Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track a Soft 5 and rail out 2m from 1000m to 400m, then true the remainder so generally on or near the speed early before trending towards the middle.

An open and testing start for the youngsters with rain about. Keen on emerging colt 3. Sidearm from the John O'Shea yard at Randwick after hitting the line late in a good quality maiden at Canterbury when well backed from a double figure price. Draws okay, and bred to handle wet tracks.

Dangers: Melbourne colt 1. Toscanini has made a big impression in three starts to begin his career closing hard from the back in the Listed Talindert at Flemington, and draws to get plenty of cover at first run in NSW. Threatening downgrades to the track appear the only query; while stablemate to top selection 5. Much Much Better can also improve after not firing in that same race at the Farm.

How to play it: Sidearm to win. Odds and Evens (First 2): Odds a special

Now the stayers' turn in a moderate and tricky affair where tempo will be crucial. Randwick 3YO gelding 3. Holy Sunday can add another tick to a progressive first prep up in trip and down a little in weight. Powered home from a mile back to win his maiden at Scone two runs back before just missing finish hard again in the heavy at Muswellbrook. Bred to stay all day, and the one to beat.

Dangers: Improving Hawkesbury mare 4. Also Cool has also been finding the line well in thinner races, and also bred to react on rain-affected ground; while Warwick Farm 3YO 7. Lord Tropicana is clear best of the rest.

How to play it: Holy Sunday to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Holy Sunday runs second at Muswellbrook on February 18

Very competitive dash over the short course, and three runners are set to dominate. Gosford 7YO gelding 2. Clear The Beach is a high class sprinter finishing close-up in last three in strong metro company. Will likely comes across and sit outside the leader, and be very hard to hold out.

Dangers: Smart Newcastle filly 4. Iconic Star won two straight in dominant fashion after leading before swamped late up in weight on the Kensington track. Gets well down in the weights after rider's claim, and must be in the finish. Tough as teak 6YO Inverell gelding 1. All Stand has won his last four on different country tracks, each time digging deep to fight off the chasers. Two runs back beat serious Country C'ship contender Healing Hands in the Lightning at Walcha, and again looks well placed with 2kg-claiming apprentice off-setting the big weight.

How to play it: Clear The Beach to win and trifecta 2,4/1,2,4/1,2,4. Odds and Evens: Evens

Emerging 5YO Gosford mare 2. Patrina has been good in two runs to open career. Flew home late on debut at Wyong before ridden in front here from a wide gate as hot favourite, but was collared in the last stride. Draws well with a claim, and stable has a big opinion of her.

Dangers: Resuming 3YO 1. Zebrowski from the Hawkes stable looked forward enough in a recent trial, and only narrowly beaten on debut at Goulburn in spring over this trip. Doubt anything else can win, but watch for staying-type filly 3. Shadow Girl getting home late first-up off a sound trial.

How to play it: Patrina to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Back to maiden grade at set weights, and keen here on lightly raced and resuming Warwick Farm mare 7. Menagerie whose had two nice trials, and normally comes to hand quickly. Ran four straight third placings to open career last winter, and trainer has been deliberate where to place her, with the winkers coming off.

Dangers: Big market watch on Godolphin 3YO 5. Zakat who returns as a gelding off two forward trials, and was always in the money last prep. Another well-bred 3YO resuming 6. Zarzou has also trialled well for first run in more than eight months; while improving Randwick filly 9. Our Fraulein can go close fourth-up in her first real prep, with blinkers going on.

How to play it: Menagerie to win and box trifecta 5,6,7,9. Odds and Evens: Odds

Up to the mile for the maidens now under the set weight scale, and on the bigger track only bad luck should stop supremely bred Wyong filly 13. Reaching breaking through second-up. By Japanese super sire Deep Impact out of champion Group 1-winning mare Alinghi, flew home late resuming in a handy maiden on the Kensington track. Will go back from the wide barrier, but watch for a dominant final 400m.

Dangers: Godolphin gelding 2. Charles Seven hasn't been far away in all four runs this prep, and bigger track is a plus. Trainer has removed blinkers for the first time.

How to play it: Reaching to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Feature race at Group 3 level, and typically there's a stack of chances. Going wide in the market with resuming 4YO Rosehill gelding 8. Dealmaker who likes it longer, but has a very handy fresh record, excels in rain-affected ground, and draws to get plenty of cover. Fitted for this with two open class trials.

Dangers: High class 4YO 3. Special Reward from the local Kris Lees stable is unbeaten on soft ground, and saluted second-up after stalking the speed all the way in the Group 3 Southern Cross at Randwick. Always put himself into the race. Smart 5YO Godolphin gelding 1. Gaulois hit the line hard in the Listed Carrington two back before relishing the heavy track at Warwick Farm to win when ridden much closer. Wide draw will be tricky, but the more rain the better. High quality 5YO gelding 9. Desert Lord boxed on okay first-up behind Special Reward, but best form is second-up, and drawn to get a charmed run on the fence. Was only beaten five lengths in the Group 1 Epsom in spring.

How to play it: Dealmaker each way and trifecta 1,3,8/1,3,8,9/1,3,8,9. Odds and Evens: Split.

Fairly even battle for the girls to finish. Promising Hawkesbury filly 5. Piping Roller did her best work late resuming in tougher grade on the Kensington track, and draws ideally to launch late.

Dangers: Rival Hawkesbury mare 3. Lagarde has only won twice from 22, always finding one or two better, but she's been placed a further 13 times. Was rock solid to the line in a BM 70 at Canterbury last start, but still poorly in at the weights rising 6kg. Rosehill filly 10. Snitzinnati charged home from well back to win on debut at Muswellbrook, but carries 1kg more for this tougher test; while Newcastle five-year-old 7. Ellie's Encore is slowly starting to show her best hitting the line well in her last couple behind two smart sprinters, and senior metro rider goes on.

How to play it: Piping Roller to win. Odds and Evens: Odds.

Piping Roller runs fourth at Randwick on February 19

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Newcastle meeting