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By Gary Harley

Willie Pike has been booked for seven mounts at Thursday's Wyong race meeting and four of them are expected to go to the barriers either favourite or close to it. The West Aussie's four best mounts in racebook order are – Nullify ($3.80 on TAB), Nosey Parker ($6.50), Siyata ($3.60 favourite) and Lake Kastoria ($5).

Nullify, trained by the Snowdens, contests the opening event The Bellbirds and Central Coast Volunteer Rescue Association 3YO Maiden Plate (1350m). The filly has been placed in her past two starts at Kembla and Muswellbrook. She has the rails barrier, has been placed twice on heavy tracks and races on the pace.

Nosey Parker from the Paul Perry stable runs in the 1600m Accolade Wines & Nestle Professional Maiden Handicap. The son of Perry’s former star Choisir ran on stoutly on debut at Scone on July 9 on a Heavy 9 track. He steps up from 1300m to 1600m and Pike rides the gelding for the first time.

Siyata, an import from the John O’Shea yard, is early favourite for the 1200m Daily Press & Carlton & United Breweries Class 1 Handicap. The mare flew home from the back when beaten less than a length on this track on June 16. Last start Siyata was beaten a length on the Kensington Track on a soft track on June 26. The mare has a lovely barrier and I believe it’s the Wizard's best ride.

The talented Lake Kastoria resumes in the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners & Arcade Trader Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). The mare has won two from three with both wins on heavy Hawkesbury tracks 12 months ago and the 4yo was runner-up to King Of Sparta in a recent trial.

RACE 1, THE BELLBIRDS & CENTRAL COAST VOLUNTEER RESCUE MAIDEN PLATE, 1350M: I Am Geronimo ($3.80) is fitter after two runs from a spell and he put the writing on the wall last start. He led on this track on July 19 when beaten one and a half length and Avdulla rides him again. Jumeirah Beach ($3.40 fav) is on debut three nice trials and Nullify ($3.80) has been placed in her past two.
SELECTIONS: 1 I AM GERONIMO, 3 JUMEIRAH BEACH, 7 NULLIFY

RACE 2, WE CARE CONNECT & CENTRAL COAST KIDS IN NEED 4YO MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1350M: Loniesha ($1.95 fav) will be at short odds after a Hawkesbury placing last start on July 17. The mare has been placed in four of 14 starts but her last run was her best in this preparation. Danzette ($4.80) has been placed in two of her past three starts and Uninsurabal ($10) can fill a place.
SELECTIONS: 1 LONIESHA, 3 DANZETTE, 8 UNINSURABAL

RACE 3, ACCOLADE WINES & NESTLE PROFESSIONAL MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1600M: Nosey Parker ($6.50) ran well on debut at Scone on July 9 when he finished strongly from last to go down by under 2 lengths over 1300m. The longer trip is ideal and Pike rides. Adorable Miss ($2.15 fav) was beaten a head at Newcastle two starts back and she will be favourite. Janosik ($10) has a place chance.
SELECTIONS: 3 NOSEY PARKER, 1 ADORABLE MISS, 5 JANOSIK

RACE 4, BISHOP COLLINS & AUSTBROKERS 2YO MAIDEN, 1300M: Ring Ahoy ($4.40) is an emergency and if he gains a start he will be hard to beat. His only two starts have been in Victoria where he was unplaced in both starts. However, he was impressive in winning a Warwick Farm trial recently. Sightseer ($3.70 fav) was runner-up in his only start at Newcastle on June 11 and Gotta Fly ($7) has a chance.
SELECTIONS: 15 RING AHOY, 8 SIGHTSEER, 3 GOTTA FLY

RACE 5, DAILY PRESS & CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1, 1200M: Imported mare Siyata ($3.60 fav) is knocking on the door and Pike rides her for the first time. Two starts back she came from well back to get within three quarters of a length of the winner on this track. Last start the mare was beaten a length on the Kensington Track. Zeminnika ($5) is trialling well and Golden Gate ($4.20) is racing nicely.
SELECTIONS: 1 SIYATA, 3 ZEMINNIKA, 6 GOLDEN GATE

RACE 6, REGNIS REFRIGERATION & SONS & HARVEY NORMAN COMMERCIAL DIVISION BM 64, 1350M: This is a very open race. Tick Tock Boom ($6.50) has drawn well and Tommy Berry rides. He missed the start when a close fourth at Canterbury last start. He was placed at Hawkesbury and Kembla in May. Navajo Peak ($7.50) is an emergency but is in career best form and if he gains a start he will run well. Air Of Alsace ($4.80 fav) is talented and has a chance.
SELECTIONS: 14 TICK TOCK BOOM, 17 NAVAJO PEAK, 8 AIR OF ALSACE

RACE 7, WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION BM 68 HANDICAP, 1600M: Star Sparks ($7.50) has won three of his six starts and he was impressive in a recent trial. He is a leader and has drawn the rails barrier. His last win at Hawkesbury on May 31 on a soft track. Buba ($5 equal fav) loves a wet track and is in very good form. Freedom Square ($7.50) has a good record and is comfortable on a heavy track.
SELECTIONS: 2 STAR SPARKS, 3 BUBA, 1 FREEDOM SQUARE

RACE 8, COCA-COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS & ARCADE TRADER BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP, 1100M: Lake Kastoria ($5) has not raced for 12 months but resumes after an impressive trial. She won her first two starts at Hawkesbury on heavy tracks. She has a soft draw and Pike rides. Dijon ($4.40 fav) has been runner-up in both starts this prep and draws well. Prince Invincible ($5) is quick and the claim is helpful.
SELECTIONS: 9 LAKE KASTORIA, 8 DIJON, 1 PRINCE INVINCIBLE

LATE MAIL
RACE 1
2 I AM GERONIMO – PUT WRITING ON WALL LAST START
3 JUMEIRAH BEACH – ALL TRIALS OK
7 NULLIFY – JUST MISSED LAST 2
4 PHOSPHENE – PLACE

RACE 2
1 LONIESHA – HAS BEST FORM
3 DANZETTE – PLACED TWICE HERE
8 UNINSURABAL – NOT FAR AWAY AT GRAFTON
4 LIMPIDA – TOP 4 CHANCE

RACE 3
3 NOSEY PARKER – WENT GOOD ON DEBUT. NEEDS THIS TRIP
1 ADORABLE MISS – HAS BEEN PLACED IN BETTER FIELDS
5 JANOSIK – CAN IMPROVE FROM THIS BARRIER
2 PACIFIC WARRIOR – SHOULD HAVE FINISHED CLOSER LAST TIME

RACE 4
15 RING AHOY – BEEN GELDED. LOVELY TRIAL
8 SIGHTSEER – PLACED STRONG NEWCASTLE RACE
3 GOTTA FLY – JUST MISSED GOSFORD LAST START
6 MANZOICE – 1ST START. QUIET TRIAL

RACE 5
1 SIYATA – HAS FOOT ON THE TILL
3 ZEMINNIKA – NICE HAWKESBURY TRIAL WIN
6 GOLDEN GATE – BOLTED IN AT NEWCASTLE ON DEBUT
4 HIGHLY AMBITIOUS – TOP 4 CHANCE

RACE 6
14 TICK TOCK BOOM – RACING WELL BIG PLAYER
17 NAVAJO PEAK – IN CAREER BEST FORM
8 AIR OF ALSACE – HAS A GOOD RECORD
3 DIAMOND HANDS – RACED IN BETTER FIELDS

RACE 7
2 STAR SPARKS – WON 3 OF 6 AND GOES QUICK
3 BUBA – LOVES A WET TRACK
1 FREEDOM SQUARE – WON 5 INCLUDING 2 ON HEAVY
6 FLOWER MOON – WON 2 OF 3 THIS PREP

RACE 8
9 LAKE KASTORIA – IMPRESSIVE TRIAL. WON 2 OF 3
8 DIJON – JUST MISSED LAST 2
1 PRINCE INVINCIBLE – VERY QUICK. CHANCE
3 CONCOCTED – NO LUCK LAST START

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here