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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 heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

6. Bastida is lightly raced and has been a revelation since getting out to a staying trip and on rain-affected ground. The three-year-old gelding had every chance to win last start at Goulburn 27 days ago but won in style and was strong on the line. Further, two winners have come out of that race and confirmed the form. He maps to get all favours, has a dominant last start figure relative to most of his rivals and can continue to improve.

Dangers: 10. Into The Oblivion who was 51 days between runs last start at Newcastle on a heavy 10, has a knockout profile. The six-year-old gelding will be fitter and has multiple ratings to put him near the finish. 2. Arabolini gets in well at the weights after an astute claim for Ellen Hennessy and maps to lead. 1. Sacramento Joe got too far back last start, and the smaller field suits.

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

Bastida wins at Goulburn on March 18

7. Poetic Drama had no luck last start at Hawkesbury 21 days ago after being checked/blocked for the majority of the final straight. Punter’s Intelligence recorded she still ran the race’s second-fastest final 200m split in 12.76 and should’ve finished closer. In addition, that rated highly relative to the day, and there have been two subsequent winners to confirm the form. The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes galloper can tend to overrace but expect an aggressive ride to find the lead in the anticipated slow/even tempo.

Dangers: 3. Duke Of Gordon who brings a strong profile for this assignment, travelled in the inferior ground throughout when brave in defeat last start at Scone. He has improved each run this preparation, maps to get all favours and is proven on rain-affected ground. 4. Blackall got too far back in a farcical tempo last start at Wagga and ran on well. The four-year-old gelding ran one of the quickest final 200m sectionals of the entire meeting in 11.62 and may have last shot under the strength of Keagan Latham. Irish import 1. Down Every Road is on his Australian debut and has been ridden out in two trials on the synthetic. He can improve out to 1600m and is a market watch.

How to play it: Poetic Drama WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Poetic Drama runs fourth at Hawkesbury on March 24

6. Diamond City bounced back to form when resuming at Newcastle 14 days ago in a run race in torrential rain. The two-year-old filly travelled in the inferior ground throughout and ran the race’s fastest 400m-200m split in 11.95. Further, he looked like the winner but had to settle for third after being swamped by rivals who were in the superior ground. The Annabel Neasham trained galloper has a dominant last start figure relative to her rivals and is proven on the heavy going.

Dangers: 3. Red Cobra is fitter and can improve second-up. 10. Light Press was wide without cover on debut and stuck on well. She gets a significant barrier change and can roll forward.

How to play it: Diamond City WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Diamond City runs third at Newcastle on March 31

First starter 2. Airraid who looks a nice type, has had two trials on the synthetic, with the latter being one of the quickest heats of the morning. The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes galloper maps to get all favours, and he has the key asset in acceleration to sprint past his rivals.

Dangers: Respecting 5. Brechen who was heavily backed on debut albeit failing and is again a key late market watch. 7. Khumbu and 12. Island Lass bring that fitness edge, and both have positive maps.

How to play it: Airraid WIN ($2.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Airraid runs second in a trial at Warwick Farm on April 8

2. Antonio Giovanni contested Group races in the spring and brings a class edge relative to his rivals. Although he is more suited over a further distance, he has trialled well and can sprint fresh from the kind draw.

Dangers: Key late market watch 5. Oxford Vision who started $1.40 at this track seven days ago and was just beaten on the line with a gap to third. 6. Sir Savaluca is a knockout chance.

How to play it: Antonio Giovanni WIN ($1.70 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Antonio Giovanni runs fourth in a trial at Rosehill on March 22

Open race. 2. Sing A Love Song was run to suit in the Canberra Guineas but didn’t have much luck when checked/blocked at a critical stage and lost all his momentum to be well beaten. He has strong form-lines and is coming out of time/sectional merit races all preparation. The three-year-old colt can bounce back down in grade whose peak figure is at this track/distance and will be running on strongly with the anticipated fast tempo.

Dangers: 5. Brillar had all favours winning at Hawkesbury first-up 21 days ago but ran the second-fastest final 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 11.32. He is fitter, maps to get all favours and can progress through the grades. 7. Sliders and 12. Trinity Missile both come out of a fast time race and must be included in all exotics.

How to play it: Sing A Love Song WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sing A Love Song last start at Canberra on March 14

Tricky race. Forgiving of 10. Chimes second-up performance at Hawkesbury after heavily backed $2.10-$1.90 late in betting and weakened in the straight but was found to have a slow recovery. Prior to that start, she resumed at Newcastle Beaumont when leading at an even tempo and sprinted well before being swamped late in a high rating race relative to the day. The lightly-raced filly has a strong starting price profile, contested group races last preparation, can cross them with her early speed and will give a sight.

Dangers: Key market watch 3. Coal Crusher who went out a dominant winner running fast time last preparation in this grade. He has a strong first-up record and trialled well enough at Warwick Farm on a heavy 8 with the blinkers off. Some query first-up on a testing track, but he maps well and has proven to handle the ground. 5. Suprina is in career-best form and deserves her chance at this level. 6. Akasaki, who brings the highest last start figure, will be running on strongly.

How to play it: Chimes WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Coal Crusher WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Chimes first-up running second at Newcastle Beaumont on March 22

Leaning towards 4. Highballer who is rock-hard fit and racing ultra-consistent on wet tracks. The four-year-old was specked $6.50-5.50 late in betting last start at Goulburn 12 days ago when running second. He led at a fast pace, raced in the slightly inferior ground, and never shirked the task to the line. Expect Rachel King to roll forward and use the gelding’s fitness advantage to his strengths on the testing track.

Dangers: 3. Peekays Legacy returned well after being not suited and ran on strongly at Goulburn. The four-year-old gelding ran one of the quickest final 400m sectionals of the entire meeting in 24.06, and the step up to 1600m looks ideal. He will need some luck from the draw but has superior form-lines for this and may get the last shot. 8. Salsa Man is up in grade but drops 5kg, and all his peak figures are on heavy tracks.

How to play it: Highballer WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Highballer runs second at Goulburn on April 02

BEST BET: Race 1 # 6 – Bastida.

NEXT BEST: Race 7 # 3 – Coal Crusher & # 10 – Chimes.

BEST VALUE: Race 6 # 2 - Sing A Love Song.

QUADDIE:

Leg 1: 2,6
Leg 2: 2,5,7,12
Leg 3: 10,3,5,6
Leg 4: 4,3,8

Combinations = 96.

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