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By Nick Berney.

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Newcastle meeting. Selections based on a heavy track with rain forecast. Monitor for bias/pattern.

1. One Way Street resumes after he was brave in defeat last preparation in both of his starts. The four-year-old gelding was narrowly beaten in high rating races, and his runs were full of merit. He was given no peace on debut at Wyong and almost won on pure ability after racing on the wrong leg in the final straight before being gobbled up in the last few strides. Fourteen days later, he led at a very fast pace, and Punter’s Intelligence recorded he ran the third-fastest last 600m sectional of the entire meeting in 33.77 but was run down by a city-class filly in Petulant with a gap to third. He has trialled well, and the wide draw is of little concern coming out of the 900m chute with only one turn. A repeat of either run in his first preparation will put him right in the finish under the guidance of strong rider Aaron Bullock, and he is proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Market watch 12. Marooniyah who was slightly disappointing last preparation but has trialled well and has past figures that line up. Further, the three-year-old filly maps to have every chance where William Pike can either sit outside the leader or box seat. 3. Rapid Response was heavily backed first-up, starting $1.60 at Gosford 19 days ago. She has natural gate speed and is suited back in distance. 11. Limpida goes in all exotics.

How to play it: One Way Street WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

One Way Street wins a trial at Gosford on March 18

Tricky 2YO race with first starters engaged and minimal disclosed heavy track form. Forgiving of 11. Diamond City’s inconclusive debut run at Flemington. She has returned well after two solid trials when not extended at Gosford and then was in the inferior ground six days ago at Warwick Farm. The Annabel Neasham trained filly can be strong late and have the last shot with an anticipated fast tempo.

Dangers: 1. Lord Of The Hunter was honest last preparation at the metropolitan level, and his peak figure came at this track/distance. He has since been gelded, has a race experience edge and is wound-up ready to run well. 2. Acceber ran time in his latest trial win at Gosford, and he can improve with Hugh Bowman riding. 6. Enfolded trialled well enough on the synthetic and the winkers go on for race day. 13. Luna Rocks has natural gate speed and will roll forward.

How to play it: Diamond City E/W. ($10.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Diamond City runs fourth in a trial at Warwick Farm on March 25

Open Maiden. 1. Strombus was consistent and improved throughout his preparation last campaign. Further, before being spelled, he raced wide and ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the entire meeting in 11.23 at Kensington. The three-year-old gelding resumes after two solid trials where he has been strong through the line under light riding in both heats. He maps to have all favours, is proven on wet-ground and Hugh Bowman rides for the first time.

Dangers: 8. Mystic Mermaid is a nice type who won a trial dominantly on the synthetic in preparation for this assignment. The lightly-raced three-year-old filly had to make a long-wide sustained run in her debut run at Wyong when running the fastest last 600m of the meeting in 34.17 with a gap to third. 3. Blueskin has trialled well enough for this assignment and is suited on wet ground, with the big track being ideal. 2. California Press was every chance last start but will be fitter.

How to play it: Strombus WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Strombus wins a trial at Randwick on March 18

Open maiden and D-Day for 10. Wolfburn. The three-year-old gelding gets an ideal race setup coming out of time/sectional merit races all preparation and is rock-hard fit. He was given no peace throughout last start at Hawkesbury 16 days ago when trying hard to the line. The Bjorn Baker galloper has a strong starting price/figures profile relative to his rivals and expect another aggressive ride.

Dangers: 11. Milka raced flat second-up last start after being well backed $6.00-$4.00 late in betting. The four-year-old mare can bounce back and receives a senior rider. 8. Spitfire brings metropolitan form and a positive map. 12. Rangitikei is set to peak third-up and 13. Bay Of Kiel is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Wolfburn WIN ($3.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Wolfburn runs second at Hawkesbury on March 15

4. Stellar Performer has returned well this preparation, after sprinting strongly fresh to win at this track and then just got too far back in the big field at Rosehill 12 days ago. She ran the race’s fastest 400m-200m split in 11.76 and was solid through the line. The four-year-old mare drops in grade from a metropolitan midway and is suited out to the 1870m third-up back on the provincial circuit.

Dangers: 2. Sacramento Joe was well ridden to win last start at Gosford albeit 40 days ago. 8. Dr Evil and 7. Hemsworth are rock-hard fit.

How to play it: Stellar Performer WIN ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Stellar Performer runs fourth at Rosehill on March 19

7. Thousand Years got too far back first-up and was not suited in a slow pace at Goulburn 30 days ago but ran on strongly running one of the fastest last 200m splits of the entire meeting in 11.87. She drifted in betting there and is likely to improve, and the form out of that race has since been confirmed with three subsequent winners. The three-year-old filly is awkwardly drawn, but as showed second-up last preparation, she can overcome a poor barrier and use her key asset in acceleration to sprint over the top of these. In addition, she will be fitter, rain-affected ground suits, and the step up to 1600m is ideal.

Dangers: 6. Eyes To Eye represents value who is set to peak third-up. The three-year-old comes out of the same race as Thousand Years first-up, where he was honest finishing fourth. He then went to Hawkesbury 16 days ago, and his run had merit when sitting outside the leader in a fast pace and trying hard to the line. Further, that race rated highly relative to the day, and expect an aggressive ride with the gelding reaching optimal fitness. 3. Endorsement maps to have all favours and can improve again. 9. Travelling Kate is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Thousand Years WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Eyes To Eye WIN ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Thousand Years first-up at Goulburn on March 1

14. Pippali had too much to do first-up at this track/distance 14 days ago. The four-year-old mare returned well after two solid trials and ran on strongly, running the second-fastest last 400m of the entire meeting in 22.12. She has excellent form-lines in stronger grade around Promise Of Success and Vangelic. The Jason Coyle trained galloper will have it all to do from the wide draw, but she is well-weighted under the race conditions and has multiple figures that can put her in the finish.

Dangers: D-Day for 2. Sammy but he can be forgiven for all his runs this preparation where nothing has gone right with factors against. He has a strong starting price profile relative to some of his rivals and expect an aggressive ride from Dylan Gibbons. The four-year-old gelding represents value, and all his peak performances have come at his home track. 16. Daphne Jean receives a significant barrier change and can settle closer from the kinder draw. 10. Confessed was run to suit last start winning at Eagle Farm but is rock-hard fit and Hugh Bowman rides. 15. Oakfield Arrow is a knockout hope.

How to play it: Pippali WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Sammy WIN ($16.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Pippali first-up runs third at Newcastle on March 17

8. Super Extreme was impressive on debut when knuckling down hard over the final furlong to win dominantly and run fast time. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors. Further, the three-year-old ran the quickest final 600m sectional of the entire meeting in 34.91. He looks an improver over further distance and the big track suits. Tyler Schiller can roll forward out to 1200m and use the colt’s fitness advantage relative to his rivals. In addition, his last start figure is superior in comparison to his rivals.

Dangers: 3. Banana Queen is a lightly raced improver returning after two solid trials. She ran fast time winning at Rosehill last preparation and then was immediately spelled. The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou training partnership is renowned for having their runners ready to go first-up, and she is a key market watch. 11. Thalassophile loomed to win first-up at Gosford 19 days ago but just peaked on her run after being well fancied. She will have to overcome the tricky draw but will be fitter, and the bigger track suits. 1. Why Big Bry is fit and the likely leader.

How to play it: Super Extreme WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Super Extreme wins on debut at Goulburn on March 11

Best Bet: Race 1 # 1 – One Way Street.

Next Best: Race 8 # 8 – Super Extreme.

Best Value: Race 6 # 6 – Eyes To Eye & # 7 – Thousand Years.

Quaddie

Leg 1: 4,2,8
Leg 2: 7,6,3
Leg 3: 14,2,16,10,3,15
Leg 4: 8,3,11

Combinations = 162.

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