By Ray Hickson
Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting. Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 1:25PM ROD HARDWICKE HANDICAP (2000 METRES) |
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2. Dance Away is up to a trip now where she should be effective. Nice first-up effort at Newcastle then a bit flat last time when staying at a mile. Extra distance suits now and expecting her to be hard to beat.
Dangers: 1. Overthink comes out of a maiden win at Wyong at his fourth start so still has some upside. Form out of that win has been okay so far, should roll forward to a degree and has tpo be respected. 3. Upscale did little first-up but big improvement when taken to the front and holding on to third over 1600m at Newcastle. Strike rate a worry but most of that form is in NZ. Chance if she can continue to lift. 5. Old Man’s Angel led all the way at Goulburn then dropped 540m and settled back when an even effort at Moruya a couple of weeks ago. Better placed back to this trip and is an each-way chance.
How to play it: Dance Away E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Dance Away runs sixth at Wyong on October 1
Race 2 – 2.05PM TONY MARNEY PLATE (1300 METRES) |
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First starters look to hold the key here and 3. High Supremacy hasn’t been overly tested to the eye in his two trials in the past month or so. Drawn nicely enough and bred to appreciate a bit of a trip so 1300m suits. If there’s support for him he might be the one.
Dangers: 8. Metheglin didn’t show a whole lot in her first couple of trials but asked for a bit more in the latest at Hawkesbury and ran third. Another who should relish some ground and no surprise to see her run a nice race on debut. 9. Super One Susie was a beaten odds-on favourite at Canberra when resuming and looked to have every chance. Will be fitter for that and could be an improver but may need to as well. 10. Xylaroo had a tough run when resuming at Kensington and dropped out to run last though only beaten four lengths. Easiest assignment she’s come across in four starts to date so worth another chance.
How to play it: High Supremacy WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
High Supremacy runs sixth in a trial at Rosehill on September 15
Race 3 – 2:40PM AARON HUKE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) |
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2. Mission Legend was well in the market at his debut and might have just found the 900m a bit sharp at Newcastle but he rallied late to close in for second. Any improvement from that effort will see him very hard to hold out here.
Dangers: 1. Gave Me You made a promising debut here back in June on a heavy track when a big drifter in betting. Easy trial winner last week, drawn well and bears close watching. 5. Empowerment is on debut after a sound trial win at Newcastle where she took over on the turn and held off a late challenger. Not a huge amount of depth outside the top two here so from a soft draw she could show up. 9. Linden was touched out on debut when a drifter in betting then shade disappointing at second start, also at Moruya. In top local stable and while drawn wide she will go forward and no surprise to see some improvement.
How to play it: Mission Legend WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Mission Legend runs second at Newcastle on October 3.
Race 4 – 3:15PM MARK NEWNHAM HANDICAP (1000 METRES) |
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7. Zanzidance showed promise in her first preparation then returned with an all the way win at short odds at Hawkesbury. Small field suits, she should be able to hold the lead from the inside and take some running down.
Dangers: 6. Either Oar was run down over this course first-up then back to 900m managed to hold off Mission Legend to score at Newcastle. That form will be tested in the preceding race. Expect she’ll run well on her home track. 3. Art Cadeau is yet to finish worse than second and was placed in a couple of Highways before a spell. Whether the 1000m is a bit sharp for him is the big question but at the same time it wouldn’t shock to see him go close. 8. Moinda broke through for a maiden in win March and hasn't raced since May. Unlikely to trouble these but small fields can throw up weird results sometimes.
How to play it: Zanzidance WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Zanzidance wins at Hawkesbury on September 24
Race 5 – 3:50PM BILL SORENSEN HANDICAP (1600 METRES) |
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2. Nyami looks to be a nice prospect and he never looked in any doubt when scoring first-up at Wyong as a short priced favourite. Should eat up the extra distance and a big track would seem to suit him. Obviously up in class but has all the upside.
Dangers: 4. Zarzou finally broke through at start nine and he was quite strong late when scoring over 1400m at Canberra. Now he’s shrugged off the maiden tag he could go on with it. 1. Deadly Impact started $2.15 favourite and did very little when he resumed at Kembla a month ago. Freshened up and he was a maiden winner at Rosehill last prep so has some ability. Could easily improve. 3. Tongariro finished close up when resuming then improved a little up to this trip at Newcastle working home well. Should be handy in the run and have his chance.
How to play it: Nyami WIN ($2.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Nyami wins at Wyong on October 1
Race 6 – 4:25PM HAROLD LIGHT HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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2. Speed And Style had some support at Hawkesbury third-up and didn’t run to his best though wasn’t beaten far. Freshened up for this. Previous runs sound and always performs on his home track. Needs a bit of luck to go his way but is a good each-way chance.
Dangers: 4. Miss Twilight is rarely too far away and tried hard when placed at Newcastle last time out to 1300m. Down a notch here and the claim is handy. Expect her to be thereabouts again. 7. Rocquette enjoyed quite a good preparation last time in and resumes with a quiet trial under her belt. Probably at her best around the 1400m to a mile but can put herself into the finish fresh. 3. Turnstyle kicked off her career with a placing and a couple of wins then wasn’t disgraced behind Rubisaki. Failed before a spell and her two trials back have been okay without standing out. Watch betting.
How to play it: Speed And Style E/W ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Speed And Style’s last start at Hawkesbury on September 5
Race 7 – 5:05PM TRACEY BARTLEY HANDICAP (1200 METRES) |
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7. Verbal Assault looks a progressive type and was too strong for two subsequent winners when scoring first-up at Wyong. Goes to 1200m but drawn nicely and based on that first-up win the trip should suit. Has strong claims.
Dangers: 9. Conscript won his first two starts in the country in good style. Even effort first-up at Hawkesbury but looks better suited on this track and has drawn well. Fitter and looks a good chance. 11. Long Weekend fought off all challengers on debut here then led and game in defeat behind a handy one at Wyong. The 1200m might be a test if it’s strongly run but done nothing wrong to date. 12. Skyray is racing very well of late and was closing in nicely when third in the same race at Wyong. Should relish the 1200m if the speed is on and he can’t be left out.
How to play it: Verbal Assault E/W ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Verbal Assault wins at Wyong on September 22
All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kembla Grange meeting