From Kerry Parker
Horse: Don Luigi
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 1, Canadian Club BM72 Hcp) At his first start the jock lost his irons. Second start he got a bit lost and pulled up a bit sore but his last two starts have been good. This is a throw at the stumps and he is going to the paddock after but he was only going to have one more run here next Saturday in a normal $30,000 Class 1. He can go around here with 50kg. He’s a little bit untapped, I thought his last start was terrific. He was wide and had a torrid run but was still there trying to win the race 100m out.
Horse: Virgilio
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 5, ABAX Contracting CG&E BM78 Hcp) Virgilio has only missed a place once in 12 starts on his home track and was beaten narrowly over 1200m on November 3. You’ve got Saturday races on your home track I’ve got to make the most of it. Now he’s drawn a barrier (2) he will put himself in the race, run his normal tough race and it comes down to class.
Horse: Think It Over
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 7, The Gong) He’s always been nice and competitive and I’ve kept this race in mind this preparation. He was never really comfortable (Rosehill Gold Cup on a very Heavy track) and Nash looked after him pretty well, it wasn’t like he had a gutbuster, and he had five days in the paddock straight after. He needed a barrier (gate 3) so that was lovely to see. If he can get that nice little soft run and get a bit of clear air in the straight then it is up to him. On his home track we are hoping we can find that extra length or so. You’d want a good even tempo and we’d be looking to slot in behind the pace. He’ll probably be over the odds but when you dive into his mile form the horses that have beaten him over the mile wouldn’t get into this field. But I think he is going terrific and he will get his chance.
From John Sargent
Horse: Brandenburg
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 7, The Gong) The four-year-old will appreciate returning to a firmer surface following his midfield effort behind Collette on a heavy-rated track in the Golden Eagle three weeks ago. It was too wet for him in the Golden Eagle but still a good run considering he was never on the track. He’s well in at the weights and he’ll go into the race in tip-top order. He had a good hitout on the (Randwick) Polytrack (Tuesday) and he finished off really strongly. Regan Bayliss, who partnered Brandenburg in the Golden Eagle, will again ride the entire on Saturday.
From John Thompson
Horse: Dunbrody Power
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 6, Traffic Logistics F&M BM78 Hcp) It wouldn’t be a shock if Dunbrody Power chalked up successive wins for the first time in her career in the Traffic Logistics Handicap (1200m). She does seem to be going a bit better this time in. She is handling things a lot better after having a decent prep last time in. But she’s a backmarker. They need things to go their way and more often than not they don’t. When they do she can really rattle off some sectionals.
Horse: Purple Sector
Message: (Saturday, Kembla Grange Race 7, The Gong) I’m firmly of the belief when you geld a horse they are better the second preparation after being gelded. They’ve had the time to adjust and become more genuine. He has already shown that so if he can improve off the back of this prep we’ll really be cooking with gas. The latest win looked pretty ugly with the horse seemingly not comfortable at all but the fact he was still good enough to win says plenty about his fortitude these days. Rachel King has the ride on Purple Sector and she made a special trip to Randwick on Tuesday morning to work the horse and get re-acquainted. He worked very well on Tuesday, it looks like it is going to be a dry week so it’s exciting.
From The Editor
Kembla Grange Race 5 – Pandemic
Kembla Grange Race 6 – Macroucra
Kembla Grange Race 7 – Rock
