The provincial programs continue to take centre stage this weekend, and we’re off to Kembla Grange for The Gong Day!
A cool $1 million goes on the line in The Gong, but there are ten winners to be found in total, and you can find my 2023 The Gong Day Tips below.
Canadian Club BM78 Handicap (2000m) – 12:20pm AEDT
Touristic steps out in the first on The Gong Day in peak order and ready to win.
The Team Snowden-trained galloper has been a model of consistency throughout his last couple of campaigns, and he resumed this time to finish a credible fourth in BM78 company.
Having enjoyed plenty of improvement into a near miss over 1800m at Rosehill last time out, he gets plenty of ticks out to the 2000m this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Touristic
Highway Handicap (1400m) – 12:55pm AEDT
I’m more than happy to stick with Tribeca Star when he goes around in this week’s Highway Handicap.
Tribeca Star simply does not know how to run a bad race, and he has enjoyed good improvement with each of three starts back from a break, culminating in an eye-catching win in a similar race at Rosehill last time out.
He’s in peak order and the 1400m looks ideal at this point of his preparation.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Tribeca Star
Evergreen Turf Australia CG&E BM78 Handicap (1200m) – 1:30pm AEDT
With Your Blessing has placed at each of two appearances back from a break, and he can return to winning form on The Gong Day.
With Your Blessing hit the line to finish within a length of Dashing Legend at Randwick last month, and produced a similar performance for the same result at his latest.
The form around this horse during his last couple of preparations is very good, and he might not be offered a better opportunity to win in Saturday metro company than this.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 With Your Blessing
PFD Food Services F&M BM78 Handicap (1200m) – 2:05pm AEDT
Dollar Magic has been knocking on the door of a race win since resuming and gets a great chance at Kembla Grange this week.
The Shamus Award mare finishing third, beaten nearly four lengths in Class 3 company at her first run back, and has been denied by only one rival at each of her last three starts.
She’s hard fit and up to winning something like this, and I really can’t find any reason why she won’t be in the finish again this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Dollar Magic
Midway Handicap (1400m) – 2:40pm AEDT
Eau De Vie takes winning form into this race and rates as a key winning chance again.
The Team Freedman-trained galloper only just missed in a 1200m F&M race at Gosford last month, and hit the line with intent at her latest.
This is another rise in class, but she’s open to further improvement, and it does also look the next logical step for her to take.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Eau De Vie
Traffic Logistics BM88 Handicap (1600m) – 3:20pm AEDT
Loch Eagle returned to winning form in dominant fashion on Big Dance Day, and I’m happy to stick with him when he steps out on The Gong Day.
Loch Eagle has been a great horse for the Lees yard throughout his career, and went to a new level in autumn this year when an easy winning of the Provincial Championships Wildcard race, before finishing second behind Spangler in the main event.
He simply couldn’t have been more impressive at his latest start, and a repeat would see him extremely difficult to beat again.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Loch Eagle
The Gong (1600m) – 4pm AEDT
This shapes as one of the stronger editions of The Gong since its inception, and I’m siding with the Group 1 performed Osipenko.
Osipenko is yet to strike in four starts back this time, but he has laid a very good account for himself in some strong races, filling the minors behind Mr Brightside in the Makybe Diva Stakes most notably.
He has been freshened since a flat run in the Turnbull Stakes in early October, but this is a substantial drop in class, and the booking of James McDonald adds further confidence.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Osipenko
The Warra (1000m) – 4:40pm AEDT
Probably the strongest edition of The Warra so far, and there are plenty of quality sprinters engaged.
I am going to have a couple of bets in this race, the first of which is Dragonstone.
There is no denying that this horse has always hinted at above-average talent, and he returned some lovely performances during his debut prep for the Joe Pride yard, only just missing in the Missile Stakes most notably.
He has drawn ideally into this field under Timmy Clark, and I think he’ll take beating.
I’m also going to have an each way saver on Cannonball.
Cannonball was unsuccessful in two runs over the UK during our winter, but he returned some very nice performances during the Sydney Autumn Carnival, filling the minors in The Galaxy most notably.
He clearly needed his first run back this time when eighth, beaten three lengths in the Century Stakes at Flemington a fortnight ago, but I’m confident he’ll enjoy big improvement for that hit-out, and getting back to the Sydney way of going. He’s far better than a $21 chance (at publish) in my opinion.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Dragonstone & No. 4 Cannonball E/W
Elite Sand & Soil BM78 Handicap (1000m) – 5:20pm AEDT
Emperor returned a winner in Highway company at Randwick earlier this month, and this looks another lovely race for him.
The I Am Invincible gelding has made just eight appearances at the races so far, but has won on three of those occasions, and filled the minors a further two times.
He’s a winner at this point of his preparation previously and the booking of Nash Rawiller adds further confidence.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Emperor
ABAX Contracting BM78 Handicap (1400m) – 5:55pm AEDT
This isn’t the easiest way to end the day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Danaustar.
Danaustar dusted off the cobwebs with a fair effort on Moe Cup Day in his first run back, before easily winning in BM78 company on Kyneton Cup Day.
Fitter third-up, something like this does look well within his means, and I thought that he looked a bit of value at current odds ($14 at publish).
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Danaustar
