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Trainer Theresa Bateup is expecting Vain Invader to relish home conditions and lead her Kembla Grange assault this Saturday.

Bateup has four runners on home turf but considers Vain Invader her best chance in the Become An ITC Member Conditional Benchmark 68 (1400m).

Two of Vain Invader’s three wins have come at Kembla and Bateup expects the gelding to be a sharp improver second-up this preparation.

Vain Invader (Angus Villiers) scores at the Sapphire Coast. Image by Bradley Photographers

“The first-up run was excellent for Vain Invader, he just struck a little bit of interference in the straight,” Bateup said.

“It probably cost him running fourth. The step up to 1400m is ideal for him here and he has finally drawn a gate.

“He should get a nice run behind the speed, he races well at Kembla so I am expecting him to run well.”

Vain Invader ($7 on TAB) is joined by stablemate Crackalacka ($26) in the race with Jess Taylor and Louise Day to pilot the respective gallopers.

Crackalacka is also second-up but has drawn awkwardly in barrier nine.

“Crackalacka just cannot draw a gate,” Bateup said. “Her first-up run at Moruya was really good.

"She got caught wide throughout and coming down the outside, she probably peaked in condition late.

“Ideally I would like a bit more sting in the ground but she has come back good and is more than capable of running a race.”

Bateup’s first runner on the card is lightly-raced mare Pretty Please in the The Gong Race Day Nov 23 Super Maiden (1600m).

The daughter of Bull Point was suited by the step up to a mile last start, finishing second at Moruya after failing to place in her first three starts down the far South Coast.

“Pretty Please has been a bit of sneaky one because her first three runs were better than the form suggests,” Bateup said.

“If you watch her runs you think it’s not a bad effort and just wait until this horse gets over a bit further.

“It’s a step up in grade and I think a few there might have the class edge on her but there are a few dual acceptors there as well.”

Arabian Soo is a $41 outsider in the Jjj Racing Christmas Party Day Nov 30 (1200m). A winner at Wagga last December, Arabian Soo has struggled to match the effort in four runs since.

“She won her first start there at Wagga and is still a little bit new,” Bateup said. “She is still learning a bit of race craft.

“It’s a tricky little race. I think she’s been a bit weak late so dropping back to the 1200m should help her.”

Bateup will start her day in Sydney with Mulvader ($34) in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here