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Race-by-race guide and tips for Gosford on Friday

Selections based on a good track.

Race 1 – 1:25PM NARARA PLUMBING SERVICES BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

Its been rocks or diamonds in 1. Rapido Chaparros short career to date. The High Chaparral gelding was first up at Wyong last start after a 45 week break and knocked up to run sixth. He was only swallowed up late and finished three lengths from the winner. That winner, 5. Classic Princess also lines up here but with a 3.5kg swing and the run under his belt, he can turn the tables. Hell be bowling along out in front for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott over the Gosford mile and take chasing down. 2. Devils Luck, the early favourite here, broke his maiden on the same day as Classic Princesss win but the overall time was considerably slower.

Dangers: 4. Fabricator will likely be camped outside of Rapido Chaparro in the run here. Be very forgiving of his last start third when spaced by Archedemus, a smart galloper in the making. The five-year-old didnt look comfortable in the heavy ground. Expect him to bounce back on a dry deck and the mile is perfect now. Devils Luck was visually impressive last start when finally breaking through but he dictated from in front and zipped home. Want to bet around him as the early favourite. 8. Northern Lights has upside and looks suited to the extra trip but will give away a start.

How to play it: Rapido Chaparro WIN.

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There will be seven races at Gosford today.

There will be seven races at Gosford today.Credit:AAP

Race 2 – 2:00PM THE JACK WARD MEMORIAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

9. Prophets Thumb isnt hard to find here at the short odds but she does look the winner. She is a three-year-old filly against the older males but she has plenty of upside. She won impressively on debut at Wyong which prompted trainer David Pfieffer to give her a chance in a Listed race but it all came too soon for the daughter of I Am Invincible and she didnt fire a shot. She was tipped out after that but has resurfaced at the trials and looked sharp, matching motors with Laburnum. She looks to have been kept very sharp ahead of her return and parking in behind the speed for regular rider Corey Brown, shes the one her rivals will be looking over their shoulder for.

Dangers: 1. Trust Me still has 62kg after the 3kg claim of Mikayla Weir. Thats a lot of weight but the short course specialist has won three from three over the Gosford 1000m, and four of his 10 starts in the past 12 months. He is a 72 rated in a BM64 so deserves the impost. 7. Roman Typhoon has never been short on ability but did too much wrong in his races to win regularly. The winkers went on last campaign and things looked like they would finally click, however he again proved that he is far from the finished article. Hell likely find the 1000m too short but will be running on.

How to play it: Prophets Thumb WIN.

Race 3 – 2:35PM PRESTIGE WEDDING AND EVENT HIRE CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1900 METRES)

Might be going off a start early with 1. Nahuel but he is better than a Class 2 provincial stayer, that we can be sure of. The five-year-old import has won two of his five starts in Australia under Richard Freedman. They were both at Newcastle in a maiden and a Class 1. He was tried in town after that, where backed into favourite, but never looked likely. Hed had enough by then. First up at Canterbury over 1550m he was only getting warm across the line. From 1500m out to 1850m second up last campaign he won by a gap, albeit in maiden grade. Still, it goes some way in demonstrating the improvement you can expect from this horse over the extra trip.

Dangers: 5. Elkano has been steadily building towards another win and think the market is spot on in rating the gelding as the danger to Nahuel. This will be Elkanos sixth run of the preparation but the first time he has been tried at this trip. Its a typically patient campaign from Clare Cunningham and the 5.5kg difference in the weights could prove telling. There was plenty to like about the way 2. Battle Zone boxed away first up behind Fuchu over 1400m at Newcastle. Dont be too critical of his strike rate as Shane Marr has only had him for two starts.

How to play it: Nahuel WIN.

Race 4 – 3:10PM KENTAN MACHINERY METRO & PROV MAIDEN PLATE (1100 METRES)

The knock on 7. Impurity will be her inability to finally turn a run of close finishes into a maiden win. The five-year-old mare has been sent to the gates 12 times already. However, her last five starts have all been placings. Shes getting close. First up this time in she rocketed to the line behind Evict before running a narrow second to Archedemus, a subsequent 9.3L winner at his next start. In her latest outing she was beaten half a length by $1.60 favourite That Song. There are a couple of rivals here with much bigger names and reputations, hence why were getting the early odds we are. Shell be right there in the money again so each way quote is a luxury.

Dangers: 2. Exceltic is certainly one of those gallopers with a profile. Few would have thought the colt would still be a maiden after he ran so well in the Canonbury on debut as a two-year-old before running second to Santos at Randwick. Yet here we are. He never looked likely last time in, prompting Gary Portelli to try him over 1400m. No trial but he has always looked better than this grade. 10. Quenya chased home subsequent Randwick winner Wonderbabe over 900m first up. The draw makes her task harder but shell be hitting the line.

How to play it: Impurity EACH WAY.

Race 5 – 3:45PM MERCEDES-BENZ GOSFORD GUINEAS (1200 METRES)

Very keen on the chances of 4. Military Zone. This three-year-old lost no admirers first up at Randwick chasing home Deprive in what looks a strong form race. Deprive clocked the fastest last 600m split of the entire day in that race. The story that Military Zones sectionals told, via Punters Intelligence, was that he peaked on his run. He ran his 600-400m split in 11.39s, the fastest in the race, before flattening out the final 400m. There was a tidy gap back to fourth, which was 2. Dio DOro. Last campaign Military Zone took the scalp of Danawi. Here, he should be able to settle much closer from the cosy draw.

Dangers: 9. Rosina Kojonup couldnt have done much more in her two wins this preparation. Shes never looked like losing at Hawkesbury and then Warwick Farm. This is another step up in grade though and shell have company in front from 8. Tell Me and 10. Terminology. Then theres 6. Hostwin Saturn punching up from the inside and 11. Mornay from a wide draw. Well certainly know where the half-sister to She Will Reign stands after this assignment. Was particularly taken with the way Terminology trialled at Warwick Farm. Include her in everything.

How to play it: Military Zone WIN.

Race 6 – 4:20PM GOSFORD RSL BELLE OF THE TURF STAKES (1600 METRES)

Not yet ready to give up on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 9. Hussterical. Shell lead this field and now with three runs under her belt, expect Adam Hyeronimus to take no prisoners from the front. The mare was beaten on her merits last start at Randwick but this race sets up perfectly for her – the short Gosford straight and out to the mile. A big drop in the weights certainly helps too. Expect her to pinch a mini break as they turn for home and shell take pegging back. She might lack the class of some of her rivals here, there is no denying that, but at the big odds in a very suitable race she is worth a ticket.

Dangers: It was impossible to miss the run of 1. Aloisia in the Villiers Stakes last start, surging home late. Punters Intelligence reveals she ran he last 200m in 12.02s which was 2L superior to the next best in the race. The query for her is swapping Randwick for Gosford. Will the bird have flown before she has warmed up? Brenton Avdulla will be tasked with having her much closer from barrier three. 8. Organza deserves her shot in this grade. The wet track was the only thing that beat her last start. 2. Pecans won this race last year beating Sedanzer but has been plain in her last two runs after winning first up. The blinkers go on to spark her up.

How to play it: Hussterical EACH WAY.

Race 7 – 4:55PM CENTRAL COAST MARINERS NEW YEARS EVE CUSICK PRELUDE – CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)

1. All From Scrap looks hard to hold out in Class 3 company. The five-year-old with David Atkins is a pretty handy sprinter and tends to sprint well fresh. He has had two trials to tune up for his return, at Newcastle and Wyong, but wasnt asked to do a great deal in either, cruising home at the finish. Jason Collett has ridden the son of Henrythenavigator twice in the past, which helps as he doesnt look the most straightforward ride. Expect Collett to have him worse than midfield before being given his chance to have a final crack at his rivals. All From Scrap is a genuine city class horse on his day and his best is too good for these.

Dangers: 2. Bombarding was never on the track at Doomben last start, coursing a wide trip throughout. He packed up quickly to finish near the tail. Be forgiving of that. This is the right grade for him to bounce back in, having been tried in town for much of his Australian career, being a former Kiwi. Should lead these from the inside draw and get his chance from in front. 5. Annas Joy is in the best form of her career and must be respected.

How to play it: All From Scrap WIN.

Tips supplied by Racing NSW

Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.

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