Latest News

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.

7. Mafia resumes and has had a solid hit out in a recent heat at Randwick behind subsequent winner Ozzmosis. He brings a dominant ratings profile/formlines, and jockey Chad Schofield has multiple options in the small field. Additionally, he looks to have come back improved and will be hard to beat.

Dangers: 5. Queen Maxima had no luck on her debut at Newcastle, where she was blocked for most of the straight. To her credit, once clear, she built through her gears well and was strong past the post. 2. Parmenio is coming out of two high-pressure races and has a strong platform. Expect an aggressive ride to use his fitness edge. 3. Vinlago returns and wasn't extended in a recent trial at Muswellbrook.

How to play it: Mafia WIN ($1.45 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Mafia's latest trial at Randwick on May 15

3. Notabadone wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape first-up and just missed in a tight finish last start at Nowra, producing a career peak figure. With the blinkers reapplied, the four-year-old has gone to a new level this campaign and is ready to peak third-up. Additionally, he has a strong platform and maps to have all favours.

Dangers: 6. Hot Sauce was an alarming drifter in the betting first-up at Muswellbrook, and she got too far back in the run. She receives a singinant barrier change and the rise in distance suits. Expecting 8. Oakfield Opal to improve second-up back at her home track and market watch on 2. Never Never Land.

How to play it: Notabadone WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Notabadone runs second at Nowra on May 21

8. Royal Promise had excuses last start and wasn't suited to the farcical tempo. To her credit, she built through her gears and ran on well, running solid closing splits. The filly has been consistent enough in this campaign and has run to market expectations. She can settle closer and 1600m suits.

Dangers: 2. Doutelle hasn't been suited in his past two races but can bounce back here from a softer draw. Expect him to settle closer, and he is rock-hard fit. 1. Dishin 'N' Dancin rises sharply in distance and must go in all exotics. 4. Backlash is rock-hard fit and has a competitive ratings profile.

How to play it: Royal Promise WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Royal Promise last start at Nowra on May 21

4. Viadelamore had to make a long-wide sustained run last start at Gosford's standalone metropolitan meeting. Further, he finished off solidly for second, and that race has since produced a subsequent winner. The four-year-old gets multiple factors in his favour and drops significantly in grade. His historical profile suggests he races well with breaks between runs, 2100m again suits, and he can settle much closer with a barrier change. Expect him to be hard to hold out with even luck.

Dangers: 8. California Grass broke through for her maiden win last start and kept wanting to find the line. She drops back in distance but can go on with it now. Add 2. Semper Fortis who can roll forward and 10. Ra Ra Grandpa drops in grade.

How to play it: Viadelamore WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Viadelamore runs second at Gosford on May 6

3. Star Impact is ready to peak third-up over more ground. The four-year-old wasn't suited to the sit/sprint race shape, but he got through his gears and hit the line well once he balanced up. Expect him to roll forward from a favourable draw up in distance, and she brings a competitive last start figure.

Dangers: 2. Golden Gate, who comes through the same race, was 29 days between runs and started a much shorter price. She will be fitter for that and is a consistent type. 9. She's Independent has been honest all prep and 1. Beirut Miss, whose last win came at this track, drops back in grade.

How to play it: Star Impact WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Star Impact runs second at Newcastle on May 20

13. Orlabent profiles well for this event and returned well first-up at Scone 20 days ago in a high-rating race. The gelding raced in the inferior ground, sprinted one of the fastest 400m-200m splits of the entire meeting and maintained a solid finishing speed to the line. Further, he finished second and beat the rest easily, confirming the quality of the race. He is a lightly raced improver and will only be fitter from that first-up effort. In addition, the blinkers come off, and he maps to have all favours.

Dangers: 12. Misty Dreams wasn't suited first-up but ran on well in a high-rating last section. She has a tricky draw to contend with but expect her to be savaging the line. 9. Emphatic Bel rises in grade but has a more positive race setup. Market watch on debutant 2. Luai.

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

Orlabent runs second at Scone on May 12

8. Haysiri was well-ridden on debut at Scone, but he showed a powerful closing speed to charge over the top of his rivals and run time. Further, the form out of that race has since proven with three subsequent winners. The three-year-old has quality, and his sectional profile suggests he can only step off that performance and more ground suits. He must jump in grade, but any improvement on his first-up figure will put him in the finish.

Dangers: 2. Oakfield Waratah has come back well, producing a career peak figure first-up, and he gets multiple factors in his favour here. The gelding has a strong record at this track/distance, and expect him to run boldly. 1. Windshadow returned well first-up in a high-pressure race and will have a much more economical run in this assignment. 5. Media Man has won his past two starts on the country circuit, but his figures line up well here.

How to play it: Haysiri WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Haysiri wins at Scone on May 12

3. Eyewitness' run had hidden merit last start in a high-rating race at the metropolitan level and was well-backed late in the trade. The mare led at a fast pace, raced in the inferior ground, and sprinted the race's quickest 600m-400m split before peaking on her run over the final furlong. She follows a similar pattern to last prep, where she stepped back in distance and won third up. The Kristen Buchanan galloper has multiple winning figures, drops in grade and will take some catching.

Dangers: 1. Tocomah won at this track two starts ago and maps well with barrier one. 6. Fire And Ice has multiple winning figures and a strong SP profile. Add 7. Mr Bingo who is an honest on-pace type.

How to play it: Eyewitness WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Eyewitness last start at Gosford on May 6

Best Bet: Race 6 # 13 - Orlabent

Next Best: Race 8 # 3 - Eyewitness

Best Value: Race 7 # 8 - Haysiri

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