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By Nick Berney

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

1. Rico Suave was 40 days between runs last start at Hawkesbury and was honest in defeat after having too much to do. The gelding was caught three-wide out on a limb throughout in a good-even tempo, and he never shirked his task to the line. Further, his sectional profile suggests he's ready to improve, and the rise to 2000m is ideal. He brings a dominant consistency figure relative to his rivals, maps to have a much more economical run in transit and the tight-turning track suits.

Dangers: Key market watch on 6. Lygon Street, who brings strong three-year-old overseas form lines and repeating these efforts/figures will make him hard to hold out. The gelding has had 288 days off the scene, but the last few minutes of betting will be critical to his chances. A senior rider goes back on 4. Special Day, and she is racing well on rain-affected ground. Expect 11. Noir Vitesse, who is ready to peak and will roll forward.

How to play it: Rico Suave WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Rico Suave runs third at Hawkesbury on May 23

Like 2. Evenflow who brings a strong SP profile into this event, and he is ready to peak third-up. The colt was brave in defeat last start in a high-rating race after leading at a fast pace and he never shirked his task to the line. Further, he was swamped late and finished second with a big gap to third to confirm the quality of the race. The tight-turning track suits, the rise in trip should pose no issue; he brings the best last start figure and expect him to be hard to catch.

Dangers: Expecting 1. Samphire Green to improve sharply, and he gets out to a more suitable distance. The import wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape first-up at Newcastle but ran on well, clocking solid closing splits. He can step off that effort and draws well. 4. Bo Bo Beware brings a fitness edge and respecting the market intelligence surrounding 3. Creditor, who was heavily backed on debut, albeit failing. Add 10. Klipspringer to wider exotics.

How to play it: Evenflow WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds).

Evenflow runs second at Kembla Grange on May 28

Leaning towards 2. Mountain Guest, who brings a fitness edge over some of her key rivals and drops significantly in grade. The mare has been racing to a level/figure that aligns well for this event and brings proven form lines throughout this campaign. Expect her to roll forward and be hard to run down.

Dangers: 6. Silvakia's late strength first-up at Kembla Grange was backed up by the clock, with the mare recording one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. Further, that was a high-rating race, and any improvement on that performance will put her in the finish. 8. Monfiducia is suited back to rain-affected ground and maps to have all favours. Add 10. Sian, who returns to his home track and draws barrier one.

How to play it: Mountain Guest WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mountain Guest last start at Scone on May 18

2. Invade And Conquer has returned improved this preparation, and he produced a career peak figure first-up when running second at Hawkesbury 21 days ago. The three-year-old got too far back but made a long-sustained sprint and savaged the line, running the meeting's second-fastest final 200m split. He profiles well for this with a significant barrier change allowing him to settle closer, and from a ratings perspective, he has improved second-up in his past two campaigns. In addition, with even luck, he has the clear best closing speed to run over the top of his rivals.

Dangers: 5. Du Cap is on the quick backup, and she tried hard in defeat last start at this track/distance. The filly controlled the race but sprinted hard and ran into a smart type when finishing second, beating the rest easily. 8. Sharpen The Knives responded well under pressure to win a recent trial at Gosford and is ready to run well. 3. Villa Tino resumes off a 321-day break and has had the two trials leading into this event. He has multiple winning figures for this and has been well-backed in early markets.

How to play it: Invade And Conquer WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds).

Invade And Conqueror runs second at Hawkesbury on May 23

6. Diamond Firetail has a positive race setup and has trialled well leading into this assignment. The filly looks to have come back improved this prep and moved well during a recent heat at Hawkesbury. Happy to forgive his debut performance, and he would've come on from that experience. She maps to have all favours, and with even luck, she can use her turn of foot to sprint past her rivals.

Dangers: Debutant 2. Lone Artist won a recent trial at Hawkesbury on a rain-affected surface and will benefit from following the rail. Another first starter 3. The Grey can run well and is a market watch. Forget 5. Miss Piera's first-up run where she was caught out on a limb throughout. She can bounce back here in the smaller field.

How to play it: Diamond Firetail WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds).

Diamond Firetail runs second in a trial at Hawkesbury on June 3

1. Mafia resumes off a 204-day break and has won two recent trials at Randwick. Further, he was ridden out in his most recent heat, which will get his fitness up to the mark for this event. The three-year-old looked the winner first-up last campaign when sprinting hard off a slow tempo but became unbalanced and hit the rail before fading out of it. He brings strong form lines/figures for this event, and barrier one is a major plus, as he can follow the rail and kick clear off the turn. Hard to catch.

Dangers: 6. Fourth Spargo is coming through a strong time race over the Scone carnival, and she receives a significant barrier change, allowing her to have a much more economical run in transit. She has acceleration and, with even luck, can be in the finish. 7. Maz Kanata sprinted hard first-up last prep at this track/distance in a high-rating race, and she flies fresh. 8. Lizzie's Gem and 9. Kenyan Charm can be added to wider exotics.

How to play it: Mafia WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mafia wins a trial at Randwick on May 31

Like 12. Dark Gleam, who can step sharply here after his debut run at Hawkesbury, had hidden merit. The gelding was posted four-wide out on a limb, became unbalanced on the turn and got lost in the straight. However, once he got his mind on the job, he hit the line well and ran a strong final 200m sectional. The blinkers go on, which will benefit him, and he will undoubtedly improve from the race experience. Additionally, he can settle closer, and Tim Clark sticks.

Dangers: Lightly raced galloper 1. Presides hit the line hard first-up at Gosford, and he has an improver's action. He has gone to a new level since his gelding operation, and although drawn awkwardly, he has the closing speed figure to run over the top of his rivals. 5. Flying Thinker will be 30 days between runs but comes through a strong form reference and 3. Alvina's Luck is an ultra-consistent type. Market watch 8. California Secret who makes his debut and can sprint fresh.

How to play it: Dark Gleam WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Dark Gleam first-up at Hawkesbury on May 23

13. Unstopabull was 43 days between runs last start at Canterbury and will only have come on from that effort. He gets to 1200m for the first time and excels on rain-affected ground. In addition, he has a turn of foot and maps to have all favours from the soft draw.

Dangers: Market watch on 8. Ambassadors who returns and bring solid form lines for this assignment, albeit usually benefits from his first-up run. 3. Oakfield Badger and 12. Spats Pav Bowie look to get complete control after this morning's scratching's.

How to play it: Unstopabull WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Unstopabull last start at Warwick Farm on May 22

Best Bet: Race 4 # 2 – Invade And Conquer

Next Best: Race 2 # 2 – Evenflow

Best Value: Race 7 # 12 – Dark Gleam

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