Race-by-race preview and tips for Taree on Monday

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Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1257m)

Pierro filly and first starter 12. Rhone has found an ideal and very modest target to start her career behind two nice trials. Jumps from the inside with winkers on, and most of these have barely managed a place from several attempts.

Dangers: Not so, though emerging filly 11. Ms Nerfertiti who boxed on okay from the front on debut in tougher provincial grade when unwanted in betting; while 9. Love Loch and 2. Perfect Point can both run into the placings.

How to play it: Rhone to win and box trifecta 9, 11,12
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 4 MAIDEN PLATE (1257m)

Same graded affair at set weights, and two provincial runners rate well clear of the rest. Like resuming filly 5. Collier Bay with blinkers being added. Has been well fitted with two progressive trials, and the provincial stable is one of the best around at placing them early in the prep.

Dangers: Another improving provincial three-year-old 4. Threetimeslucky can peak fourth-up, and is the clear threat. Has worked home into a place in his last two, heavily backed last time here when he took too long to pick up from midfield. Keep safe 2. Razzama at each-way odds third-up; while 1. Pontoon Pete is hard-fit deep into the prep and draws inside.

How to play it: Collier Bay to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 5 MAIDEN HCP (1412m)

Coffs three-year-old 1. Honourable is ready to strike at his fourth start. Hasn’t missed a place so far, and boxed on for a long way in front here in a race with more depth.

Dangers: Expecting a big first-up run from 2. Kimwantstogetahead despite the wide draw. Hit the line impressively from well back here on debut four months ago, and fitted with two solid trials, winning the latest over Collier Bay who is fancied in the previous. Also preferred here to Mudgee on Sunday. Honest mare 12. Percontation is still searching for a breakthrough win ahead of her 13th start, but she’s been placed seven times, and often runs better than her market rating suggests. Comes back in distance carrying 2kg less, and this is fairly weak. Included in wider exotics 14. My Sonny’s Faith fourth-up; and 13. Casino Silk carrying her lightest weight in a long time.

How to play it: Honourable to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1614m)

Like three-year-old ex-Victorian filly 9. Sophistication having her first run for the Nathan Doyle stable at Newcastle off a six-week break. Progressed steadily south of the border winning her maiden three starts back, and this yard has an almost uncanny knack of producing immediate improvement. Should get a nice soft trail off the speed.

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Dangers: Plenty of them headed by rival Novacastrian 4. Yorkiri who charged home to claim his maiden in heavy ground fourth-up. Despite a horror draw, 5. In Hot Water continues to improve. Claimed her maiden here in dominant fashion from off the speed, and is on the seven day back-up. Another last start third-up winner 8. Kiss Her draws inside carrying 1kg less; while 2. Sippin Seasons is a knock-out chance in suitable ground.

How to play it: Sophistication to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1257m)

Provincial three-year-old 4. Trinity Missile hasn’t reached the expected heights, with only one win from 12 starts, but this is a significant drop in quality. Yet to fully prove himself on heavy ground, but finishing just over three lengths from Mentalism and Wild Chap, who bolted in a stronger metro race five days ago, in a Wyong BM 64 is way better than this.

Dangers: Another former Victorian having his first run in this region 3. Mariinsky is well placed with a 2kg claim from a handy draw. Keep safe last start provincial maiden winner at big odds 1. Emerald’s Son who draws to get a soft trail back in the field; while 11. Rapid Rose also shoots for two straight wins a month between runs.

How to play it: Trinity Missile to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Race 8 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1412m)

Consistent provincial four-year-old 11. The Mistral hasn’t missed a place in his last three, and is ready to win again fifth-up. Loves to roll to the front, and comes through a couple of races that served up more depth than this.

Dangers: Lightly raced five-year-old 3. Spring Break resumes off a long break and two progressive trials, and boasts a solid fresh record. Watch the betting on rival Newcastle mare 4. Too Much Class who also returns off a lengthy break and two trials; while hard-fit filly 6. Boncassie and last start BM 66 winner 9. Weather Channel; are both worthy exotic players.

How to play it: The Mistral to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS: R4 5. COLLIER BAY
R8 11. THE MISTRAL

BEST VALUE: R5 1. HONOURABLE

Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.

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