The Wizard of Odds piles into a big Kembla Grange program with his best bets.
The program is featured by the San Domenico but his best of the day comes up in the Ming Dynasty.
Kembla Grange race 4
#2 Mankayan
It was a slashing debut Australian run by Mankayan at Flemington when he crushed the line to run second behind D’aguilar.
The British import was having his first run under the watchful eyes of Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace and did a great job after drawing out wide in barrier 12.
He does go up sharply in weight here and has to contend with a wide barrier again, but he gets the services of gun senior hoop Hugh Bowman to guide him around Kembla.
Stepping up to 2000 metres looks ideal for this six-year-old gelding given his best form overseas came at this trip and beyond.
Looks an all out stayer and will be venturing towards the black-type Sydney staying races and potentially back down to Melbourne.
Suggested Bet: Mankayan win at $3.5
Kembla Grange race 5
#2 Coastwatch
A huge jockey change for Coastwatch should have him ready to score career victory number two.
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old gelding was just outdone by a bob of the head at Kembla Grange last start when being defeated by Tiger of Malay.
Kathy O’Hara rode him that day, but now she gets the strength, balance and prowess of champion jockey James McDonald.
The three-year-old gelding does rise slightly in weight to 55kgs after carrying a featherweight 53kgs last start, but that will not be of concern here.
He hit the line like a horse who would thrive at 1400 metres and beyond the further he gets into preparation.
One of the better bets of the day.
Suggested Bet: Coastwatch win at $2.7
Suggested Exotic: Exacta – 2 & 4
Kembla Grange Race 6
#4 Paulele
This year’s edition of the San Domenico Stakes looks a match race of two between Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and the up and coming Godolphin colt Paulele.
Stay Inside has put together some cracking trials ahead of his return to the races, but Paulele has the race fitness on his side and that is what we will factor into this bet.
He beat a pretty handy field when winning first-up off a spell into his three-year-old year and did so in great style.
After settling midfield at Randwick over 1100 metres, he darted to the front and showed a blistering turn of acceleration to win by just over two lengths.
It was the win of a horse who looks to have come on leaps and bounds from two-year-old season.
Suggested Bet: Paulele win at $2.8
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 4/ 1/ Field
Kembla Grange Race 7
#2 Dashing Willoughby
English import Dashing Willoughby makes his debut for Chris Waller after running in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup last spring.
He has not been seen in a competitive race since those two efforts, but finds his way into this event off the back of two very nice trials.
What caught the eye in the trials was the early speed and dash he showed for a staying horse.
It shows Waller has got this horse in a positive frame of mind and bouncing around the race track.
This is clearly a project horse for the stable and he should be screwed down enough off those two trials to run well here.
James McDonald being booked is a sign of intent as well.
Suggested Bet: Dashing Willoughby each-way at $6 the win and $2.25 the place.
