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Hugh Bowman is expected to get favourite backers off to a good start when he rides well-fancied runners in the first two races at Thursday’s Wyong race meeting. The champion jockey has five mounts on the eight-race program but his first two mounts are clearly the best.

The Brad Widdup-trained 3yo The Poacher ($2.10 favourite on TAB) has his second career start with Bowman aboard in the opening event, The Great Northern Maiden Handicap (1200m). The gelding won trials at Kembla and Hawkesbury in August before his debut run on the Kensington Track on September 15.

He displayed genuine speed to lead after being a clear leader at the 600m and was only beaten three-quarters of a length. The Poacher has the rails barrier.

In race two, the Canadian Club Maiden Handicap (1200m), the lightly-raced mare Poignant ($2.30 fav) is Bowman's mount. The 4yo trained by the Snowden partnership has only had two starts at Gosford and Newcastle in April. She was beaten half a length on debut at Gosford and three weeks later was a $1.45 favourite when a close third at Newcastle. Poignant has won two recent trials at Randwick.

RACE 1, GREAT NORTHERN MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1200M: The Poacher ($2.10 fav) is quick and he was good on debut on the Kensington Track on September 15. He led and was 1½-lengths clear at the 600m and still led at the 250m. He was only beaten by three-quarters of a length. The 3yo has barrier one and Bowman. Hold On Honey ($3.60) chased the leader all the way when runner-up in his only start at Hawkesbury and is drawn okay. Ka Bling ($5) has a place chance.
SELECTIONS: 2 THE POACHER, 3 HOLD ON HONEY, 4 KA BLING

RACE 2, CANADIAN CLUB MAIDEN HANDICAP, 1200M: Poignant ($2.30 fav) is a talented mare unbeaten in two recent trials at Randwick. She was placed in her only two starts at Gosford and Newcastle in April. She was beaten half a length at Gosford on April 1 and three weeks later was backed into $1.45 when placed at Newcastle. Bowman rides from a nice barrier. Bella Rouge ($4.20) wasn't far away at Hawkesbury first-up. Riduna ($5) was a close third at Hawkesbury first-up.
SELECTIONS: 1 POIGNANT, 3 BELLA ROUGE, 2 RIDUNA

RACE 3, CHOOSE TO DRINK WISE MAIDEN PLATE, 1350M: Our Lancette ($4.80) ran on well from last when beaten 1½-lengths into fourth place at Newcastle last start. She was narrowly beaten first-up at Nowra and is ready to win. The mare has no speed but is strong and this is a much easier race than Newcastle. Danzette ($5) finished a length behind Our Lancette at Newcastle and she will run well while Garmish ($2.80) is the favourite.
SELECTIONS: 4 OUR LANCETTE, 3 DANZETTE, 6 GARMISH

RACE 4, IN MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER JOHN THORNTON MAIDEN PLATE, 1600M: The Denzel ($1.10 fav) will be long odds-on and only bad luck can bring about his defeat. He has been runner-up in all three starts this prep, at Newcastle and Wyong he has been beaten by quality gallopers in all three starts. Blackall ($6.50) looks the best of the others and Cooreei Lass ($15) can improve.
SELECTIONS: 7 THE DENZEL, 3 BLACKALL, 8 COOREEI LASS

RACE 5, IN MEMORY OF DAVID JOHN MANSFIELD CLASS 1 & MAIDEN, 2100M: The Godolphin mare Silhouette ($3.10) has her foot on the till and this is a winnable race. She came from last when second on the Kensington Track first-up over 1250m. She closed in when beaten 2½-lengths again on the Kensington Track on September 1. Last start Silhouette was on the speed all the way when beaten .16 of a length over the Newcastle mile last start. Believe So ($8) is a last start Nowra winner and he wasn't far away at Newcastle two starts back. Zudin ($2.70 fav) is close to a win.
SELECTIONS: 7 SILHOUETTE, 1 BELIEVE SO, 5 ZUDIN

RACE 6, TAB.COM.AU BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP, 1350M: Tinka's Lad ($4.60) is a front-runner well placed in this field and has the rails barrier. He won two on the trot at Muswellbrook in July and August and he wasn't disgraced when fourth at Goulburn last start. Camp Rifle ($2.60 fav) was runner-up at Eagle Farm two starts back before winning the Bowraville Cup. Writing Unexpected ($11) had solid form last prep.
SELECTIONS: 1 TINKA'S LAD, 2 CAMP RIFLE, 3 WRITING UNEXPECTED

RACE 7, POLICE REMEMBRANCE DAY B/M 64 HANDICAP, 1100M: Russbuss ($3 fav) is a fast short course sprinter with a good record on this track. She has had two starts on this track for a win and a second. She hasn't raced since May but she won a recent Warwick Farm trial by 6 lengths. Grace Bay ($10) wasn't far away first-up and she raced well last prep. Centro Storico ($5) has a chance.
SELECTIONS: 3 RUSSBUSS, 2 GRACE BAY, 8 CENTRO STORICO

RACE 8, WYONG'S NEXT RACE MEETING SAT NOV 6 B/M 64 HANDICAP, 1600M: Jesse James ($2.50 fav) was an easy first-up winner at Goulburn on September 11. Tommy Berry returns to Wyong to ride the gelding which has had seven starts for a win and five placings. He was beaten less than a length on this track in December. New Tycoon ($9.50) is well placed and won his only start on this track. Dom Tycoon ($6) has won two of his last three starts.
SELECTIONS: 2 JESSE JAMES, 1 NEW TYCOON, 5 DOM TYCOON

LATE MAIL
RACE 1
2 THE POACHER – SPEEDY. WENT GREAT ONLY START
3 HOLD ON HONEY – RUNNER UP ONLY START. WATCH
4 KA BLING – PLACED STRONG FIELD ONLY START
5 PODIUM – TRIAL FORM OK

RACE 2
1 POIGNANT – WON 2 RECENT TRIALS. HAS GOOD FORM
3 BELLA ROUGE – NOT FAR AWAY BOTH STARTS
2 RIDUNA – FORM HARD TO FAULT
6 MYSTIC MERMAID – 1ST START. WON TRIAL

RACE 3
4 OUR LANCETTE – EYE CATCHER LAST START
3 DANZETTE – NEWCASTLE FORM GOOD
6 GARMISH – LAST RUN NEWCASTLE GOOD ENOUGH
8 LOVIN' FEELIN' – DROP IN CLASS. PLACE

RACE 4
7 THE DANZEL – CLASS ABOVE
3 BLACKALL – NEXT BEST
8 COOREEI LASS – CAN IMPROVE
5 GUARD – PLACE

RACE 5
7 SILHOUETTE – HAS FOOT ON THE TILL
1 BELIEVE SO – LAST 2 RUNS VERY GOOD
5 ZUDIN – WILL RUN A BIG RACE
10 EMERALD BAY – PLACE

RACE 6
1 TINKA'S LAD – CAN LEAD ALL THE WAY
2 CAMP RIFLE – NEVER PLACED BETTER
3 WRITING UNEXPECTED – CAN SPRINT WELL FRESH
5 THE MISTRAL – WON'T BE FAR AWAY

RACE 7
3 RUSSBUSS – TALENTED & FAST. LOOKS WINNER
2 GRACE BAY – HAS GOOD RECORD
8 CENTRO STORICO – LED ALL WAY LAST START
10 MARSHALL DILLON – 5 STARTS. 1 WIN 4 PLACINGS

RACE 8
2 JESSE JAMES – HUGE WIN 1ST UP
1 NEW TYCOON – CLASS RUNNER BIG PLAYER
5 DOM TYCOON – WON 2 OF LAST 3
10 LIGHT UP MY WORLD – LIKES THIS TRACK