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First up winner Wildebeast will again take a power of beating in the 1300m Class 3 Plate at Mackay on Thursday.

The Lyle Wright-trained galloper was last seen taking out an 1100m Class 2 Handicap at Rockhampton on May 28.

While only a narrow victory, it was one suggestive of a gelding who can work through his grades this winter.

He gets a perfect opportunity to do so in Thursday’s Kevin’s Place Class 3 Plate (1300m).

The four-year-old appears perfectly suited under Set Weights conditions where he meets rivals substantially better at the weights than if they clashed in a handicap.

The son of Stravinsky is the class horse of the event and rates highly amongst this field based on a strong first up showing.

His first up outing returned a Timeform rating of 71.

This is a figure 11 pounds shy of a master rating achieved at the start of his race career when trained by Mick Price.

It suggests there is room for noticeable improvement second run from a spell.

From an inside draw, Wildebeast should enjoy all of the favours in transit and with Adrian Coome riding at a 27% strike rate, there is little doubt space will emerge in the straight when it matters for the pair.

Even without anticipated improvement, it is hard to imagine the favourite in Race 5 at Mackay being beaten.

Pretty Vacant shapes as one of the main dangers.

The son of Teofilo resumes off a four start mid season campaign which commenced with a success at this course, class and distance.

While campaigned up over a mile and beyond after that success, the three-year-old is capable of firing fresh amongst this company.

Rise To The Top was solid enough on resuming at the course over 1100m.

As honest as the day is long, the son of Shaft can improve and at least keep things sporting.

Thankgodforfranc is holding form fairly and last start was running on well at Rockhampton over 1300m.

He drops in class on that run and the start prior was an eye catching winner at this course amongst Class 2 opposition.

Thankgodforfranc’s Mackay success was the strongest performance of his preparation to date yet it still rates below the display Wildebeast produced first up.

Through a solid seven race program, it is Wildebeast who shapes as the best bet of the program in the Kevin’s Place Class 3 Plate (1300m).