The Illawarra is serving up one of the biggest racing carnivals of the spring as we look ahead to the second running of The Gong this Saturday at Kembla Grange.
A huge crowd is expected to take in the feature race over the mile, and all eyes will be on defending champion Gringotts following his last-start success in The Big Dance.
Whether you’re chasing form or just here for the thrill, Neds has you covered with our expert Kembla Grange racing tips and insights ahead of a massive 10-race card!
| 10. Oakfield Saturn (8) Scratched: | |||
ALOTTOSAY (3) looks a leading contender from a perfect draw.
This mare by Press Statement last went around at Moruya where she was beaten just under two lengths after finding the clear out wide into the straight.
She’s since been given a trial between runs to keep her sharp, and I thought she showed some nice late change up speed to finish strongly through the line. Back from a solid six-week break with good wet track form, she rates well.
| 3. Alottosay (4) J: Louise Day 57kg x1314T: Brian Adams |
CASSIEL (3) is a proven first-up winner with two of his three wins occurring at this stage of his prep.
Overall, the Snowden-trained five-year-old has been ultra consistent during his short career, missing the money only three times from 10 starts – including a last runner-up effort at Randwick in behind Saturday’s rival Bundeena.
Despite winning only narrowly, I thought he finished strongly through the line during his recent trial at Randwick, while it helps knowing he’ll also handle some juice in the track with Kerrin McEvoy piloting.
| 6. Cassiel (3) J: Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg x112xT: Peter Snowden |
SPIRIT OF WEALTH (7) should have a good amount of support after bolting in late for second at Rosehill two weeks ago.
The Freedman-trained mare found the centre of the straight and quickened strongly to finish just over a length of Weeping Woman, indicating she might be wanting further after putting away a small field at Hawkesbury the run prior fresh from a break.
A truly wet track might test her, but she’s lugged big weight to victory in the past and looks well setup here carrying only 56kg from a gate that offers a few options.
| 7. Spirit Of Wealth (7) J: Josh Parr 56kg 8×612T: Michael Freedman |
NATOYA (12) is deserving of another look after an eye-catching runner-up effort at Randwick a fortnight earlier.
Fresh from a dominant win the start prior over the mile at Newcastle, John Sargent’s mare timed her incredibly well to flash home down the outside, finishing two lengths off but showing serious speed right past the judge.
She’s had her gear tinkered with as the blinkers come off for the first time and based on her overall record (8:2-2-3) you can expect another honest showing with conditions to suit.
| 12. Natoya (2) J: Jason Collett 54.5kg x2312T: John Sargent |
SOCIABLE (14) rates a winning chance for Ciaron Maher if he finds the conditions to suit.
A son to former The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, this talented four-year-old savaged the line third-up at Wyong two weeks ago to 1.2 lengths clear, finding the outside off a three-wide sit in transit to score with serious authority.
He was pulled up late to save some petrol in the tank and although this is tougher again, he looks like a serious 1200m horse who carries only 53kg in a very open race.
| 14. Sociable (2) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 3×231T: Ciaron Maher |
SUNRISE (8) returns to her home track with a stack of confidence on her side after bolting in late to win at Randwick second-up.
The Kiwi import was a tough disappointing when she resumed at Rosehill over 1100m, but she seemed to really appreciate the step back in trip last start when she kept finding up on the speed to hold on for a narrow win once a few challenged over the final stages.
She’s always been a good wet track horse and with some upside about her, she looks ready to run a nice race third-up sticking to the same distance in the 2025 The Warra.
| 8. Sunrise (2) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 15×91T: Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter |
GRINGOTTS (1) is fourth-up now for Ciaron Maher and sure to be racing with a stack of confidence after winning The Big Dance for the second year running on Cup Day.
The Per Incanto six-year-old was charged with top weight on his way to a barnstorming win by more than a length, and he’ll need to replicate that performance again on Saturday with 61kg aboard and Nash Rawiller retaining the ride.
Given a seven-week break between runs, he returned to work to finish second at Rosehill in the Alan Brown before his win last start, so there should be plenty left in reserve as he sticks to the mile.
| 1. Gringotts (5) J: Nash Rawiller 61kg 0x521T: Ciaron Maher |
COLLECT YOUR CASH (10) resumes for the Waterhouse and Bott team looking to maintain his unbeaten first-up record.
Still lightly-raced for a five-year-old, we saw this talented son of Group 3 winner Ragesee set the bar to new heights last time in work, winning fresh over the mile at Kensington, before returning two starts later for a dominant on-pace win over 1800m.
Trials have never been his go, so you can ignore two flat efforts at Randwick leading in.
Likely to appreciate a wet track, he just needs some early luck from the wide gate to be a factor.
| 10. Collect Your Cash (8) J: Adam Hyeronimus 58kg 1219xT: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
BARTOLF (8) is a lightly-raced four-year-old who strikes a winnable race deep into his prep.
By So You Think, he likely found the 1200m a bit on the short side at Rosehill two weeks ago, overcoming a four-wide trip to finish a length off in fourth.
The start prior saw him win smartly over 100m further by more than a length, showcasing his turn of foot off a similar wide run where he looked to have a lot left in the tank.
Back up to 1400m now with Zac Lloyd retaining the ride, he should be making amends with the wet track also up his alley.
| 8. Bartolf (5) Scratched: | |||