Form Analysis by RACING AND SPORTS

Ooga Chaka will be out to land a hat trick and maintain his perfect record over the mile at Menangle when he lines up in Saturday night’s Winter Gift Final.

Race 1: ALLIED EXPRESS PACE

CYA ART (11) resumes after tackling Leap To Fame at G1 level in his last two outings before a spell and placing in the Ballarat Cup three back. Draws deep but is yet to miss a place at this distance. He is well placed and will be ready to go off three trials, winning the latest. VANQUISH STRIDE (9) brings some decent form from Victoria having scored a win at Melton two back before coming from the back line to place there last start. With race fitness on his side he can measure up. SURFERS DELIGHT (10) draws deeper but is working up to a win after placing in both starts this time in, the latest when beaten just a neck at this circuit. RICKOSHAY (1) gets the ace draw and deserves respect off a hat trick of wins at Penrith.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE

PETES SAID SO (11) has really found his form with back-to-back wins at this circuit. Draws deepest but came from a similar barrier to push forward and lead before scoring by 4.3m last week. Back to the mile but won over this distance two back. Big chance to land the hat trick. MAX DELIGHT (9) came from this same barrier as favourite last start and raced up to four wide so was far from disgraced when fourth behind Petes Said So. With better fortune he is a chance to turn the tables. JAY OK (10) has been very consistent with a string of placings to his name, the last two behind Petes Said So. Go well again. UNFAZED (3) steps up in grade but draws well and was only second-up when winning last time so has scope for improvement.

Race 3: FOR A REASON STANDING AT COBBITTY EQUINE FARM PACE

There was plenty to like about the latest effort of WAYOUTWEST (5) when he drew a couple of spots wider and chased well for a 1.4m third. That was his third placing in four starts at this circuit since landing back-to-back Newcastle wins. Big chance. RACING TIME (6) was racing in good form away from the city before coming to this venue when beaten only 4.2m last week. Can make an impact in this line-up. WATCHMEDAZZLE (2) hasn't been far away of late and is aided by a low draw as is STIR ME UP (3) who has been freshened since the last outing but has trialled so could do better.

Race 4: BUBBA GUMP PEST CONTROL PACE

MY ULTIMATE CARTER (5) was a beaten favourite last start but wasn't disgraced when midfield and that looked a tougher line-up than this. Scored at this circuit three starts back so is good enough to win this with his A-game. CASH AND BLING (2) has been racing well from deeper draws at this circuit having raced parked in scoring two back before stepping up to this grade when beaten 2.6m into third last week. A lower barrier gives him every chance to win. BARTELLO (7) hasn't quite performed to market expectations at his last couple but had recorded a string of top-two finishes at this venue before that so is capable of better. KING TIGER (9) will find this easier than the last attempt and while drawn wide has claims off a resuming placing in this grade here two back.

Race 5: CLUB MENANGLE WINTER GIFT FINAL

OOGA CHAKA (8) is two from two at this circuit and distance since joining David Aiken, last week leading when scoring by close to 3m. Draws a little wider but he is going well enough to overcome that and land the hat trick. SPECULATING (3) did a great job last week when he drew the extreme outside barrier but had enough gate speed to lead before winning narrowly. This much lower draw gives him every chance to back that up. VINKE B (5) was just a head behind Speculating last week but had won his previous two here, racing up to four wide to back but proving too good. Must rate as a player again. ULTIMATE BIRD (10) draws wide again but is racing well having placed in all three starts since winning here.

Race 6: GARRARDS HORSE AND HOUND PACE

JOE NIEN (5) was far from disgraced here last week when he drew widest in a higher-graded race and was beaten just over 5m. He'll enjoy coming back to this company having finished only 2.5m away at this level two back. This looks a winnable assignment. WAVETHEBILL (8) was beaten only 3.7m from a similar barrier here two back and placed at Newcastle on either side of that. Owns a good strike rate at this venue and could find the winners' list again. CAPTAIN RITCHIE (3) has yet to fill a placing in three starts since a spell but will be building in fitness and draws well. Drifted back last week but if he can take closer order he can do much better. HAS THE COURAGE (9) draws out but hasn't been far away of late so is worth some thought.

Race 7: SUCCESS STUD YEARLING PREP PACE

MACH DA VINCI (8) looks to have found the right race. He was a beaten favourite last week but that was against a stronger line-up and while he draws wider his third placing to Taipo two back stacks up strongly in this. SURF ACE (1) takes on some tougher rivals tonight but there was plenty of merit in his 3m third here last start and he is aided by the ace draw. BLACK ONYX (2) came from the back row and only missed by a head when resuming at Penrith. He'll be fitter for that outing and is drawn to advantage. PORT AU PRINCE (4) draws a few spots wider than in his last start here but that was a good effort when beaten only 3.4m.

Race 8: WARDS ACCOUNTING GROUP TROTTERS MOBILE

TORO STRIDE (3) led from wider and proved too good with a 7m win over the mile last week. His recent defeats have come at this longer distance but he has won at it before and the low draw is a big aid so can win again. HOT TO TROT (6) led from a similar barrier when winning at this circuit and distance three back and did a good job to come from the widest draw for second last week. That was his first outing for four weeks so it should have improved him. SHEZA PLEASURE (1) led from a wider barrier when she placed here last week so has the speed to take advantage of the ace draw. SUNNY GEE (5) is in good form having won here two back before placing behind Toro Stride last time. Must be respected.

BEST BETS:

Race 1 #11 Cya Art – Capable placer readied with three trials and well placed for a winning return

Race 3 #5 Wayoutwest– Hasn't been far away of late and finds a winnable assignment.