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By Ray Hickson

There’s an extra 100,000 reasons for connections of Academy to hope talented three-year-old can find his best form at Kembla Grange on Wednesday.

Trainer Mark Newnham concedes the gelding has been chasing fitness in his two runs back but will have no excuses on that score as he eyes the huge bonus money in the Kembla Grange $100,000 BOBS Platinum Handicap (1600m).

It’s the first BOBS Platinum bonus offered in 2020 and Newnham said it was an irresistible target for a horse he’s sure is ready to fire.

“He could've gone to another race but for not as much money so we'll try our hand there,’’ Newnham said.

“He's fit now, he's taken a while to come good in the coat as well. I'm happy with the way he looks now and it's a good race for him.’’

Academy won his first two starts and earned himself a shot at Group 3 company in the Ming Dynasty in August where he struck a heavy track and was beaten six lengths by Quick Thinker.

Wide barriers have hampered Academy in his two runs this summer, the latest a midfield fifth behind Rocha Clock, but Newnham has been satisfied under the circumstances.

“I haven't been disappointed with him he's just needed to be fitter,’’ he said.

Academy runs fifth at Randwick on January 11

“He did a bit much early (second-up) and he got a real shove on the turn and that knocked the wind out of him and he got tired.

“He's had a bit of work and a trial since then so there won't be excuses.’’

Newnham said a much fitter Superbowl Sunday will present at Kembla after he was a beaten favourite first-up at the same track earlier this month.

Superbowl Sunday has the outside gate in the Bull Point At Kingstar Farm Handicap (1300m) but Newnham has added blinkers and he says the four-year-old has the gate speed to offset the barrier.

“I thought he needed the run, he was getting ready here at a period of time we were missing tracks because they were putting the Polytrack in,’’ he said.

“So he was probably a little behind the eight ball first-up but he still ran well and he raced like he needed the blinkers.’’

Earlier in the program, lightly raced three-year-old Somnus steps out to a trip Newnham expects him to relish in the ITC Corporate Members Raceday Plate (2000m) while Tears Are Falling, fitter for a handy fourth behind Tailleur first-up, contests the Holcim Australia Plate (1200m).

Somnus ran fourth over 1600m at Kembla on January 11 and Newnham said there were excuses for the three length defeat and it wouldn’t surprise if he gelding proved hard to beat at a middle distance.

“He went back to the worst part of the track the other day,’’ he said.

“He's looked like he's needed 2000m but he's a slow maturing Savabeel and he'll go to the paddock win, lose or draw. But I don't mind him as a staying horse.’’

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