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Taree is rated a Soft 6 with the rail out 2m the entire circuit; the weather is mostly sunny with a maximum of 30c.
Race 1 (1:15pm) TOOHEYS MAIDEN HANDICAP (1408m)
We start with the maidens on one of the better drying tracks in NSW. Home track filly 5. Suncraft showed sharp improvement second-up hitting the line from a mile back at home and again sneaks in on a light weight over suitably more ground.
Dangers: Expect a very different four-year-old 1. Consulaide first time since last autumn. Was due to return in Sunday's postponed Coffs meeting but even better placed here on firmer footing, with an in-form senior rider booked. Provincial four-year-old 2. Sacred Delago can improve third-up from a softer draw with blinkers removed.
How to play it: Suncraft to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 (1:50pm) MID COAST AUTOMOTIVE GROUP MAIDEN PLATE (1255m)
Difficult maiden to assess with handy depth and widespread formlines. Resuming provincial filly 10. Grecian Lass was well in the early market for the Beaumont Track meeting on Monday before being saved for this. Has been given two trials and draws to find the right trail just off the speed.
Dangers: Keep very safe provincial filly 12. Military Star who has been close-up in her last couple and draws to get a charmed run. Another filly 11. La Campanella will be much improved from her debut run at Inverell where she made up some ground at big odds. Expecting a sharp second-up improvement too from 6. Finding Alice with a subtle gear change, while local mare 5. Dust'm was okay late in a handy maiden first-up at Port, and 2. Run Callan Run is better suited over the distance second-up and draws the inside.
How to play it: Grecian Lass to win and quinella 10 and 12
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 3 (2:25pm) HORSEPOWER CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1609m)
Lightly raced home track five-year-old 10. Mr Eighty Eight is primed to strike third-up off a 23-day freshen-up. Fitness told last time over this trip and he was competitive against better opposition through winter.
Dangers: Improving Coffs mare 9. Zouly made up plenty of ground on a bog track nearly two weeks ago and generally comes through stronger formlines. Provincial-based 5. Significant Rule will find this much easier than a BM 64 on the Beaumont Track where he dropped out badly. Draws well with a key gear adjustment. The heavy track at Coffs 13 days ago was ideal for 7. Markievicz who ploughed home for a dominant maiden win fourth-up, but the drier the track becomes the less advantaged she is, while tough 3. Hypertension is best of the rest.
How to play it: Mr Eighty Eight to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 (3:05pm) BANKSIA TURF BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP-CLASS 2 & ABOVE (1005m)
The first of back-to-back short course battles and keen on progressive four-year-old 4. Bonchevo who made a mockery of his price first-up charging home from the back to land a Class 1 in heavy ground. Has paid the price up sharply to 60.5kg and was due to run in the wet at Coffs on Sunday, but going well enough to beat these.
Dangers: Huge watch on lightly raced five-year-old 3. Farmer's Friend who resumes after nearly nine months off the scene for a new local stable. A renowned big finisher who normally comes to hand quickly, although hasn't publicly trialled and may need the run this time. Local 6. Ready To Chase is on the eight-day back-up after twice chasing home an in-form sprinter at this track. Keep safe 1. Citrouille who drops significantly in grade third-up off a six-week let-up, while 7. Supreme Diva behind a five-week freshen-up goes in exotics.
How to play it: Bonchevo to win and box trifecta 1,3,4,6
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 (3:40pm) KENNARDS HIRE TAREE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1005m)
Strong race for this grade. Keen on four-year-old mare 11. Shootforthestar third-up with blinkers replacing winkers and back on firmer footing.
Dangers: Capable on-speed three-year-old 1. Hauraki Gulf will relish getting back on firmer footing after floundering in the wet at Coffs. Previous form was sound for this trip. Loved the way 3. Thunderbolt Two hit the line from a mile back when fourth-up at Tamworth in a much deeper grade and this is his chance to finally crack a second career win. Watch the betting on five-year-old 2. Highbury who hasn't started since a Highway at Rosehill nearly 16 months ago, but had trialled okay. Provincial mare 8. Look Out Lee and three-year-old 9. Cabsav fresh are both capable of filling a place.
How to play it: Shootforthestar each-way
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 (4:20pm) HORSEPOWER BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1408m)
Expecting four-year old 2. Tears Of Effort to peak here third-up on a 13-day back-up. Made up plenty of ground from out the back on a Heavy 10 at Coffs when forced to come through the slowest part of the track and the extra ground is a further plus.
Dangers: Tough home track mare 1. Fight For Love did plenty of that to win a BM 66 two runs back before being overhauled after leading against better provincial opposition. Much better placed here and the big weight has been offset by a 3kg claimer. Provincial four-year-old 3. Wiki has enough early speed to find a handy spot and has been in and around the money all prep. Don't dismiss 8. Hurricane Max who draws to get a soft run on speed, while 5. Lincoln Park third-up, 7. Essoess who finished hard to win a weaker race fourth-up, and hard fit 10. Barry's Lane all go into the first four plays.
How to play it: Tears For Effort to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 (4:55pm) XXXX GOLD CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1308m)
Got plenty of time for consistent local four-year-old 2. Zaru who has found all sorts of ways not to win in 15 runs so far that's yielded just one win but 10 minor placings. Hit the line hard to miss by a whisker, resuming in a handy Class 2 and despite a 2kg weight hike, he has the quality to beat these.
Dangers: Keep safe local 1. Brazen Strike who will improve in his second run for the new local stable since switching from Victoria. Big watch too on resuming mare 4. Keen Contributor who has had two trials and draws the inside, while stablemate filly 8. Hard To Dismiss is on the quick back-up after dashing from just off the speed for a dominant third-up win at this track.
How to play it: Zaru to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
