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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a soft track.

3. Offenbach resumes as a gelding and he was narrowly beaten by Blitzburg over this course on debut. Found the line pretty well in his latest trial, drawn to get a nice trail and should handle some give in the track. Expect him to run well.

Dangers: 7. Lipstick made her debut back in December and ran a safely held third behind Tempted, which has proven to be strong form. Did the job well in the latest trial and is definitely one to keep safe. 2. Impact Zone started a solid favourite at his first outing and did a good job from the front when run down late. Has to be one of the main chances. 1. Feared was a $600,000 yearling out of a half-sister to She Will Reign. Had two jump outs in Victoria before winning a Randwick trial narrowly over 1050m. Back to 900m for his debut, another to keep an eye on.

How to play it: Offenbach WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Offenbach runs second in a Warwick Farm trial on April 7

1. Hawker Hall will start very short and it’s hard to go past him. Was odds-on when run down on debut at Hawkesbury in October where he hung badly in the home straight. Trialling strongly including a big win on heavy in the latest.

Dangers: 3. Zoucat has had the one public trial at Kembla a couple of weeks ago and she was held together in that gallop running a close third. Nicely bred and in top stable so if there’s a danger she could be it. 2. The Way Ahead made her debut over this track and distance on April 1 as favourite and ran on okay into third on a soft track. Open to improvement on that and has to stay in the mix. 7. Sizzling Boy best of the rest after running fourth in the same race and only a narrow margin behind The Way Ahead on the line.

How to play it: Hawker Hall WIN ($1.33 TAB Fixed Odds).

Hawker Hall wins a Newcastle trial on April 2

9. O Cara Mia showed she’d made nice improvement into her second preparation by running on into second when resuming at Hawkesbury over 1500m. Fitter for it and she did take steps forward with each run last time in so she can be in the finish.

Dangers: 4. El Paso looked to have every chance in a similar race here on April 1 when a short priced favourite. Gets the blinkers on here so that may help as he’s been costly this time in. 2. Tommy Thug ran third in the same race after looming into it on the home turn then boxing away at the finish. Racing honestly and is one of the chances. 3. Chief Of Staff looked to appreciate getting up in trip in his improved second at Wyong at his second race start. Extremely well bred and open to further improvement.

How to play it: O Cara Mia EACH-WAY ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

O Cara Mia runs second at Hawkesbury on April 5

4. Righteous Legend returns as a gelding after two even runs in his first preparation where he was well supported in both and finished close up off wide gates. Trial may not be a super guide as he was out the back and forced wide but found the line okay. Middle draw should give him every chance.

Dangers: 11. Satin Sparkle did quite a good job when resuming at Wyong a couple of weeks ago as she made a run around them and was still strong on the line. Could easily go on with it. 8. Mignonette is out of that great mare Catkins and she’s first-up since her debut here back in December. Nothing wrong with her two trials and she’s a good chance. 5. Catonahotinroof hasn’t been too far away in two runs this time in and while she had her chance at Wyong last time she’s an each-way hope here.

How to play it: Righteous Legend WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Righteous Legend runs fourth in a Rosehill trial on April 11

4. Tasoraay showed promise in his first preparation and delivered with a maiden win at his fifth start. Found the line nicely on a heavy track in his latest trial at this track, and while coming up in class he does look hard to beat.

Dangers: 12. Aroha Stone is another resuming and she also took a few runs to break through before a sound effort in a Class 1 prior to a spell. Worked home without pressure in a fourth on a heavy track in her recent trial and is worth keeping safe. 1. Flying From Above was outclassed behind Lazurra in the Phar Lap and freshened up with an easy trial two weeks ago. Canterbury winner at his second start and while drawn wide is a chance with some early luck. 3. Koios may not have appreciated the blinkers when running last as favourite at Hawkesbury last time and they’re coming off for this. Previous effort was a narrow defeat at odds-on here in March. Could bounce back.

How to play it: Tasoraay WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Tasoraay runs second in a Newcastle trial on April 2

1. Caltsar has found a nice race to kick off in on the back of a couple of trial wins, the latest of them on a heavy track where he ran down a leader who had opened a big break in the straight. Seems 1400m will suit and should take beating on what he’s shown.

Dangers: 4. Rhegion did a bit of work early when resuming from a 10 month break at Muswellbrook and held on okay for third. Will be better for it and from a softer draw he has the platform to improve. 3. Navy Pier was only fair on debut running fourth on a heavy track when well supported. Perhaps he’s looking for more ground so could lift a bit. 2. Proclivity has had a number of trials over the past six months and debuts after running third over 1200m at Warwick Farm two weeks ago. Could be placed.

How to play it: Caltsar WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Caltsar wins a Newcastle trial on April 2

6. Empress Of Japan likely appreciated the combination of a class drop and rise in trip when scoring a big win from well back at Goulburn third-up. Placed at the trip at Kembla last time in and if she can get to the outside she could be hard to hold out again.

Dangers: 4. Colours Of Autumn will like the drop in grade after contesting two Provincial-Midway Championships qualifiers and she wasn’t disgraced in either. The extra 100m is a plus for her and she look a danger. 1. Hellfire Express has a wide gate but did the job well in his trial on heavy ground since a fair first-up run at Hawkesbury. Generally a consistent type so he’s well worth including in the chances. 9. Moonlight Grace tends to enjoy the give in the track, as she showed three runs ago, and she could be a surprise packet getting back out in distance and down in weight.

How to play it: Empress Of Japan WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Empress Of Japan wins at Goulburn on April 8

9. Equilibrist was an improver into his second-up placing over a mile at Gosford and looks a good each-way chance here. Best efforts have been on soft or worse ground and at a mile and above so he’s well suited and should run a cheeky race.

Dangers: 5. Hardpoint was placed in his first two runs back at Class 1 level then had a shot at the Tulloch and faded after leading. Much better suited in this and on previous form has to be respected. 7. November Falls ran a few smart races in Midway company last time in should be at peak now after three runs back. Led at Doomben and boxed on for fourth last time, should roll forward here and can give a sight. 2. Blazerro stuck his head out to run second in the Gundagai Cup second-up and while he doesn’t win out of turn he’s often around the placings and seems to handle all ground. Has to be some chance right back in class.

How to play it: Equilibrist EACH-WAY ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Equilibrist runs third at Gosford on April 10

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting