NSW metropolitan racing heads to Kembla Grange on Saturday for the second-edition of The Gong, with a $1 million purse up for grabs.
Sydney's top-line trainers and jockeys will all head south of Sydney in search of some metropolitan winners.
The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit and the track is rated a Good 4.
At this set-up last year, the track favoured on-pace runners. Expect the track curators to make amends this time around and produce an even racing surface.
Kembla Grange Race 4 #7 Destination $2.70
This race is a perfect set-up for Destination to prove his dominance.
Put a line through his Brian Crowley effort last, when he didn’t run the 1200m out and was plagued by a very heavy surface with rain on the day. Despite the challenges he faced that day, he still managed to finish a commendable fourth beaten 4.8 lengths.
We can assess his form two starts back in the Listed Heritage stakes, where he was sensational over 1100m running the fastest last 600m on the entire program (32.87) only to be defeated by 0.3 lengths behind Wild Ruler.
That horse has since gone on to win the Roman Consul and ran second in a Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
He has been freshened up since his last start defeat and comes back to the 1000m (5:2:0:0), where he is so effective.
He is unbeaten at Kembla Grange (2:2:0:0) and gets a dry surface (5:1:2:0), where his peak ratings have come.
From the good gate here, look for him to camp midfield off what looks to be a strong tempo. With clear air on the point of the corner, expect him to prove far too good.
Kembla Grange Race 7 Tip #7 Dawn Passage $4.60
I could not have been more impressed by the improvement Dawn Passage showed between his first-up and second-up runs this prep.
He has been set for The Gong and looks ready to peak on the big day.
His first-up run in the Silver Eagle was solid and then he was sent for a trial before lining up in the Golden Eagle. In that clash, he sat three wide on-speed in the unsuited heavy conditions and still showed an enormous kick in the straight to finish third.
He presents here third-up, with a trial between runs again. Drawn perfectly in barrier one, he will sit in behind the leader which will suit perfectly, especially if there is any hint of an on-pace bias.
Back on top of the ground is ideal, where he boasts an impressive record (8:4-0-1). Tim Clark is aboard and is one of the best front running jockeys in NSW.
It's an outstanding field but he looks the one who will peak at the right time. I'm happy to take the $5 on offer as I expect him to firm come race day.