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By Nick Berney

An in-depth look at every runner in the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

1. Just Folk (Josh Julius): Was brave in defeat last start in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m), where he raced wide throughout in a genuine tempo. He has drawn tricky again but is in career-best form and brings a competitive last-start figure.

2. Kolding (Chris Waller): Forgive last start where the gelding blundered badly out of the gates in the Group 1 Kennedy Champions Mile (1600m). The seven-year-old will need to improve significantly on his recent form but does have a favourable map.

3. Promise Of Success (John O’Shea): Was a victim of circumstances last start in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), where she had to race in the inferior ground throughout. Prior to that start she sprinted hard to win The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick and, if she can bounce back to that form, she can figure. However, the mare must carry a hefty weight.

4. Rustic Steel (Kris Lees): Was well ridden to win The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick last start and produced a career peak figure with the winkers on for the first time. Further, the time was solid and the margins throughout confirmed the quality of the race. The gelding is unbeaten over 1600m, and he maps perfectly. Chance.

Rustic Steel (Pic: Steve Hart)

5. Kirwan’s Lane (John O’Shea): Had every chance when winning last start at Hawkesbury but knuckled down hard late to score and ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting. He must contend with a tricky gate but has been racing consistently this prep and will be running on.

6. Surf Dancer (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Led at a solid pace and battled on ok for fourth place in The Big Dance (1600m). He is an honest on-pacer who will roll forward and make his own luck on top of the speed.

7. Berdibek (John O’Shea): Resumes and has had two trials in preparation for this assignment. Prefer him deeper into a prep and over more distance.

8. Old Flame (Peter & Paul Snowden): Won the Group 2 TAB Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) with ease and produced a career peak figure. The five-year-old returned improved this prep, and he has a fantastic record. In addition, he can sprint off slow/fast tempos and, although drawn wide, he has the ability to offset that. Chance.

9. Sky Lab (Paul Perry): Resumed in a high-rating The Hunter (1300m) seven days ago at Newcastle and was the flashing light run. He is suited up in distance, receives a significant barrier change and expect him to be running on well again.

10. Atishu (Chris Waller): SCRATCHED.

11. Oscar Zulu (Chris Waller): Resumed 20 days ago and ran fast time when winning the Goulburn Cup (1600m). Further, he was too strong for his rival Coal Crusher that day who has subsequently come out and won. One for the exotics if he can get luck from the draw.

12. Hope In Your Heart (Kerry Parker): Was outstanding in defeat, running fourth in a high-rating Golden Eagle (1500m) last start. Moreover, that form reference has since been proven with Vilana winning The Hunter (1300m) last week. The locally trained underrated mare is in career-best form and repeating that effort/figure will put her in the finish. Flying this campaign and must go in everything.

13. Brutality (Joe Pride): Is in fantastic form, and all his runs this prep have had merit. The six-year-old has been running elite sectionals, and he brings a string of winning ratings to this event. In addition, his historical profile confirms his peak performances have come on seven-day backups and when the blinkers are applied. Trainer Joe Pride has had this as the gelding’s target race all campaign, and he is a major player.

Brutality (Pic: Bradley Photos)

14. Purple Sector (John Thompson): Had all favours last start when running second behind Diamil, but he sprinted hard and beat the rest easily. He is a significant improver back to a dry track where he produces his peak figures, maps to have all favours and gets in well at the weights. Over the odds.

15. Love Tap (Richard & Will Freedman): Returned well first-up when winning a Benchmark 90 at Flemington over 1400m. He has a much tougher setup here with a wide draw but can roll forward. Will need to improve again.

16. Riodini (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Both of his runs have hidden merit this prep, and he has a positive race setup here. The six-year-old's ratings this campaign suggest he is back to his best, and any improvement off his last start figure can put him in the finish. Expect a positive ride for Tim Clark to utilise the gelding’s greatest asset, and he will take some catching with no weight.

17. Wild Planet (Team Hawkes): Was solid last start in the Group 2 TAB Linlithgow Stakes (1400m) and ran on well into fourth place. The gelding is yet to win over 1600m and will need to improve.

Selections

13. BRUTALITY
16. RIODINI
14. PURPLE SECTOR
12. HOPE IN YOUR HEART

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