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By John Schell

1. CLOUDLAND (Kris Lees): Classy performer on his day and won a couple of city races towards the end of last campaign as well as finishing a close second in another. Resumed with a solid third at this track in similar grade behind subsequent Ajax Stakes runner-up Territory Express and that form looks strong for this. Should be very hard to hold out.

2. KAYOBI (SCRATCHED).

Kayobi (Pic: Bradley Photos).

3. RUBY FLYER (Brad Widdup): Hit winning form midway through last year when scoring at Wyong and Hawkesbury before following a failure at Warwick Farm with more success at Newcastle and Warwick Farm. Was placed in the Rowley Mile before being spelled and has had a couple of trials in preparation for this. Has bright each-way claims.

4. PEACE OFFICER (Clarry Conners): Scored a couple of solid Midway wins at Rosehill and Randwick last September and October then failed at Rosehill before bouncing back with placings at Canberra and Nowra. Resumes here on the back of a trial and a forward showing is on the cards.

5. DREAM HOUR (SCRATCHED).

6. BASARWA (Kris Lees): Ran a solid enough race when resumed with a fourth at Canterbury but since then was only average when failing to beat a runner home here behind Territory Express in similar grade. Would need to improve in order to be any chance here.

7. LITTLE BEGINNINGS (Kris Lees): Failed to fire when resumed from a spell and didn’t beat a runner home at Canterbury. Since contested the same grade as this and ran home well for a fifth to Short Shorts at Hawkesbury. Ready to peak now and no reason he can’t figure in the placings with a repeat of the latest effort.

8. SAILOR (Kris Lees): Was down the track in the Coonamble Cup before being spelled then resumed with a third at Hawkesbury before disappointing when well down the track behind Short Shorts in this grade last time out. Needs to improve.

9. AUSBRED FLIRT (Brad Widdup): Classy mare when at her best and was placed in the Angst last spring before finishing fifth in The Invitation. Never a factor in group 1 company at latest run before being spelled then resumed and ran well enough when sixth in the Guy Walter at Randwick. Has a solid second-up record and will find this an easier assignment. Stable is flying and should be very hard to beat.

10. BALTIC COAST (Kris Lees): Resumes here on the back of two trials but form before the spell was well below best and would need to lift many lengths in order to be any chance of figuring in this.

11. VICTORY LANE (Robert & Luke Price): Has shown his share of ability and followed a safely held effort in the Four Pillars last spring with a Midway win at Kembla Grange on The Gong day. Since resumed with a solid fourth here behind Territory Express in similar grade and no reason he can’t show up in the placings here.

12. TAVS (Richard Litt): Hit the line well to score by a big margin at this track in January then stepped up to this grade and wasn’t beaten far when fifth behind Territory Express at latest start. Three-year-old taking on the older horses but has the talent to give this a shake.

13. JAMBEROO (Diane Poidevin Laine): Was a winner at this track against easier grade back in November then was placed in another two runs here before failing in the Nowra Cup. Resumes from a spell here and is eligible for easier assignments.

14. UNCLE HARRY (Paul Perry): Form had been consistent enough towards the end of last campaign then resumed from a spell and ran home well to arrive in the nick of time to score a Newcastle victory. Lightly raced and is another three-year-old taking on the older horses. Far from the worst.

Victory Lane (Pic: Bradley Photos)

15. PER INAWAY (Kris Lees): Has had two runs back from a spell and done little in either of them at Canterbury when resuming and then at Gosford in this grade last time out. Racing below best and needs to improve.

16. BINDI’S CHOICE (David Pfieffer): Ran home well to score at Newcastle when resuming from a spell then was placed on the Kensington track before running third as an odds-on favourite at Newcastle. This is tougher and others look to have her measure.

17E. MAH ALI (Benjamin Smith): Ran second at Canterbury when resuming then safely held at Flemington before finishing second again at Moonee Valley. Since was a close-up fifth at Hawkesbury earlier this week but this is much tougher. Looking to others.

18E. C’MON MATE (Ross McConville): Had been racing well either side of a spell before running a great race when finishing fourth to Short Shorts in this grade at Hawkesbury last time out. Not the worst here if he can sneak into the field.

19E. WELL TIMED (Kerry Parker): Has returned from a spell in great order with wins at Nowra when resuming and Hawkesbury last time out. Facing a massive rise in grade here though and others should have his measure at this stage of career.

20E. LEANDRA (Jason Attard & Lucy Keegan-Attard): Wasn’t disgraced in a couple of city runs at Rosehill and Randwick earlier this year before failing to fire in Midway company at Rosehill last time out. Won’t find this an easy task.

SPEED MAP: Cloudland will push forward from a wide barrier and should take up a position near the lead. Jamberoo may also push forward from out deep, while Ruby Flyer is resuming but can also take up a prominent spot from an outside alley. Dream Hour and Ausbred Flirt should get good runs behind the speed, while Tavs and Victory Lane should get every chance to run on.

SELECTIONS:
1 CLOUDLAND
9 Ausbred Flirt
3 Ruby Flyer
11 Victory Lane

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla Grange meeting