely behind a dominant winner first-up in BM 64 company. 1. Zouprince ran home fairly behind the placegetters when resuming at Warwick Farm, but can't afford to get too far off the speed on this tougher circuit carrying 59.5kg. Expect sharp second-up improvement from 4. Mellifluent who had no chance when resuming, settling near last and caught up in traffic; while 3. Llewellyn can add value into trifecta and first four returns.

How to play it: Bartolf to win

Smart four-year-old 1. Reigning King is primed to make it three wins from his last four in what is a very moderate line-up for this grade. Twice led all the way in BM 64 company at the provincials before heading north and punctured late in much tougher BM 80 grade at Eagle Farm. Far better place here, and looks well treated at the weights only 3.5kg over the limit after the claim.

Dangers: 4. Decisive Lass resumes behind two quiet trials, and can run the quinella; while 6. Princeston is in the mix dropping sharply in weight third-up with blinkers going on. Gap to the rest headed by locally-trained 7. Lady Shenanigans who is on a seven day back-up; and at bigger odds 3. Propel Motion resuming off a long break and two trials.

How to play it: Reigning King to win

Progressive 6. Oakfield Hawk is tracking to peak third-up over further. Ran home well late first-up in a conditional BM 68 before again making good late ground into a place at Hawkesbury after working in the run. Drawn to be tucked away with cover midfield, and only needs clear air from the 500m.

Dangers: 5. Cormac T is getting out to his preferred distance third-up. Put two wins together up to 2000m last prep, and kept on okay through the line last start in deeper BM 72 metro company. 7. Hooligan Tommy won two straight in weaker races before very disappointing in this grade at Hawkesbury after getting a nice trail behind the leader but never looked like running him down as a short priced favourite. Has the ability, but would need to lift big time from this tougher draw, and is under the odds. 8. Silent Russian is trained on the track and the best of the west.

How to play it: Oakfield Hawk to win

Progressive 4. Physicist can pounce here second-up and down in grade over a longer journey. Was a Super Maiden winner in the city first-up last campaign before progressing to much tougher Saturday company. Liked the way he hit the line late when resuming in a BM 72 at Warwick Farm.

Dangers: 9. She's Got Veuve also did her best work late when resuming in a similar company at Kembla, and draws to get a good trail. Over the odds is 1. Oakfield Warpath back in grade third-up over further; while 7. More Mischief is five weeks since a dominant country BM 66 win.

How to play it: Physicist to win

BEST BETS:
R4 5. OBSCURE
R5 8. BARTOLF

BEST VALUE:
R7 6. OAKFIELD HAWK

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