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By Nick Berney

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

5. Frilled made it back-to-back wins in his first campaign, and he went out on a career peak figure over this track/distance prior to spelling. The mare is an improving type and has the key attribute of natural speed and then being able to accelerate. She has trialled well, winning a recent heat at Randwick easily, and she wasn't extended. The Matthew Smith galloper sets up well from barrier one, and Kerrin McEvoy rides. Expect her to be hard to catch.

Dangers: 1. Another Cognac, who resumes, raced well/consistently all last campaign, and before spelling, he had excuses in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) when finishing sixth. He must carry a hefty weight, but he has a powerful finish, and expect him to charge at the line late. 7. Nonshalaant is a 1000m specialist and 4. All Girls brings a fitness edge.

How to play it: Frilled WIN ($1.40 TAB Fixed Odds) & Exacta 5 / 1.

Frilled wins a trial at Randwick on August 15

7. Spirit Of Varanasi was an alarming drifter first-up at Hawkesbury, but her effort was honest after getting too far back in the run. The four-year-old had to make her initial run through the inferior ground but still sprinted a slick 600m-200m split and exerted all his energy between that section. Further, she peaked on her run late and held on for a solid fifth. She benefits from returning to her home track, and key indicators suggest she can only improve off this effort. In addition, she can be within striking distance when the sprint goes on due to the small field.

Dangers: Debutante 1. Lady Ichikawa is still learning but has improved between trials, and she sets up well from barrier one. Moreover, Kerrin McEvoy rides and the mare can follow the rail for her first start. 4. Reigning King is now in the hands of trainer Nathan Doyle and has trialled well enough leading into this event. He has a race experience edge and brings the best last-start figure. 3. Jinsoku also makes his debut, and 2. Twentyeightdragons is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Spirit Of Varanasi WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Spirit Of Varanasi runs fifth at Hawkesbury on September 2

8. Manhattan's is on an upwards ratings spiral and broke through for her maiden win at Hawkesbury 12 days ago. The lightly raced improver stalked a farcical tempo but built through her gears strongly and savaged the line to score, running the fastest last 200m split of the meeting. Moreover, that race produced a high rating last section, and there was a margin to third, confirming the quality of the race. Her sectional profile supports she can bounce off that effort, and the big Kembla track over more ground is ideal. Additionally, she can sprint off slow/fast tempos and expect her to be savaging the line. Good each-way.

Dangers: 6. Snowman presents as a key danger and is ready to peak third-up now with a strong platform. He has raced well this campaign, and although he had all favours last start, his effort suggested he is ready to win. Expecting an aggressive ride, and he'll take some catching. 5. Fiddlers Green has been well found in early markets but showed a sharp turn of foot to score last start at Hawkesbury, and he ran solid time. 3. Riff Rocket resumes and has trialled well. He ran time to win on debut at Geelong and forgive his last start before spelling, where he had excuses. 2. Whisky Wisdom is more suited up in distance and 1. Miyoshi is a key late-market watch for exotics.

How to play it: Manhattans E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Manhattans wins at Hawkesbury on September 2

1. Good Vintage is at optimal fitness now with a strong platform and ready to win. The gelding was well fancied late in the trade last start at Newcastle, and although having all favours, he sprinted hard. Further, he went down fighting just to be pipped on the line, and he beat the rest easily. The four-year-olds ratings profile suggests he can peak fourth up here, and the wide draw is of little concern where he can roll forward and be hard to run down. Good each-way.

Dangers: 11. Hasty Honey was thrown in the deep end first-up in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), and although well beaten, her effort was honest in that class. She got too far back, but her final furlong was solid, indicating the rise in trip will be ideal, and she drops sharply in grade. 2. Koning can improve sharply off his debut run with the blinkers going on for the first time and barrier one suits. 8. Unowho had the bias against first-up and 7. Nerano is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Good Vintage E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Good Vintage runs second at Newcastle on August 29

4. Zarni, a consistent type, was honest in defeat, running second last start at this track. The four-year-old chased a fast tempo throughout and never shirked her task to the line. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day and repeating that performance will make her hard to beat. She has a strong profile for this event and expect a positive ride from the wide draw.

Dangers: Forget 6. Showsumgrit's last start at Wyong, where she never looked comfortable and didn't handle the tight-turning track. She can bounce back sharply here with the blinkers back on and barrier one. 5. Napoleon Solo is rock-hard fit and gets in well at the weights after the claim for apprentice jockey Emma Ly. Add 10. Latin Lyric who comes through the same race as Zarni to trifectas and first fours.

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

Zarni runs second at Kembla Grange on August 26

4. Struff brings a fitness edge and is ready to peak third up coming out of time/sectional merit races. She had every chance when running second behind Perfect Proposal last start at Nowra but tired hard in defeat, and there was a big margin to third to confirm the quality of the race. The four-year-old profiles well and maps to have all favours. Hard to beat with even luck.

Dangers: Debutant 4. General Sensei is a nice type and has gone through the line full of energy in his two trials at Rosehill. Moreover, he has a turn of foot and will be hitting the line hard. 14. Simplicity raced well first-up at this track, and back to dry ground was a plus. Add 5. Kenology to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Struff WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Struff runs second at Nowra on August 27

3. Sunzou started a well fancied $1.70 favourite last start at this track/distance and was honest in defeat when running third. The gelding led at an even tempo and tried hard to the line to just be beaten over the concluding stages. He is now at optimal fitness, and the four-year-old has run to a consistent figure to put him in the finish. In addition, he maps to control the pace of the race and will be hard to catch.

Dangers: 6. Waikato Flyer resumes after one quiet trial at Hawkesbury, and the gelding has a strong fresh record. Further, he wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape first-up last prep at Nowra but flashed home to run second and record some of the fastest closing splits of the meeting. 2. Sawrey returns off a 262-day break, brings solid form lines to this event, and is a key late market watch. 1. Egyptian Tycoon is on a quick backup.

How to play it: Sunzou WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Sunzou runs third at Kembla on August 26

Best Bet: Race 6 # 4 – Struff

Next Best: Race 4 # 1 – Good Vintage

Best Value: Race 3 # 8 – Manhattans

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