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By Neil Evans

Track Soft 5 and rail True

We start on a surface likely to settle in soft range, with some rain forecast, and that should suit metro mare 3. Miss Mya who bolted in her maiden on a Soft 7 here two runs back. Hit the line from further back last start when four weeks between runs, but can settle closer this time from a better draw and wants a bigger track.

Dangers: Big watch on improving 2. Acceber who was even through the line first-up at Wyong behind a very promising one. Another one second-up, 6. Wild Botanica comes back from deeper metro opposition when boxing on okay from the front; while promising colt 8. Surfers Royale defied a betting drift to win comfortably on debut in Canberra.

How to play it: Miss Mya to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Promising metropolitan three-year-old 6. Stroke Of Luck can make it two from two. Came off a couple of progressive trials to charge home and claim his maiden on debut at Newcastle, and drew to get a similar trail off the fence.

Dangers: Big market watch on Frankel stallion 2. Money From The Sky who returns behind two trials, with blinkers coming off. Include in all exotics 8. Pavitra after bolting in her maiden from the front at the provincials third start.

How to play it: Stroke Of Luck to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

She's drawn right off the track, but capable filly 8. Cabaca can launch home here second-up at big odds getting on to a more suitably bigger track. Her first effort at Warwick Farm when holding her quote in the market was better than it looked, and if she finds cover early enough over a little further can unleash a spectacular final 400m. Was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to be saved for this.

Dangers: The patience is almost worn out with 1. Ruinart after finding one better first-up at Wyong, again jumping as a hot favorite. That was her fifth placing from six starts, all as the top market fancy, and while there's no doubting she has the ability and likes soft ground in a race that looks a little thinner, the inside draw here doesn't overly suit her off speed style. Expect a big run from improving colt 9. Lehndorff, who did her best work late at big odds on debut behind the top selection in the previous race. Included in exotics 11. An Charraig who was right behind Ruinart in that Newcastle maiden; and 2. Wolves who peaks fourth-up.

How to play it: Cabaca each way and box trifecta 1,8,9/1,2,8,9,11/1,2,8,9,11
Odds and Evens: Split

Keen on progressive home track mare 5. Burning Need fourth-up if she backs up in five days. Charged home to miss narrowly here in similar grade two starts ago, before looking home for all money in Saturday company until edged out in the last stride. Looks very fairly treated at the weights back to Thursday company.

Dangers: Metro five-year-old 3. Duke Of Buckingham can be right in the finish second-up from a soft draw, although may just need one more run. Keep safe, honest 4. Toulon Brook who faded late in superior metro grade, but given four weeks between runs; while last-start BM 64 winner 1. Intuition with a 3kg claim; 2. Famous Pedrille who draws well over more ground; and 7. Napoleon Solo fourth-up; can all run into the minor end of the money.

How to play it: Burning Need to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The form may suggest honest home track five-year-old 7. Mancconi needs to find a length or two second-up, but he's never been better placed ahead of his 18th start. Has enough early speed to take advantage of a handy gate, gets in light after the claim, and back 100m in distance is a further plus.

Dangers: Ultra consistent four-year-old 1. Oxford Vision resumes off a quiet trial, and comes to hand quickly, although wouldn't be diving into too short a price under 60kg. Watch the betting on 4. Oceans One who draws wide and hasn't started since last November, but has ability and trainer has made a stack of gear changes; while the market will tell a story with I Am Invincible colt 6. Imran on debut behind two recent trials.

How to play it: Mancconi each way
Odds and Evens: Split

This shapes up nicely for four-year-old stallion 3. Omni Man, resuming for a second full prep behind two strong and forward trials. Came to hand at the provincials in a heart-beat last prep, leading all the way first-up before being even more dominant second-up when jumping to a similar level as this. Has earnt the big weight, and punters can be further buoyed with front bar plates coming off first the first time.

Dangers: Keep very safe talented home tracker 1. Espirito who ploughed through the mud to win a weaker race first-up, and is unbeaten at the track. Got plenty of time for emerging colt 13. Bayezid who paid the price for being ridden too hard in front at second start, and much better when taken off the speed, especially getting back on a bigger track. Last-start Highway winner 4. Pokerjack and 12. Passistas second-up; both represent value in a wide betting race.

How to play it: Omni Man to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

One of the more open races on the program to finish, and no better value than lightly raced three-year-old 2. Union Army who can pounce at third start, with key gear changes. Like the way he's finished off in two provincial runs so far, and this time is drawn to get to the outside earlier.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by well bred Russian Revolution colt 6. Magadan who debuts off a smart trial win. Big watch too on 9. Awesome John who draws to get a soft trail behind two trials; while at bigger odds 1. Ruby Flyer who hit the line here on debut. Included in exotics 8. One Destiny who is hard fit.

How to play it: Union Army each way and box exacta 2,6,9
Odds and Evens: Evens

BEST BETS:
R1 3. MISS MYA
R2 6. STROKE OF LUCK

BEST VALUE:
R5 7. MANCCONI

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