The Punter’s Prince goes through the runner-by-runner for The Gong at Kembla Grange.
Will Count De Rupee breakthrough for the biggest victory in his career?
#1 I Am Superman
Peter & Paul Snowden
Needs the rain to stay away.
All his best runs have come on good ground.
Comes out of two very strong form races behind Eduardo and the like.
Definitely a top three chance should it be a dry track.
Odds: $7 the win and $2.50 the place.
Finishing position: Third
#2 berdibek
john o'shea
A freshen up for him and he comes back to the mile.
Not the worst set up with the trial in between runs looking fairly sharp for a horse who is probably better suited getting up over 2000 metres.
Will need some luck from the inside barrier as he will probably settle midfield, but look out for him late in the race.
Odds: $21 the win and $6 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth
#3 Aramayo
chris waller
Big drop back in grade for this Chris Waller-trained gelding.
Has been competing in genuine Group One mile races and he now gets the services of champion hoop James McDonald.
Wide barrier might see him get back, but he has the fitness to cope with a tough run.
Odds: $7.5 the win and $2.6 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#4 count de rupee
robert & luke price
Deserves to win a big race and gets his chance to here.
He was enormous in The Golden Eagle last start when being run down on the line by freak miler I’m Thunderstruck.
Draws out deep on the track and will likely concede a start, but he has the fitness and on his side.
Would love to see Brock Ryan be positive from the gates and settle midfield with some cover.
Has to be on top after his last start effort and he is worth a win bet in this race.
Odds: $3.5 the win and $1.65 the place.
Finishing position: First
#5 quackerjack
mark newnham
Old boy whose form two years ago would give this an almighty shake.
Not going well enough to suggest he can win.
Odds: $31 the win and $8 the place.
Finishing position: Fifteenth
#6 nudge
chris waller
Doubt Jason Collett will be letting this mare settle as far back as she has been in her most recent runs.
Barrier six give the pair the opportunity to find a handy spot in the run.
She has a good late turn of foot, but she will need to be within touching distance at the home bend.
Odds: $19 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
#7 archedemus
M, W & J Hawkes
Out of form and unlikely to make any inroads here.
Odds: $31 the win and $8.5 the place
Finishing position: Fourteenth
#8 dawn passage
gai waterhouse & adrian bott
Two big duck eggs on the form guide this preparation, but does get the blinkers for this race.
Could be a big improver on the back-up.
If you are looking to have an each-way play on something at long odds, he is your runner.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.8 the place.
Finishing position: Fifth
#9 reloaded
chris waller
Long odds for a reason.
Looks really outclassed in this race.
Odds: $31 the win and $8 the place.
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#10 rich hips
trent busuttin & natalie young
Nice win at Flemington last start.
She did, however, have all the favours without having to go around a horse as she snuck up on the rails to win.
Regan Bayliss will probably adopt similar tactics, but this race has superior opposition to what she faced a fortnight ago.
Odds: $12 the win and $3.8 the place.
Finishing position: Ninth
#11 Atishu
chris waller
Was way too far back in The Golden Eagle.
Can settle much closer from barrier seven.
Does have longer starting prices when having previously gone head to head with some of her main opposition here and is slightly under the odds at her current quote.
Definite top five chance on what she has produced this campaign.
Odds: $6.5 the win and $2.4 the place.
Finishing position: Fourth
#12 blue soldier
david payne
Won a pretty low-rating race on Oaks Day at Hawkesbury as a long priced elect in a small field.
Sharp rise in class and tough to see her getting anywhere near the top half of the field.
Odds: $31 the win and $8.5 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#13 criaderas
james cummings
Another get-back-run-on Godolphin runner who is making punters go bald and get high blood pressure.
Has the talent when he puts it all together.
Wide barrier probably hurts his chances as does his ability to always find one or two better than him.
Odds: $19 the win and $5.5 the place.
Finishing position: Sixth
#14 soldier of love
bjorn baker
Winning and performing in much lower-level racing than what he faces here.
Will need a miracle.
Rank outsider in this field.
Odds: $31 the win and $8 the place.
Finishing position: Tenth
#15 exoboom
peter & paul snowden
Started long odds in The Golden Eagle and was well beaten.
Cannot see him reversing the tables on the likes of Count De Rupee and Atishu.
Odds: $21 the win and $6 the place.
Finishing position: Twelfth
#16 yamazaki
matthew dunn
Will probably be cluttered up in behind runners and too far back to be considered a winning hope.
Odds: $31 the win and $8.5 the place.
Finishing position: Eleventh
