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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Wyong meeting. Selections based on a soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

3. Notabadsuspect was honest first-up at Goulburn 25 days ago, albeit drifting heavily in the market $5-$12 late in the trade. The gelding stalked a very slow pace and was outsprinted when the tempo quickened, but once he balanced up, he hit the line well, running the fastest final 200m split of the meeting in 12.20. Additionally, as expected, that race produced a high rating last sectional and the winner, Mayhem, has since subsequently won. He will have to overcome a tricky draw but will be fitter and look to have the last shot.

Dangers: 4. Pelsaert got too far back when resuming and ran on ok in a strong-time race won by a city-class galloper in Narito. Expect him to settle much closer with him rising in distance. 12. Nano Star is primed third-up after a brave effort to run second and beat the rest easily last start at this track/distance. Hugh Bowman goes on, and she will roll forward. Add 8. Diva Diva and 2. Fireman to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Notabadsuspect WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Notabadsuspect runs second at Goulburn on August 8

8. Sumatra trialled strongly prior to her first-up performance at Hawkesbury 15 days ago, where she won well. Further, although she had every chance, she backed it up on the clock and ran fast time/sectionals relative to the day. The three-year-old filly brings the best last start figure, has strong from lines and the anticipated genuine tempo will let her find her feet and savage the line late.

Dangers: 3. Diamond Hands is rock-hard fit and can settle closer. 6. I Am Geronimo broke through for his maiden last start after starting at $1.40 in the market. Expect an aggressive ride from the wide-draw, and he will give a sight. 2. Cinque Torri receives winkers for the first time and will hit the line hard.

How to play it: Sumatra WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sumatra wins at Wyong on August 18

4. Time To Boogie was honest on debut and never shirked his task to the line. He maps to roll forward, brings a dominant last start figure and will take some catching.

Dangers: 1. Sacred Field tried hard when running second at this track 17 days ago for his new trainer Joe Pride. He will need some luck but can rate to win. Market watch on 2. Wealthy Investor who has form around the likes of subsequent Group 1 winners Fireburn and She’s Extreme. Market watch on debutante 13. Miss Artfire.

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

Time To Boogie runs Second at Hawkesbury on August 18

11. Cholante is a nice type and returned a career peak figure first-up when winning at Nowra 12 days ago. Further, he overcame difficulties to bolt in by 4.3 lengths and recorded the meeting’s fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits in 35.88/23.32/11.76. That race rated the highest relative to the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors. The Clarry Conners trained galloper is a lightly raced improver with key attributes to make the step-in grade from a soft draw, and William Pike rides.

Dangers: 9. Bayezid is still learning and had to earn his debut win at Newcastle. The rise in distance is ideal and expect him to improve again with the benefit of race experience. 4. Transformation was checked/blocked at a critical stage first-up that was won by subsequent winner Shades Of Rose. He will be fitter for that and is a key late market watch. Add 3. Retiro and 6. Acceber to trifectas and first fours who both resume and have trialled well enough.

How to play it: Cholante WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Cholante wins at Nowra on August 21

4. Martini Crusader had too much to do last start and ran on strongly into second to beat the rest easily. Moreover, he recorded the fastest final 400m/200m sectionals of the meeting in 22.56/11.44 and is ready to win again. Expect him to settle closer, and a senior rider goes back on.

Dangers: Forgive 2. Kokoro, who failed due to the testing conditions at Kensington last start and has figures that can put him in the finish. Add 11. Dream Eclipse and 3. La Jolie Fille to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Martini Crusader WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Martini Crusader runs second at Newcastle on August 20

2. Expat who resumes, gets in well at the weights under the race conditions and has trialled well enough in a recent heat at Rosehill. The five-year-old led and ran fast time relative to the day first-up last preparation, and a repeat of that effort will put him in the finish. He is a consistent type, has a proven fresh record and maps to have all favours. In addition, any rain throughout the meeting is only a positive, with all his peak figures coming on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 11. Dalchini, who represents value, is ready to peak third-up after a hidden run last start. Moreover, the mare got too far back in the run, sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the meeting in 11.00 and maintained a solid finishing speed. The anticipated genuine tempo will give her a chance to run on and hit the line. 9. Sur La Mer is in career-best form and brings a competitive last start figure. She has had a tick-over trial between runs without the blinkers and is rock-hard fit. The blinkers go back on for race day, and she is a definite chance. 5. Katalin had too much to do first-up after having the pace/bias against her, and she ran well. She must contest with a tricky draw but has an electric turn of foot. Add 4. More Prophets to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Expat WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Dalchini WIN ($26 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Expat runs third in a trial at Rosehill on August 12

With multiple key scratching’s this morning 1. Lord Ardmore profiles very well for this event. The five-year-old gelding has been a model of consistency this prep and is coming out of time/sectional merit races. He maps to have all favours, Hugh Bowman sticks and has a string of winning ratings. Hard to beat.

Dangers: Forget 8. Durston’s last start and he can bounce back. 9. Yiyi is ready to win and will be hitting the line hard. Any rain on the day will only benefit 7. La Chevalee and add 10. Mubariz to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Lord Ardmore WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Lord Ardmore runs third at Randwick on August 20

Forgiving of 2. Belladeel’s last start at this track/distance where he missed the start and raced flat second-up. Further, he was heavily backed throughout the day and was $3-$2.8 late in the trade. Prior to that start, he had to make a long-wide sustained run and loomed to win but peaked on his run to finish second and beat the rest easily. In addition, if he can repeat that figure/effort from the soft draw, expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 5. Oakfield Duke is on an upwards ratings spiral and ran fast time winning last start at Grafton over their feature carnival. Jockey Aaron Bullock has a great affiliation with the gelding riding him three times for three wins. 11. Anubius brings a competitive last start figure and deserves his shot at the provincial level. 10. Unyielding Spirit will be fitter and rolls forward.

How to play it: Belladeel WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Belladeel last start at Wyong on August 16

Best Bet: Race 4 # 11 – Cholante

Next Best: Race 5 # 4 - Martini Crusader

Best Value: Race 6 # 2 - Expat & # 11 - Dalchini

All the fields, form and replays for Friday’s Wyong meeting