Kembla Grange hosts a bumper program this Friday afternoon. The Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic is the feature event, and with all the big guns in town, who will step up and dominate the stand-alone metropolitan meeting?
Kembla Grange Race 1
#2 Eau De Vie
Eau De Vie is knocking on the door! The Snitzel filly savaged the line at her latest outing, and she looks well placed dropping back to provincial grade. If she can find a spot in the running line, I expect her to be there when the whips are cracking.
Mindspace can run well here after a solid first-up performance. The So You Think gelding strips fitter, and he should get the run of the race from barrier three. He has raced well at the track previously, and with even luck, I expect him to figure in the finish.
Burnt By Bernie can peak third-up from a spell. He hit the line nicely at his latest outing and has trialled superbly since. The Dundeel gelding has plenty of upsides, and with the appointment of Chad Schofield, he may prove hard to hold out.
Suggested Bet: Eau De Vie @ $2.15
Kembla Grange Race 3
#1 Givara
Givara produced an eye-catching run at his latest outing. The drop in grade is significant, and he has performed well second-up in previous campaigns. The All Too Hard gelding thrives over 1200m, and he looks ideally drawn in a middle gate. The appointment of Tim Clark could prove a winning move.
Dakarai has been supported since markets opened. The Chris Waller and Kerrin Mcevoy combination must be respected, and he looks ideally placed from an inside draw. The Siyouni colt has plenty of upside, and his trial leading into this event was first-class. He will make his own luck on top of the speed.
Noble Attack is a must for wider exotics. The Counterattack gelding finished runner-up on five occasions last preparation, and all runs were full of merit. If he can stay out of the speed battle early, he may be too strong for his rivals late.
Suggested Bet: Givara @ $4.00
Kembla Grange Race 7
#2 Polygon
Polygon looks poised to strike in the feature race of the day. If she handles the tight turning track, I expect her to continue on her winning ways. Her New Zealand form reads exceptionally well for this event, and she only needs to produce her customary turn of foot to figure in the finish.
Call Di will start favourite after attacking the line at Sandown last start. The Frankel filly is having a consistent preparation to date, and I expect her to produce a peak run on Friday. She is well weighed with 54kg and should get a lovely cart into the race from a middle gate.
Pavitra will have supporters after a fair first-up effort. The American Pharoah filly will benefit from the significant class drop, and she should strip fitter after her recent outing. The Freedman brothers are currently training winners for fun.
Suggested Bet: Polygon @ $5.00
Kembla Grange Race 8
#9 Bully For You
Bully For You snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at his most recent start. He got too far out of his ground early, and the bird had flown inside the final furlong. He still knuckled down and savaged the line, however, it was a missed opportunity. The 1400m is advantageous; he meets a similar field at Benchmark 64 level. From barrier seven, Zac Lloyd can be more forward on the Bull Point gelding, and if he stays in touch with the leaders early, he is a winning hope.
Toesonthenose looks dangerous from an inside draw. He has won first-up previously, and his trials leading into this event have been teasing. I expect him to figure in the finish if the gaps appear on straightening.
Bindi’s Choice has been well supported in early markets after an impressive last-start win at the track. The Denman filly has made a fantastic start to her career, and this event is well within her reach. She can camp close to the speed from barrier six, and if she can find clean air when the whips are cracking, she will be hard to hold out.
Suggested Bet: Bully For You @ $10.00
