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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a heavy track.

4. Diva Las Vegas looked the park winning a trial at Randwick in easy fashion over the 740m so she’ll be sharp for the short course here. Gets in with the limit weight and drawn to find the front so expect she’ll be hard to run down.

Dangers: 5. Glorioso has some race experience on her side from placings here in November and Kembla before a spell. Definite chance. 3. Collerette wasn’t asked for too much in the same trial as Diva Las Vegas so expect her to be an improver on what she showed there. Check the market. 9. Soho Artist made a fair debut at Scone on a soft 7 and could be fitter for it. Some chance in the small field.

How to play it: Diva Las Vegas WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

11. Trajectile did enough on a soft track first-up at Scone to say she can lift with the extra trip. Form last time in was honest and has a good chance.

Dangers: 8. Royalify had good support when resuming at Goulburn on a testing track and boxed on okay for third. Winner did run past but will be fitter and open to some improvement. 1. Exolent Choice has been a little disappointing at his last couple bvut placed here second-up and extra trip may assist. 6. Pantsman has been battling a bit but showed some improvement at Orange last time. Place only.

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

10. Torie’s Rose didn’t have the best of luck when she returned at Gosford a few weeks back, but did a good job to snatch third. Fitter for that and drawn well, 2kg claim helps and she should be competitive.

Dangers: 9. Star Act had her chance first-up on a heavy track at Kembla but stuck on well to hold second. Fitter fit it and she’s not far off a win. 8. It’s A Wonder showed promise in her first preparation with a couple of soft track placings. No guide in recent trial and rather keep her safe on race day. 5. Risshuu trialled only fairly recently but on debut at 1300m from this stable you have to respect.

How to play it: Torie’s Rose WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Monty The Missile is a half brother to Diva Las Vegas who debuts in the opener and he’s more than capable looking at his trials of being hard to beat first-up. Narrowly beaten by Physical Graffiti in his latest and beat Kote in the first this time in. Respect.

Dangers: 5. Hydrometer has done nothing wrong in his trial appearances though still a little green winning the latest at Gosford. Draws the inside and should be prominent. 3. Lulumon has placed in four of five starts and tried hard when resuming on a heavy at Kembla. Go well. 9. Siglo De Oro was a big drifter here third-up and just battled. Blinkers on and chance to improve.

How to play it: Monty The Missile WIN ($1.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

8. Skiesthelimit has struck wet tracks twice in her career and yielded a win and a last start third on a heavy at Kembla where she tried hard along the inside. The 1200m doesn’t look beyond her and she has a good chance.

Dangers: 6. Spicy Hotpot it a big watch first-up despite a wide gate. Likes the wet and has run some handy races in town. Respect any market moves. 7. Hell Of A Show comes off a popular maiden win at Hawkesbury a couple of weeks ago and while no real wet track exposure he's racing in peak form at present and has a case. 3. Soobooco started favourite first-up at Hawkesbury and didn't run up to expectation. Could lift.

How to play it: Skiesthelimit WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

***BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY***

3. Kinloch is racing quite well and has been freshened since running a sound third in the National Sprint at Canberra. Ticked over in a trial, handles all ground and has won on his home track. Likely gets back but hard to hold out.

Dangers: 4. Waihaha Falls excels when there’s some softness in the track and he can improve sharply on his run at Kembla over 1200m off a seven week break. Just didn’t get into the action at all there but on his prior form is a major player. 6. Commando Hunt might need the run but he is kicking off at 1500m so must be reasonably fit. He loves the sting out and won this race last year. Each-way claims. 11. Russian Roni is the likely leader and no surprise if she lifts on a fair second-up run. Handles wet tracks so keep in mind.

How to play it: Kinloch WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

4. Golden Passport hasn’t raced since October when stretched out to 2400m but did kick off last prep with a win and was largely consistent throughout. Draws to be right near the speed and that trial against Celestial Legend looks pretty good.

Dangers: 6. Edge Of Reward has a handy record though doesn’t win out of turn. Second-up was narrowly beaten at Wyong and with gate one has the chance to be prominent from the start. 3. Navios won that race at Wyong by a small margin but did the job well. Runner-up on a soft 7 track when resuming and has to be considered. 8. Princess Amira has mixed her form but has claims on her second-up placing on a soft 7 at Gosford.

How to play it: Golden Passport WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

3. Movader looks hard to beat here after a game second at Kembla when a solid favourite. Gets a little weight relief and a handy draw, she’ll find this one of the more suitable races she’s struck this time in. Go well.

Dangers: 8. Bully For You was unwanted in betting first-up on a heavy at Kembla but made some ground to run third and can only be fitter. Second-up form is concerning but chance to correct that. 2. French Marine has some good wet track credentials so no surprise to see him lift on a fair effort on a good track at Warwick Farm a month ago. 4. De Poet led and just faded when fourth on a heavy at Kembla second-up. Could be an improver.

How to play it: Movader WIN ($1.95 TAB Fixed Odds).

18. Cool And Calm won well first-up at Kembla then on the same track bumped into a handy one when second on heavy ground. Come back in much better form and the mile holds no fears. Should run well.

Dangers: 13. Venelope has been disappointing overall but she’s still not been disgraced in two runs back finishing just behind the placings. If she can find her best she’s a big chance here but take her on trust. 7. By Nine is back from a narrow defeat at 2000m at Hawkesbury so he’ll be nice and fit for a strong mile on a wet track. Doesn’t want it super heavy but he’s a good chance. 6. Dimaggio ran well in a Midway two starts back then disappointed last time at that level. Back in grade and handles the wet so he could easily improve sharply.

How to play it: Cool And Calm EACH-WAY ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Newcastle meeting