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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 & rail true:

Race 1 - 12:35PM RACING MATES COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1000 METRES)

6. Crazy Mikki is a tough home track mare who has done everything but win in a long prep. Has beaten all but the winner in his last three at this track on wet ground, despite twice being forced to do early work from wide draws. Well placed here from a softer trailing barrier, and she's been given a 23 day freshen-up between runs. Has only missed a place once in six runs on either soft or heavy ratings. 1. Bobby is King is banging on the door third-up after being beaten under a length in two runs back, and has a sound record on rain-affected ground. If he gets across from the wide draw okay, will be right in the finish. 3. Enzoni can improve into his fourth start coming back in distance and 23 days between runs. Watch the betting on 10. Mars Landing, an improving two-year-old getting back on to his preferred surface at third start; while 9. The Simple Life also comes back in trip off that same let-up, and can add value into exotic bets.

How to play it: Crazy Mikki to win

Race 2 - 1:10PM THANK YOU ALL FLOOD VOLUNTEERS MAIDEN PLATE (1250 METRES)

3. Jakubik is an emerging provincial-based three-year-old who fought well on debut at Muswellbrook, and doesn't need to improve much at his second start back in a very weak race. 5. Montgolfier peaks third-up over more ground; while 1. Dundee Tales draw inside and heads the rest.

How to play it: Jakubik to win

Race 3 - 1:50PM THANK YOU ALL FLOOD FRONTLINE SERVICES MAIDEN H (1400M)

6. Heart Of Platinum is ready to break through fifth-up off a short break, with blinkers going on. Has run home okay at his last couple in heavy ground, and gets a nice little weight drop in what is a thinner race. 7. Temple Bells is a locally-trained improver who hasn't missed a place in four runs this prep, and right at home in heavy going. 1. Dark Stratum is hard fit, and hasn't been far away in his last three, although a query from the wide barrier in this going. 8. Calamaris drops back from a tougher provincial level, with winkers being added.

How to play it: Heart Of Platinum to win

Race 4 - 2:25PM WINGHAM SERVICES CLUB WINGHAM CUP (1600 METRES)

2. Rebel's Edge is a tough six-year-old primed to strike third-up in very suitable going. Has made late ground in two runs since a six week break against tougher opposition, and looks nicely treated at the weights in this open line-up, especially with the leading country jockey taking over. Four of his six career wins have come on rain-affected ground. 1. Veandechance has enough ability getting out to the mile, and two of his three career wins have come on heavy ground. Given four weeks since finishing well down the track in a deeper BM 82 at Grafton. 4. Wealthy Investor has been in and around the money in tougher provincial lineups this prep, and draws to get a nice trail on or near the speed. 7. Otium is building a handy record on rain-affected ground, convincingly beat a handy BM 66 field at Scone two starts ago, and draws the inside here; while 5. Wanawinwin comes back sharply in distance behind a four week let-up.

How to play it: Rebel's Edge to win

Race 5 - 3:05PM BAKEWELL HAULAGE COREY BROWN CUP BM82 HANDICAP (1250M)

2. Time For Victory is a tough and locally-trained seven-year-old who can go back-to-back fourth-up. Was competitive in two runs to start the new campaign before being ridden quieter and powering home to beat a BM 74 field here over a shorter trip in heavy going. No concern back over 250m further, and given he's a very reliable weight carrier, 58.5kg here after the claim reads well. 1. Gold Card is trained on the track, and a big watch coming back from metropolitan company third-up. 5. Zaru is a capable home track second-up improver after running home late behind the top selection in that BM 74 when resuming. 3. Xtra Approval is a stablemate of the top selection, and can improve fourth-up three weeks after flopping in the stronger Country Cup at Scone 6. Annulus hits a fitness peak fourth-up in preferred ground. 7. Swamp Nation draws to get a soft run on speed, but can be very hard to catch, and wet track form is very modest. Keep safe 4. Ljungberg who despite having been beaten a long way this prep, is a three-time winner in heavy ground.

How to play it: Time For Victory to win

Race 6 - 3:40PM SKY INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

1. Buck Pharoah hasn't won for a long time, and again has to carry a big weight from a tricky draw, but did hit the line impressively here in tougher grade 23 days ago, and boosted with a couple of the early market rivals coming out. 5. Telegraph has placed in two of his last three and gets a sharp weight drop, but this is a much stiffer test. 7. Robarge is a tough and honest mare, with a sound wet track record. Resuming 4. Kayz Time is a home track filly who won two from four in her first prep before being outclassed in a much deeper Saturday CL3 Highway. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: Buck Pharoah to win

Race 7 - 4:20PM STACKS LAW FIRM COUNTRY BOOSTED BM58 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)

2. Golden Honour is a local five-year-old primed to peak in a very open closer deep into his campaign, and on a preferred heavy surface. Rushed home late behind a dominant winner in this grade two starts ago before doing his best work late behind that same horse when forced to go a long way back from a wide draw. Drawn to sit closer this time, and crucially he's been afforded a stack of gear changes coming back a shade in distance 23 days between runs. Just needs to get clear and to the outside at the top of the straight. Big watch on 8. Zelestial, an imported Scone-based mare who charged home to win at Tamworth in heavy ground as a well backed favourite in her first Australian run. 1. Caledonian has been mixing his form against deeper provincial opposition, but does rise sharply in weight from a wide gate. 3. Punch One Out is a stablemate of the top selection, and a lightly raced improver third-up. 5. Gold Melody is a lightly raced local mare who finished best as a hot favorite to win her maiden here in heavy going. Keeping safe lightly raced two-year-old and last start maiden winner 6. Four Degrees; while home track three-year-old 7. Prince Is Game steps up from a fast-finishing fourth-up maiden win here in heavy ground.

How to play it: Golden Honour to win

BEST BETS:
R1 6. CRAZY MIKKI
R2 3. JAKUBIK

BEST VALUE:
R5 2. TIME FOR VICTORY

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Taree meeting