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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Wyong meeting1. Selections based on a good track.

1. Satirical Knight made a pleasing return at Canberra and did nothing but improve when stepped up in trip last time in so similar can be expected here. Can settle handier if needed and any support would be significant too. Go well.

Dangers: 2. Cymbalic defied a betting drift and ground away to break through at his second start when up to this trip. Whether he’s outsprinted and looking for further now is the question but does have more upside than most. 4. Bernson continues to run into one or two better but is racing consistently and comes back a notch in class on his last couple of placings. No reason he couldn’t break through here but hard to be bullish. Next best maybe 6. Wowanjum who won well at Orange two starts ago then just battled at Hawkesbury.

How to play it: Satirical Knight WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Satirical Knight runs third at Canberra on November 29

1. Sea Echo has been well found in the market after a couple of sound second placings in what look to be handy maidens of late. Blinkers on after closing well last week, has the speed to offset the wide gate and race handy and you’d think he won’t get a better chance to win one.

Dangers: 2. Disco Mo is a nine start maiden who it's fair to say has had a number of chances to break through. Tends to race on the pace and if he's strengthened up he could give a sight. 5. Tezoff has only raced twice and been safely held on both occasions but did run on fairly at Canberra last start. Place chance. 9. Senatorial has shown up on occasions and there's less depth here outside the top weight than when he resumed at 1200m. Open to improvement.

How to play it: Sea Echo WIN ($1.22 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Sea Echo runs second at Wyong on December 12

4. North returns as a gelding and he looks close to a good thing. Won here on debut and spelled after finding the smart Zaniah a bit slick at Scone in June. Trialled twice and the second of them was quite eye-catching. With even luck will take beating.

Dangers: 7. Invincible Kiss was a bit too sharp at Newcastle over 900m then game in defeat last week over this course in a deeper race. Strike rate is a concern but she’s racing well and sure to be competitive. 1. Thermosa is unbeaten first-up and travels a long way to resume here. Honest country sprinter fitter for a recent trial and shouldn’t be underestimated. 2. Little Steiny hasn’t won below 1200m but wouldn’t surprise to see him run a cheeky race fresh.

How to play it: North WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

North runs second in a Hawkesbury trial on December 5

13. Plaquette appeals each-way first-up from a total forgive run at her only appearance back in May. Plenty to like about her trials and the second was a nice improvement on the first. Looks a race to suit something diving late and she’s well worth a look at odds.

Dangers: 12. Vulpine was a big drifter in betting first-up at Newcastle but led and fought on pretty well to hold second clearly. Fitter for that and she’s also a likely improver. 10. Miss Dior had good support in the same race as Vulpine when resuming and she made some ground from midfield without threatening. No surprise to see her also improve on that run so well worth including in the chances. 4. Rejinsky debuted in the Pago Pago on a heavy 10 and was safely held. Easy winner of two trials and gets the blinkers on so expect him to be competitive.

How to play it: Plaquette E/W ($10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Plaquette runs third in a Rosehill trial on December 2

1. Jazzland is a good chance of getting complete control and if that happens it’ll be hard to catch him. Unbeaten in three starts on his home track and back to a mile after a rare failure at Kembla in Saturday company at 2000m. Forgive that and he’s the horse to beat.

Dangers: 2. Mr Garcia was only beaten 4.5 lengths in the Group 3 Festival last start and this would be the easiest race he’s struck in some time. Tends to be a backmarker which is some concern but expect him to be somewhere in the finish. 6. Salsa Man didn’t do a bad job when running into second behind Commute who led and controlled. This race might not be run to suit but he’ll be hitting the line. 3. Calabasas has only won once in 20 starts and that’s becoming a worry but aside from that he’s run eight second placings including his last two. Well overdue for a win and can’t be left out of the chances.

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

Jazzland wins at Randwick two starts ago on November 5

9. Pace Stick is easily the most interesting runner all day. Couldn’t have done it any easier at his only start at Coffs Harbour back in June, even while running 10.97 from the 1000m-800m (Punter's Intelligence), and has trialled very well recently. It’s a bit of a test for him and he’s hardly generous odds but could be very smart. Read trainer Brett Dodson's comments here.

Dangers: 8. Trengganu enjoyed a nice run off the pace and sprinted quickly to gain control before racing away late at Newcastle second-up for his first win. On the way up and commands some respect. 10. Lillemor ran right up to an excellent trial when leading all the way at Gosford first-up. Aided by the scratchings here and she'll be in this for a long way. 2. Southern Romance put three nice efforts together at the start of last prep then form tapered off. Quiet trial, be guided by the market but no surprise to see her in the finish somewhere.

How to play it: Pace Stick WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Pace Stick wins on debut at Coffs Harbour on June 21

3. Brunetta is a short priced favourite but it’s hard to go around her. Made hard work of it to score over this course a few weeks ago but got it done and has drawn to again get all the favours. Seventh run this prep but in peak form and can go on with it.

Dangers: 1. Ocean Go did a handy job when making his debut for top local stable since crossing the Tasman and his form in NZ would suggest he’ll appreciate a bit more ground. Fitter and looks the major threat to the favourite. 4. Spring Creek Star was a drifter in betting and didn’t come into the equation when resuming at Gosford in a race controlled by the leader and winner. Fitter for that and expect some improvement. 5. Quick Finance had support at odds and tried hard running second at Hawkesbury in a similar event to this. Finds it hard to win them but can be placed.

How to play it: Brunetta WIN ($1.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Brunetta wins at Wyong on November 26

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