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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Gosford meeting. Selections based on a soft to good track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Lightly raced filly 13. Rapt, who resumes, profiles well for this event and is well placed here under the race conditions. The three-year-old raced well in her debut campaign behind the likes of Group 1 placegetter Miracle Of Love and Listed winner Oz Empress. After two solid trials, she is wound up for this and has a positive race setup with Tim Clark riding from an inside draw. The Jason Deamer trained galloper brings dominant ratings and will be hard to hold out with even-luck.

Dangers: 10. Reigning King brings an SP edge over some of his key rivals and was honest first-up at Kembla, holding onto third after leading at a genuine tempo. He will have come on from that effort and will roll forward. 7. Uncut Gem was solid first-up at Hawkesbury, running on for fourth and receives blinkers for the first time. Add 6. Ranhita who is coming out of fast-time races this prep.

How to play it: Rapt WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Rapt runs second in a trial at Wyong on September 18

1. Mr Papera has raced well/consistently all preparation and broke through for a deserved maiden win last start at Hawkesbury. The gelding started a well-fancied favourite, ran his rivals ragged after leading at a fast pace and did it easily. He has a strong platform, will roll forward and may get the track pattern to suit. Will take some catching.

Dangers: 3. Highborn Harry was specked late in the trade first-up at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago and got too far back in a high-pressure race. The three-year-old made a long sustained run but peaked late. He brings strong form lines/figures for this event, and although jumping sharply in distance, he has the ability. Forgiving of 4. Majestic Style who bled for the first time last start at Scone, and she can bounce back here from an inside draw. 6. Sonny Fella is an honest galloper and is rock-hard fit.

How to play it: Mr Papera WIN ($3.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mr Papera wins last start at Hawkesbury on September 7

Keen on 1. Counter whose run had hidden merit first-up at Hawkesbury in a high-rating race which has since produced a subsequent winner. The Import had too much to do after getting too far back and then had to make a long-sustained sprint. Further, he clocked one of the meeting's fastest 400m-200m splits but was checked/blocked for most of the final furlong and had his momentum haltered. The Chris Waller galloper will undoubtedly be fitter for that effort; all key indicators suggest a rise to 1900m is ideal, and his ratings platform suggests he can produce a career peak effort here. In addition, although drawn wide, Tommy Berry will have the option to roll forward in a race that lacks early tempo.

Dangers: 8. Gunslinger comes through the same race as Counter and beat him home last start. Moreover, he had every chance but raced well and loomed but peaked on his run late. He will come on from that effort and receives blinkers for the first time. 9. Marenaro has been building towards a peak performance, and the rise in trip will suit. 5. Ten Downing Street brings a fitness edge and ran strong closing splits last start. Add 2. Final Reset to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Counter WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Counter last start at Hawkesbury on September 21

1. Azayaka, who resumes, is well placed here and brings a strong profile. The mare was brave in defeat in her debut last preparation at this track/distance after leading at a fast pace and never shirked her task to the line, holding on for second. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, the margins throughout confirmed the quality, and that figure is dominant relative to her rivals. She is still learning but receives the cross-over noseband for the first time and has won a recent trial at Rosehill easily. Expect her to take some catching.

Dangers: Debutante 10. Ny Kee has a positive race setup here and has trialled well enough in preparation for this assignment. Further, although ridden out, she showed a turn of foot and closed off to run second in a recent heat at Randwick. First starter 4. Marchesi raced keenly and wanted to get on the wrong leg in a recent trial at Warwick Farm but ran on well once he got his mind on the job. 2. Vintonic brings a race experience edge and market watch on 3. Le Parrain to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Azayaka WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Azayaka wins a trial at Rosehill Gardens on September 19

Debutant 8. Schwarz has shown style in two trials leading into this event and looks wound up for this assignment. The John O'Shea galloper hit the line hard in his first trial at Randwick over 742m and went through the line full of energy. He then showed speed to win his most recent heat at Randwick, and that effort will have him primed. The colt has key attributes, including adaptability/acceleration, and with even luck, expect him to be in the finish.

Dangers: Expecting 5. Alvina's Luck to bounce back here with a step back in trip. She can rate to win and brings a fitness edge. 3. Better Than Anyone got too far back when resuming at Hawkesbury, but to her credit, she ran on hard running fast closing splits. She will appreciate the rise in distance and will undoubtedly be fitter. Add 6. Balmierro to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Schwarz WIN ($1.55 TAB Fixed Odds).

Schwarz wins a trial at Randwick on September 22

2. Eagle Nest wasn't extended in a recent heat at Rosehill and went through the line full of energy. First-up last prep, her run was full of merit in a high-rating race where she had excuses. Further, she was checked/blocked at a key stage, losing balance, but she picked herself back up and savaged the line to run one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting. The four-year-old is coming through time races all of last campaign and has multiple winning figures for this event. Expect her to be quite forward coming out of the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou stable, and she has a very strong SP profile.

Dangers: 1. Zanzibar Gem wasn't suited first-up over 900m, but she ran on well and hit the line hard. She will be fitter for that and will relish the rise in trip. 3. Rhettra was dominant at Hawkesbury first-up after being heavily backed into $1.30 favourite. She can step off that and dry ground suits again.

How to play it: Eagle Nest ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Eagle Nest's latest trial at Rosehill on September 19

Leaning towards 1. Boss who has had excuses his past two starts, but before that, he was in career-best form. The gelding wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape in his last outing at Canterbury and couldn't build momentum at a critical stage. Further, he closed off ok, and that race has since produced two subsequent winners. He drops in grade, returns to his home track and expect an aggressive ride from a middle draw.

Dangers: 4. Sharp Shock resumed in a TAB Highway (1000m) 19 days ago but was checked/blocked for most of the straight. However, once clear, he hit the line hard and clocked one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. He receives a significant barrier change, allowing him to settle closer, and Tommy Berry rides. 8. The King is ready to peak third-up from a favourable draw, bringing strong form lines for this event. 6. Los Padres comes through the same race as The King, and he ran over the top of that galloper with a sharp turn of foot. 9. Geewiz Johnny represents value who is an honest on-pace type and is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Boss WIN ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Boss last start at Randwick on September 13

5. State Of America is in career-best form but has had no luck his past two starts. The gelding started favourite in a Midway Handicap (1800m) five days ago but went to the line untested after being checked/blocked for most of the straight. Prior to that start, she again had excuses in a stronger grade, but once she had clear running over the final furlong, she hit the line hard. The David Payne galloper is well placed down in grade, brings an SP edge over his rivals, and has multiple winning figures.

Dangers: 8. Silvakia has a strong platform and is ready to peak third-up. The mare raced well over this track/distance last prep and will relish the rise in trip. Expect her to be savaging the line. 4. Socrates is an honest on-pace type and is rock-hard fit.

How to play it: State Of America WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

State Of America last start at Randwick on September 30

Best Bet: Race 3 # 1 – Counter

Next Best: Race 6 # 2 – Eagle Nest

Best Value: Race 7 # 1 - Boss

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