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By Neil Evans

Track improving to Soft 5 and rail True:

We open with the maiden sprinters on a fast improving track backing up from Wednesday when it played fairly even. Not much between a few of these solid trial performers, but All Too Hard three-year-old 3. The Rockwell Scale is on top after a strong second trial win, and he gets first use of the inside.

Dangers: Big watch on Not A Single Doubt three-year-old 1. Fluctuate who maps to get a sweet run on debut behind two progressive trials; while Godolphin colt 2. Mr Wallace must also be in the mix off a trial win, and is beautifully bred by Medaglia d'Oro out of the outstanding four times Group 1-winning mare Streama.

How to play it: The Rockwell Scale to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Hard to go past emerging and well bred four-year-old stallion 1. Nasturtium who bounced to the front on debut at Hawkesbury and careered away for the easiest of wins. Meeting a few better ones here, so wouldn't get totally sold on any red hot price.

Dangers: Winning Rupert filly 8. Smokeshow is the clear quinella runner resuming from the inside draw. Won the second of two lead-up trials, and will park to do little or no work just off the speed. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Nasturtium to win and quinella 1 and 8. Odds and Evens: Split

Got a stack of time for lightly raced provincial colt 4. Pacheco who resumes from a wide draw off a nice trial. Made up a heap of late ground on debut at Scone in winter behind a smart winner, and if he can find any cover from the gate will be the one charging home. Was scratched from Wednesday's feature meeting to be saved for this.

Dangers: Metro filly 10. Hot Press can improve sharply second-up dropping 3kg; while resuming mare 3. Blue Jager goes in exotics.

How to play it: Pacheco to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Plenty of chances in this tactical longer battle, but capable six-year-old 3. Prospero looms as the best value fourth-up. After struggling in tougher Midway grade, he finished powerfully to win the Tuncurry Cup, and while this is a step back up in quality, he draws to find an ideal trail just off the speed.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by tough closer 4. Just A Jedi who is suited back in provincial grade over more ground. Improving and consistent four-year-old 6. Bak Da Man has his share of ability, and just missed at his last two hitting the line impressively; while tough six-year-old 1. Commander Bell has been consistently finding the line, and gets a much needed little drop in class.

How to play it: Prospero each way and trifecta 3,4,6/3,4,6/1,3,4,6. Odds and Evens: Split

This shapes nicely for four-year-old UK import 2. Campeao who fought on okay first run in Australia after a year off the scene. Much fitter and acclimatised now, drawn better, and is bred to get further than a mile.

Dangers: After three rock solid runs back at the provincials, three-year-old 7. Sandastan is the immediate threat reaching this trip for the first time; while 8. Superdeel third-up and 4. Brave Boy second-up can fight out the minor end of the prize.

How to play it: Campeao to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Opposing the likely hot fancy here, with hard fit metro filly 11. Bai Ai Gei Ni who is deep into her prep. Has continued to improve, working home nicely on a bog track three weeks back, and is well over the odds.

Dangers: Progressive metro filly 12. Flying Witness is the natural threat back in provincial company third-up after closing off solidly in two stronger city races. Best treated runner in the race under the set weight conditions, although threatens to go around under the odds. Keep safe ex-Victorian three-year-old 3. Greaves who did his best work late, first run in NSW off a 22 week spell, and blinkers have been added.

How to play it: Bai Ai Gei Ni each way and box exacta 3,11,12. Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive metro three-year-old 3. Walkin' Talkin' drops back from city grade, and is primed to strike third-up. Was good late at Canterbury when not getting a lot of room, and he's the one to beat here carrying half kilo less.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old 1. Mandalong Roman should be right at his peak fourth-up getting back on preferred firmer footing. Include in all exotics honest eight-year-old 10. Trust Me who draws well and couldn't be any fitter.

How to play it: Walkin' Talkin' to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

One of the tougher affairs is saved for last as the girls wave farewell to 2021. Improving three-year-old 5. Testimonial will relish getting back on firmer footing second-up after disappointing on a Heavy 10 at Kembla when a short-priced fancy. Can park a little closer in the run here, and is way over the odds.

Dangers: Randwick three-year-old 12. Written Doubt was dominant on debut in the country sweeping home from midfield, and looks capable in this company with a more experienced jockey taking over. Progressive four-year-old 2. Evening Bride tackles stronger after sweeping home to win a weaker country race first-up for 11 months. Keep safe country mare 1. Cecilia who can mix her form, but she was strong late in a similar race fourth-up and was preferred here to a CL4 on Wednesday, although not well treated at the weights. Include in exotics both 6. Confessed who resumes behind two progressive trials; and lightly raced five-year-old 7. Starboreta who landed a big betting move charging home to win her maiden first-up.

How to play it: Testimonial each way. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R5 2. CAMPEAO
R7 3. WALKIN' TALKIN'

BEST VALUE:
R8 5. TESTIMONIAL

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