Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track likely improving Soft 6 and rail out 3m:

We start with the three-year-old sprinters on an improving track that should get well back into that middle soft range. Testing affair with a few chances, although at some value, like Warwick Farm-based 8. Good Lieutenant second-up and back in distance. Failed to run home in a more than handy maiden when resuming and drawn in a slower part of the track. Fitter now, and much better suited here getting to the outside of runners. Was scratched from Gosford on Wednesday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with 1. Kunnese who wasn't far away on debut at Hawkesbury, and key gear changes have been made. Watch the betting closely on locally-trained 4. Monte Out'n'About who debuts in winkers behind an even country trial; while 6. Aqua can improve sharply dropping in class at her second start.

How to play it: Good Lieutenant to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Another age affair, this time the babies locking horns, and it's an open and competitive market. Keen on Grunt gelding 7. Rhythm Of Love on debut for the John O'Shea yard. Has been right on the winner's heels in two recent trials, and he's bred to thrive in soft ground.

Dangers: Drawn the fence, beautifully bred Kingman colt 4. King Colorado is a threat on debut for another powerhouse city stable. Given three trials, winning the latest comfortably in soft ground. Keep very safe 2. Fightertown who reloads off a month's break and nice trial win, with blinkers going on. Similar for improving Russian Revolution colt 10. The King who can peak at his third start, with winkers added. Brave Smash colt 6. Master Miyagi, who was right behind King Colorado in his last trial; goes into exotic plays.

How to play it: Rhythm Of Love each way and first four:
2,4,7/2,4,6,7,10/2,4,6,7,10/2,4,6,7,10
Odds and Evens: Split

Change of pace here out over the longer journey, and all aboard progressive five-year-old 1. Funambulist at the value who can improve into his second-up run over 400m further. Bred to stay all day relishing rain-affected ground, and well treated only 3kg over the minimum weight after the jockey's claim.

Dangers: There's a sense of timing here fourth-up out to this journey with ultra honest 2. Roccaforte after going down narrowly in his last two. Tough Canberra four-year-old Loose Love was taken straight to the front in a weaker race at Orange, stayed out in the better ground and bolted home by five lengths. Capable of running out this longer trip, and gets nice weight relief, but this is a far better race. Watch for improving three-year-old 8. Mindspace hitting the line late deep into the prep; while consistent and fit 10. Roseirro heads the rest.

How to play it: Funambulist to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Provincial-based Astern filly 5. Lady Gold can pounce first-up for nearly five months. Fitted for this with a strong synthetic trial over 1175m, and fresh last prep made up good late ground in a similar field when well backed from a double figure quote. The more the track dries out the greater her chance in a weakened race.

Dangers: Progressive and lightly raced 1. Iron Man is the immediate threat third-up in his first full prep. Has hit the line in two provincial runs this prep, and blinkers back on from a soft draw is a big pointer. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Tsarism resuming behind a quiet trial.

How to play it: Lady Gold to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Keen on metro three-year-old 3. Emancipist resuming for a strong metro stable. Was consistently in and around the money last prep, and has trialled well enough for a moderate affair.

Dangers: Keep safe 4. Little Cointreau resuming from the inside barrier off two quiet trials; while honest 2. Sumo Star heads the rest fourth-up.

How to play it: Emancipist to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Tough and wide race, with a stack of chances, but no better value than emerging Godolphin three-year-old 5. Chopin third-up. Has hit the line hard from well back in two provincial BM 64 runs, and this looks a very winnable race from a nice trailing draw.

Dangers: Keep safe talented Ocean Park three-year-old 4. Grebeni who resumes for a strong metro yard off a quiet trial run. A drop back in trip and being ridden a little quieter can help 10. Estilete fourth-up; while 9. Resistible has chased home the winner in two provincial runs this prep, and winkers are off again. Include 1. Herb deep into his prep; and at even bigger odds 12. Keikoku third-up with a key jockey change; in wider exotics.

How to play it: Chopin to win
Odds and Evens: Split

A tactical middle distance battle for the maidens, but sticking strong with Tavistock three-year-old 7. The Englishman despite flopping first-up off an eight week break at Newcastle when backed into an odds on favourite. Gets out over a furlong further here, and only needs to reproduce those runs in metro company form early in the year to be the one to beat.

Dangers: Resuming and lightly raced 9. Princess Mary is well placed in a race with less depth over more ground off that 1000m trial win. Keep safe 5. Galactic Legend down in weight fourth-up from a better draw. Gap to the rest.

How to play it: The Englishman to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

The most open race on the program is saved for last. The time is ripe for tough closing provincial mare 10. Prize Draw to strike fifth-up. Has been working home late from the second half of the field all prep against slightly superior rivals, and winkers come off for this.

Dangers: Expecting a bold run up front from hard fit 1. Flower Moon fifth-up with blinkers going on as long as she can get over from the wide barrier. Keep safe progressive city three-year-old 7. Invincible Legend who comes off a dominant provincial maiden win second-up, although the inside ground late in the day here is rarely the place to be. Include honest 2. Ruban Bleu with a 2kg claim; and home track mare 3. Nautical Miss second-up; in exotic bets.

How to play it: Prize Draw to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R6 5. CHOPIN
R7 7. THE ENGLISHMAN

BEST VALUE:
R8 10. PRIZE DRAW

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