Racing & Sports expert selections.

RACE 1 - The $250,000 Maiden Plate kicks us off. KING OF DRAGONS (9) hails from a handy family (half to Listed winner Champ Elect) and has been right there in all three NSW runs this preparation. Schofield sticks in the saddle following the last-start runner-up finish at Randwick and should be ready to peak now fourth-up from the spell. Looks very hard to toss. INNERVISIONS (8) resumes here but has placed two from two when first-up and the Neasham/Archibald camp have him tuned up for this with two recent trials. Can return in winning order. SHALAA GOLD (11) is unlucky to still be a maiden finishing runner-up on all four occasions. The stable is absolutely flying at present and he has to be come into calculations. VOLATILE (12) didn't really come up when last in work but go on the solid third in the Golden Gift in the previous campaign. In the mix on best form.

RACE 2 - The $500,000 Country Cup. SLIPPIN' JIMMY (7) resumes here but the form he showed when last in work was more than good enough to be competitive in a race like this. Is two from two over this six furlong journey and gets Clark on board from the favourable draw. Should be in this for a very long way. LOST HIS BEANS (4) was a touch plain at the latest effort but had strung five wins together on the bounce prior. Gets Williams on board to navigate from the sticky draw and a return to form would not surprise. QUADE (6) has won two of his past three and is racing with a lot of confidence. Respect from the Gollan barn. LADY SHOTGUN (9) is three from three around this circuit and is a must for the multiples. BENCOOLEN (13) rounds out the selections in an open contest.

RACE 3 - The $500,000 The Debut. Tricky race to assess with all runners facing the starter for the first time. EXCELOQUENT (4) was a dominant Doomben trial winner before Christmas and is sure to be well-educated out of the Tony Gollan stable. By a boom sire out of a Listed winner and a bright start to the career would not surprise. STEEL KNIGHT (1) has had a few trials in preparation for this including a win here before the new year. A bold showing is on the cards. SAYTARA (10) gets the deadly Waterhouse/Bott/Clark combination and they have a strong record with the youngsters. Respect any market confidence. DARN HOT LADY (3) put them to the sword in a recent trial here and can play a role in the finish. FOREIGN PRESS (5) next in line.

RACE 4 - The $1 million Subzero. MISS JOELENE (4) got a well-deserved victory in the The Wave last weekend and will have derived a stack of confidence from that overdue win. Being a QLD Oaks placegetter you'd think the step-up to the 2200m won't pose a problem and she can go right on with the job now. The well-related BELVEDERE BOYS (5) (half to G2 winner and G1 placed Frolic) has hit a purple patch of form stringing back-to-back wins together and gets the services of gun hoop Shinn in the saddle. Looms as the main danger. LOCH EAGLE (1) was a touch disappointing last time out but go on the strong Eagle Farm win two back. Worth another chance. ENCODER (11) has placed two from two around this circuit and looks one for the exotics players. TANNHAUSER (6) best of the rest in a race with only a handful of chances.

RACE 5 - The $1 million Fillies and Mares. MISS ROUMBINI (6) has won three of her past four outings and it's hard to knock mares in form. One from one over this distance range and rates a serious contender. BUBBA'S BAY (5) grows a leg for Mallyon who has four wins and a placing from just six rides. Should be right there at the business end. REVOLUTIONARY MISS (1) is better than the last couple suggest and is worth another chance. Gun front-running rider Tim Clark legging aboard INFATUATION (11) creates intrigue. Expect her to be in this for a long way.

RACE 6 - The $1 million Snippets. PRINCE OF BOOM (7) is knocking on the door of another victory with three consecutive placings this time in and should be rock-hard fit now fourth-up from the spell. Is two from two over this course and distance and goes well for Orman who has four wins and a placing from seven rides. Rates the testing material. SEMANA (5) resumes here but has won when fresh before and is one from one around this circuit. Can run a race first-up. HARD TO SAY (6) wasn't too far off them in the Bribie and is usually thereabouts. Top-three candidate on best form. HEDGED (8) strips fitter third-up from the break and draws low for Brown. In the mix. STEADY READY (3) rounds out the selections in a race with a stack of chances.

RACE 7 - The $3 million 2YO Classic. INVINCIBLE WOMAN (10) couldn't have been more impressive saluting at Caulfield by almost three lengths on debut and has revved up for this with a recent trial win here before the new year. Part owned by racing identity Lizzie Jelfs and looks to have plenty of upside. Rates the testing material. ICARIAN DREAM (6) got the job done in the G3 BJ McLachlan last time out in a return to form and Collett sticks in the irons. Only needs some luck from the carpark draw to be playing a major role in the outcome. GALLO NERO (2) was a handy Randwick winner at the latest outing and will have derived a stack of confidence from that victory. Top-three aspirations. LA BELLA BOOM (9) has been racing well in lesser company and may earn some minor money.

RACE 8 - The $3 million 3YO Guineas. Looks a wide open affair. SNITZANOVA (6) has strung three wins together on the bounce including a promising Group 2 victory at the latest effort. Winning hoop Stackhouse stays on board and must be respected from the Maher barn. Must raise the bar again but another win is not out of the equation. COSMIC FIRE (11) goes well for Mallyon who has three wins and a second from just five steers and looks to have turned the corner this time in work. Drawn ideally in gate two and should prove hard to hold out. BAUHINIA (14) is building up an impressive record and looks to have plenty of upside. Again gets Berry on top and is a genuine top-three candidate. TUILERIES (18) was super impressive saluting at Randwick last time out and can bring up the hat-trick here. GIVE ME SPACE (2) has only missed a drum once in six career outings and is yet to put in a poor one. May earn some minor money.

RACE 9 - The $2 million Cup. CHARM STONE (6) wasn't disgraced in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke at the latest effort and has since been given a bit of a freshen up for this. Goes well for Lane who has three wins and a placing from six rides and is drawn to get a gun run from gate two. Ticks a few boxes. MORAVIA (5) was heavily supported last weekend but just found one better. Looks to be working up to another win. The well-named REDFORD (19) had Moravia's measure last time and appears to be a galloper with plenty of upside. Top-three credentials. PERFECT THOUGHT (16) got a confidence building victory at the latest effort and can go right on with the job now. ABOUNDING (2) is one from one over this course and distance and looks one for the multiples.

RACE 10 - The $1.5 million Open closes out the card. HIDDEN WEALTH (3) was well in the betting last time out but may have suffered from the dreaded second-up syndrome. The form prior to that was full of merit and hoop Berry is yet to taste defeat in two rides. Expecting a sharp spike in form. YELLOW BRICK (1) is as consistent at the day is long only missing the top-five once in 19 career outings. Is yet to miss a drum in seven fresh attempts and a strong first-up effort would not shock. CIFRADO (2) loves this distance range with two wins and a second from just three starts. Racing in great heart this campaign and shouldn't be underestimated. BOOM TORQUE (6) strips fitter second-up and is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley. In the mix. BUSTING (15) is a last-start winner and must be respected from the Gollan barn.