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By Neil Evans

Track: Soft 7 and rail True:

The maidens sprinters get us rolling on a surface that might slip back to near Soft 6, but any cut out of the ground is ideal for provincial filly 2. Nightcapped resuming for just her second start. Hit the line impressively in similar going when on debut late autumn before spelling; then progressed into a recent strong second trial on Heavy 8 ground. Looks primed to fire for the Nathan Doyle yard who loves to strike fresh.

Dangers: Another filly facing the starter for only the second time, 3. Still Alice worked home well on debut, and bred to handle rain-affected ground. Gap to the rest headed by 9. Yukan Rose who has been freshened via a trial after two average runs this prep; while metro mare 5. Galactic Miss first-up off a nice trial is the next best.

How to play it: Nightcapped to win

Progressive filly 4. Fugitiva can peak at her third start,19 days between runs. Charged home from the back on debut to miss by under a length at Kembla before again doing her best work late from last on a Heavy 10. Despite coming back a furlong in trip, gets a timely 3kg weight drop, and from a soft trailing draw, just needs decent speed on from the half mile to power over them late.

Dangers: On top of the early betting, track the market big time on debutant four-year-old 1. Norton Road by Stratum Star who is trained on the track, and looked right up to the mark in a dominant metro trial win. Tough 2. Shigeru is right in the hunt as well after a very solid first-up run off a long break in a handy country maiden. Naturally watch the money around lightly raced mare 5. Thrill Of Brazil resuming for her first outing in more than a year. was strong through the line easily winning a heavy track trial, and will return in blinkers for the first time.

How to play it: Fugitiva to win

Testing battle over the mile, with several chances. One of those is progressive four-year-old 2. Dressel who can peak second-up out to this distance. Has a 60 percent place rate against deeper opposition from five starts.

Dangers: Resuming as a gelding, 3. Mornington Pier can run a race, with the blinkers coming off; while 4. Denote fourth-up with a superior jockey switch; and 8. Noble Tess third-up for a smart provincial stable; are both capable of running into the money.

How to play it: Dressel to win

Resuming mare 2. Flying Shelly has been fitted with two improving trials, and drawn to get a handy trail just off speed. Was preferred here to Wednesday's Kensington meeting, unlike the early hot favourite who went the other way.

Dangers: Watch the betting on lightly raced filly 6. Cosmonova, who won here fresh a month back, has trialled since, and also by-passed Kensington to be saved for this. Fourth-up and sparingly raced from a low draw, local mare 3. Tidal Impact is on the next line.

How to play it: Flying Shelly to win

Smart provincial filly 6. Diamond Lucy is primed to strike first-up from an ideal trailing draw. Progressed nicely to a provincial win at her third start, and fitted for this with two trials.

Dangers: Naturally emerging filly 7. Costa Smeralda is a threat 26 days after an even first-up effort at this track when rock solid in the market. Will again go forward from a middle barrier, and was a smart debut winner here in soft 6 ground late September. Returning as a gelding behind two progressive trials, talented 1. Man In The Mirror is a big watch with some weight relief after the claim. Expect sharp third-up improvement from metro three-year-old 5. Star Diesel.

How to play it: Diamond Lucy to win

Confident promising filly 3. Lady Boss can maintain her unbeaten record and make it three from three. Blew away a moderate maiden field on debut in Canberra before returning to lead all the way in similar company to this at Newcastle on Boxing Day. Up in weight for this, but again reloads off a similar prep, and the breed relishes any sting out of the ground.

Dangers: Keep safe another unbeaten filly 5. Mischief In Dubai who swept home from midfield for a first-up win in weaker grade. A drop in distance is a plus for 1. Star Impact who is hard fit after three runs back, and gets some weight relief after the jockey's claim; while 4.Lady Soames will find this tougher after finishing best to claim a country CL1 when resuming. Include home track mare 2. Linguee in wider exotics.

How to play it: Lady Boss to win

The boys' edition closes the program, and it shapes just as well for exciting four-year-old 5. Katsumoto who like the previous on top selection is gunning for a third consecutive win to remain unbeaten. Stalked the speed before going best on debut at Kembla five weeks ago before taking a long time to overhaul them in Class 1 company on a very heavy track. That style of win says the extra 150m on a challenging circuit will be right up his alley. The one to beat.

Dangers: Debut winner at the provincials, 12. Carpaccio looms as the clear threat from a softer draw, with winkers going on. Included in trifecta and first four bets, 6. Black Duke deep into the prep with blinkers back on; home tracker 8. Wealthy Investor second-up from a softer gate; and 10. King's Duty third-up.

How to play it: Katsumoto to win

BEST BETS:
R6 3. LADY BOSS
R7 5. KATSUMOTO

BEST VALUE:
R2 4. FUGITIVA

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