2024 The Gong Day Preview & Tips

Everido has been racing well but hasn’t had the best of luck in recent runs.

Three starts back over the 1500m at Rosehill, the son of Supido was held up for the majority of the straight after settling in the box seat.

Back to 1300m at Warwick Farm at his subsequent start, he again had trouble securing clear running until the final part where he flashed late into third.

Always wide and exposed off a tricky gate last time, he stuck on gamely to claim second.

He’s fit and with even luck, will be right in this.

Monte Supreme has been racing well and looks ideally placed here at her home track.

She was luckless over the 1200m at Randwick two runs back, finding dead ends just as she started to make her run and ultimately, went to the line under a hold.

Up to 1300m last time, she settled back second last and charged home down the outside to claim second.

The extra 100m here will suit and she looks ready to win.

Tommy Berry knows her well and stays onboard for Robert and Luke Price.

Pisanello is two from two this preparation and looks ideally placed to make it three straight.

The Godolphin gelding has always shown good ability but really looks to have come of age this time in.

He proved far too good when resuming over the 1000m at Warwick Farm, giving a strong kick when asked and accelerating away to score by over two lengths.

It was similar story last time when he made the trip down to Flemington for Stakes Day and proved superior over the final part.

With J Mac in Perth, Adam Hyeronimus takes over the steering and with luck off the inside draw, he looks hard to beat.

Harry’s Bar has only had the four race starts and looks highly promising.

The daughter of Harry Angel broke through her for maiden victory in emphatic style at Canterbury two runs back and when resuming off a nine week let up, she was terrific again, only just getting collared late by Woolwoolin.

Whilst she did get the better of her last time, she strips fitter and meets the mare 2kgs better at the weights.

I think she’ll continue to improve and has drawn to receive all the favours from gate three under Reece Jones.

Bullets High is on the quick back from Saturday and he’s sure to relish the rise to 2000m.

Starting a short priced favourite over the mile at Newcastle, the Joe Pride trained gelding took a while to wind up before powering home to just miss.

It was a similar story at his prior start and I think the son of Ace High is just looking for more ground now.

A winner over 2130m last campaign before heading to QLD to contest the QLD Derby, he’s proven over the staying trip and this looks an ideal race for him.

I’mintowin returns to the races.

The former Kiwi galloper won well when kicking off in Australia late last year and in just a handful of starts since, he’s continued to perform well and looks to have plenty of upside.

He comes here off two solid trials and his most recent saw him work strongly through the line over 1050m to win the heat comfortably.

Gai and Adrian have elected to go with Adam Hyeronimus rather than use a claiming apprentice, so they obviously think the weight won’t be an issue and from barrier six he’ll be able to press forward and make his own luck up on speed.

Estadio Mestalla has been racing well and was only denied by the barest of margins in the Little Dance last start.

Charging home over the final part, he was just collared right on the line by the fast finishing St Lawrence.

He was luckless when resuming over 1200m, held up for much of the straight he flashed late and then up to 1400m, he travelled wide but kept making steady ground late.

He’s at peak fitness, he boasts a strong record over the mile and has drawn to receive all the favours under Chad Schofield.

It’s hard for me to go against Gringotts here but there’s a lot to like about Steparty, and I can’t go past him.

The highly talented son of Arite Schiller took all before him early on, winning five straight before finishing third in the Caulfield Guineas.

He failed to fire last campaign but a gelding procedure during the break looks to have had the desired effect.

He was solid to the line two runs back in the Linlithgow, holding third behind Another Wil and Jimmystar and last start, in the Rupert Clarke, he was again strong the line to finish fourth.

The rise to the mile looks ideal, he gets in nicely on 54kgs and the low draw should see him afforded every chance under Blaike McDougall.

Iowna Merc returns to the races.

Whilst the Bjorn Baker trained gelding failed to find the winners stall last campaign, he was placed in three of his four outings, two of which were at stakes level.

The ever-consistent son of Winning Rupert has always showed plenty of talent and he’s yet to miss a top three spot in four first up appearances.

He gets in nicely with just 53kgs on his back and Rachel King, who has a great affiliation with the five year old, will again do the steering.

Keitel resumes and the Hellbent gelding remains unbeaten in three first up appearances.

A winner of four from ten, he’s always shown good natural ability and has yet to miss a top four spot.

He comes here off two very pleasing jump outs, his most recent saw him taken back to last and doing his best work late.

Prepared by the Price / Kent team, he looks ready to go and has drawn to get the right run under the in-form Chad Schofield.