From Matthew Smith
Horse: Headwall
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 9, Elite Sand & Soil BM78 Hcp) He looks good, working well, can’t fault him. He’s strengthened up a bit, he just needed a bit of time to grow into himself. We’re going to have a good prep ahead of us I think. He’s probably better suited on tracks with a bit of give in them. Headwall has been fitted with two barrier trials, the latest a solid finishing win at Rosehill with (Blake) Spriggs in the saddle, and the way the race looks to pan out should suit him. He’s going better this time around than last time, if he can get in a good position he will be fighting the finish out. We don’t need to be back too far so long as he’s within striking range. Put him in fourth or fifth and get him hitting the line. I think he’ll go through his grades for sure.
From Robert & Luke Price
Horse: Cuban Royale
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 7, The Gong) It was our career highlight so far with Count De Rupee winning (The Gong) two years back. It was a bit different then, Count De Rupee was favourite and expected to win it. I went into that race extremely confident, but I’m going into this race pretty confident the horse is going to run well with no pressure on him. They were betting 100-1 early days and I’ve had something on him at the 100s. It’s the best 100-1 shot I’ll produce for a while. The Gong has been on his radar from the start of his current preparation, which has included a 2nd to subsequent Epsom Handicap winner Rediener Rediener in the Bill Ritchie Quality. He’s been set for the race all the way through, and we were looking like we were well and truly on track with his 2nd in the Bill Ritchie. Then just circumstances – bad luck, bad barriers, the way tracks have raced – I honestly thought he could win the other day at Hawkesbury (in the Ladies Day Cup) until the rain hit halfway through the day and spoiled his party. I know the horse is going really well and I think he’ll be in the race up to his ears.
From Matthew Dunn
Horse: Tribeca Star
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 2, Highway Hcp) Tribeca Star chases a second TAB Highway and barrier one is no disadvantage. After an impressive Highway win three weeks ago, I elected to fit a one-eyed blinker to prevent the gelding from laying in as he did when making his run at Rosehill. He’s improved again, his work last weekend was amazing and he’s in a good spot. He has a bit more weight than I was hoping for, but he’s a big strong boy and will carry it. I don’t want to change his pattern, he’s a horse best ridden with a sit. I’d love him box seating or two pairs back, he’ll get the advantage of the rail, that will do.
From Michael Freedman
Horse: Communist
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 7, The Gong) Communist didn’t fire in his first three runs this spring, but showed a glimpse of his best with a gallant performance at $201 in the Golden Eagle. He had been a little below standard prior to that run but with the blinkers going on it was by far and away his best run for some time. Under the circumstances where he was posted wide, attacking the leaders at the top of the straight, I thought he did a great job to hang on as long as he did at that level. The barrier draw (gate 5) has given jockey Rachel King the chance to give the four-year-old a more economical run than he’s been used to this time in. Hopefully he can find a nice spot somewhere in the first half dozen with a bit of cover. If he can reproduce a similar type of run to the Golden Eagle, in what looks a reasonably open race, he has the ability to be competitive in a race like that.
Horse: Insurrection
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 8, The Warra) It was a pretty tough run (in the Choisir Stakes), he got posted three deep without cover which made it pretty tough. I thought he stuck on well under the circumstances and he seems to have bounced through it well. Zac Lloyd, who is unbeaten in three rides on Insurrection, is back on board at Kembla. If there’s a couple hell bent on leading he can take a sit behind them. His wide draws have dictated that he’s more or less had to roll across and lead because we haven’t had too many options. I can’t see any reason why won’t be effective. He’s a horse that likes to be on speed somewhere but I don’t think that necessarily means he has to lead. It potentially sets up nicely for him.
From Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Horse: Deficit
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 6, Traffic Logistics BM88 Hcp) He’s being aimed towards the staying race at the Magic Millions. He ran in it last year and should have run 3rd. He is only a little fellow, he always has been, so the key to him is he’s down in the weights. He has come back well, he’s working well and looks good. Jay Ford will partner Deficit.
From Team Snowden
Horse: Touristic
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 1, Canadian Club BM78 Hcp) The gelding will again be giving away weight to his rivals but the step up to a more suitable trip could easily offset that. He’s very genuine and carries weight well. He’s a big strong horse and the step up to 2000m is vital. It was a game effort the other day. I know he has to carry 61kg but if he’s good enough he’ll win.
Horse: Substantial
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 6, Traffic Logistics BM88 Hcp) (Substantial’s) runs have been good, first-up he competed in a race where there were two late scratchings and all the speed came out of it. He went a long way back from a bad draw at Flemington and I thought he ran well. It’s just a matter of him getting the right run on the day.
From John Thompson
Horse: With Your Blessing
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 3, Evergreen Turf Australia BM78 Hcp) With Your Blessing is third-up in the Evergreen Turf Australia Handicap. He was good in his first couple of runs, I think he’s needed them. He should have run 2nd, that’s what disappointed me the other day, he just got tired that last 20m and Nash (Rawiller) ran him down for 2nd. But then it surprised me when he came back in how much he was blowing, I thought he was fitter than what he was. I think the blinkers will help because he’s a bit of a ‘lookie’ sort of horse. I think we’ve got him right this time.
From The Editor
Kembla Grange Race 1 – Lyrical Gangster
Kembla Grange Race 7 – Detonator Jack
