By Nick Berney
KEMBLA GRANGE – BEST BET: Race 9 # 5 – Headwall
Lightly raced galloper Headwall returns off a 224-day break and looks to have come back improved after two strong trials. Further, he ran fast time/sectionals relative to the morning to win a recent heat at Rosehill and is wound up for this event. First-up last prep he had excuses when not suited to the race shape and was checked/blocked at a critical stage. However, to his credit, once clear, he picked up well, hit the line to finish second, and recorded the fastest final 200m split of the meeting. He gets conditions to suit here with the gelding producing all his peak figures on rain-affected ground and has a favourable map. In addition, he has an improver's action and will be hard to beat with even luck.
KEMBLA GRANGE – BEST VALUE: Race 3 # 13 – RUNWITHTHETIDE
Happy to forgive his last start when he was well-fancied late in the trade ten days ago at Rosehill but didn't appreciate when he couldn't lead. Before that start, he ran fast time when resuming as a gelding and did it on both ends. The improving three-year-old sets up well here, returning to his home track, and can bounce out and take up the running. Further, he drops 6.5kg, can rate to win and look for him to try to steal the race between the 600m-200m mark. Each-way.
Junqueira (Pic: Bradley Photos)
KEMBLA GRANGE – SECTIONAL STAR: Race 4 # 8 – JUNQUEIRA
Is ready to peak third-up with a strong platform. The mare had too much to do last start at Rosehill 21 days ago, but her run was full of merit in a strong time race. Further, she had the pace/bias against her and had to make a long sustained run in inferior ground. Punter's Intelligence recorded she ran one of the fastest final 400m splits of the meeting in 21.99. She has multiple winning figures for this event and excels in high-pressure races. Additionally, she has a positive map from an inside draw, and James McDonald rides.
GOSFORD – PROVINCIAL PICK: Race 2 # 7 – IN FLIGHT
She was brave first-up at Wyong a fortnight ago when running second in a solid time race. The filly was caught three-wide out on a limb, working throughout in an even tempo, but still accelerated off the turn and never shirked her task to the line with a big gap to third. Expect her to come on from that effort, and she receives a much more positive rave setup from the inside draw.
All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla meeting