Kembla Grange tips: It’s time to Go For Gold
Trainer Mark Newnham is optimistic Shadow Hero can protect his unbeaten second-up record against a crack field in the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Newnham’s confidence soared after Shadow Hero produced a rousing gallop at Warwick Farm trackwork on Monday morning.
Shadow Hero, ridden by Josh Parr, worked from the 1200m mark on the course proper and was clocked to run a tick over one minute and 18 seconds for the trip, including a final 400m of 22.8sec.
“It was a really solid piece of work. He’s pulled up well and is ready to go for the Guineas,’’ Newnham said.
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Shadow Hero is coming off a solid first-up fifth in the Hobartville Stakes and Newnham believes his gelding is going to appreciate the Randwick 1600m course against the likes of Super Seth, Castelvecchio, Brandenburg, Warning and Microphone.
Shadow Hero wins the Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick.Source:Getty Images
“His two second-up runs have gone very well,’’ Newnham said. “He won a stakes race at his second start at Doomben and then in the spring he won the Gloaming Stakes.
“He is going well enough to be a winning chance on Saturday.’’
Newnham, who has entered Quintessa and Soul Purpose to clash in the Fillies and Mares Maiden (1400m) at Kembla Grange on Tuesday, also reported that Doncaster Mile hopeful Quackerjack had pulled up well after his determined win in the Liverpool City Cup at Randwick last Saturday.
“Quackerjack has pulled up great. He is so tough, racing doesn’t bother him,’’ Newnham said.
“He’s a ripper because you can just rely on him every start to give his best and he has this amazing will to win.
“The plan is to go to the Ajax Stakes next and then three weeks into the Doncaster.’’
At the Kembla meeting, Newnham has indicated he is likely to avoid a clash of his stablemates in the opener, confirming Quintessa as a definite starter.
“Quintessa will run but I’m probably going to keep Soul Purpose for another day,’’ he said.
Newnham has a healthy regard for Quintessa’s emerging potential, rating her a filly of considerable staying potential.
Trainer Mark Newnham was pleased with the work of Shadow Hero.Source:Getty Images
He has her nominated for the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks during The Championships next month.
Quintessa, who like the unraced Soul Purpose is a daughter of Coolmore Stud’s outstanding young sire Pierro, has had four starts, recording minor placings at Canterbury and Warwick last spring.
She is resuming on Tuesday after two barrier trials, including her win over Carif in a Randwick 1200m heat two weeks ago.
“Quintessa’s last trial was really good,’’ Newnham said.
“She is coming up well this preparation and she should go very close to winning this race.
“I feel she is a promising staying filly and I’d like to get a win on the board and then aim a bit higher.’’
TAB Fixed Odds price assessors are taking no risks with Quintessa, opening her at $1.25 favourite to secure her maiden win.
Quintessa, Newnham’s only starter at the Kembla meeting, is the shortest favourite on the seven-race program, where trainers James Cummings and Les Bridge have strong chances.
Cummings will saddle up favourites Amitto ($3, race 2), Jetski ($3.10, race 4) and Smitten ($2.90, race 6), while Bridge has All Time Legend ($2.50, race 3) and Go For Gold ($1.85, race 5).
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BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: KEMBLA GRANGE
BEST BET: ALL TIME LEGEND (Race 3, No. 2)
Was fractious in the gates when solid in the market on debut at Warwick Farm crossing the line with only one behind. Since trialled and was most impressive.
NEXT BEST: GO FOR GOLD (Race 5, No. 2)
Likewise trained by Les Bridge, this gelding has shown enormous potential at the trials but has been costly to follow in his two starts. That said, he is a talent.
VALUE BET: I AM MAGNIFICENT (Race 6, No. 11)
Glen Boss and Gwenda Markwell combine here with a horse that has been hitting the line with purpose of late over these short courses and who races at home on Tuesday.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW: GLEN BOSS
Has five rides all of them for the designated ‘Queen of Kembla’, Gwenda Markwell.
BEST EXOTIC: QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 2, 3, 8. Race 5: 2. Race 6: 3, 11. Race 7: 2, 4, 7, 9.
BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: GRAFTON
BEST BET: PAT’S NIPPER (Race 6, No. 6)
Highway winner who also claims a victory over Burning Crown. The Cody Morgan trained gelding was the one finishing best behind the handy Charlotte’s Heart second-up.
NEXT BEST: ZELLYAMY (Race 5, No. 10)
Well bred mare who won on debut in October — spelled, then caught the eye with her closing third at Grafton. Can go through her grades quickly.
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INSIDE MAIL WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: KEMBLA GRANGE
RACE 1
Quintessa will rightfully be the shortest priced favourite of the day. She wears the colours of her sire Pierro and has placed twice in her four city runs, she was 0.8-lengths second to Cock Match one day at Warwick Farm. Trialled twice and won thelast win beating Carif Impossible to go past really. Girl You Want is trained by Gwenda Markwell who won a Tibbie Plate with her dam Miss Pageantry. Form is not nearly as bad as it reads. Show Tickets has pace and should be prominent for a fair way.
BET: QUINTESSA WIN
RACE 2
Icebath was beaten 3-lengths by Kiamichi in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace and 4-lengths off Anaheed in the Pierro before that. Fast forward to more recent times and it was no surprise then that the Brad Widdup trained filly was too good for her rivalsin a Beaumont maiden. Can keep progressing. That said, Godolphin filly Amitto is an obstacle. The daughter of Lonhro and Group 1 winner Anamato won here first-up before a 0.5-lengths second to the handy Cafe Royal. First Crown seemed to have every chance last start but is consistent.
BET: ICEBATH WIN, EXACTA 4 TO BEAT 2
RACE 3
All Time Legend was $4.20 into $4 when he made his debut at Warwick Farm on January 27. He only beat one horse home that day, the only real excuses if any where that he was fractious in the barriers and that it was his first start. Went back to the trials and was very impressive. Avouch is much better than his record would suggest even at this early stage. He can step up and show his worth in this grade. Micks ‘N’ Nicks will be getting the line and ran an eye catcher on debut over this trip. No knock at all on Well Known.
BET: ALL TIME LEGEND WIN, EXACTA 2 TO BEAT 5, BOX TRIFECTA 2,4,5,6
RACE 4
Jetski is half brother to Stradbroke winner Everest placegetter Trekking. The son of Lonhro counts Kembla as one of the two venues where he has saluted, he was mighty impressive that day running them down from worse than midfield. Jetski is unplaced in
both ‘fresh’ runs but his trials but this is a nice race for him. Bullet Fly likewise is first-up in 2020 and has the ultimate gear change in that he’s now a gelding. Lot to like about his trial win at Randwick. Fantini is an underrated horse with talent but facing his stiffest test to date.
BET: JETSKI WIN, QUINELLA 1,2
RACE 5
Go For Gold trials like a city horse but has so far been able to reproduce on it on race-day beaten twice, one of them at $1.55. That said, he spelled after each of those runs so we have to be a bit forgiving. Trialled well (again) before Tuesday’s return. Have to be with him again. Gwenda Markwell will have a big say in whether Go For Gold gets rolled again; the Derby-winning trainer can win with any of her crew; Readathon and Pioneer the most likely.
BET: GO FOR GOLD WIN
RACE 6
Gwenda Markwell combines with Glen Boss here with the sparingly-raced 7yo I Am Magnificent who has raced ‘just’ 20 times for three wins, three seconds a fourth. A member of I Am Invincible’s first crop, this gelding has been getting back and hitting the line hard at his last couple and have the advantage of racing at home on Tuesday. Art Of Excellence has raced at Kembla sixtimes for three placings. He was somewhat the eye catcher in his Kensington race last month. Bare Naked Lady has a compelling first-up record. Smitten is a market watch.
BET: I AM MAGNIFICENT WIN, QUINELLA 3,11, EXACTA 11 TO BEAT 3
RACE 7
Stick ‘Em up could very well show up in the ATC Oaks or perhaps even the Queensland or South Australian classics. The John Sargent trained daughter of Dundeel won a Bm60 at Canberra then 13 days later beat half the field home in the VRC oaks. Tonnes of merit in her first-up run at the Beaumont over 1350m. Garros is the value in the race. The Sapphire Coast housed gelding was beaten 6.4-lengths by Julian Rock in the SERA Qualifier. Last start winner Doctor Manhattan is ideally placed here at the mile (again) and on the big track.
BET: STICK ‘EM UP WIN, GARROS PLACE
Racing Review with Ray Thomas – March 2
Ray Thomas highlights the best from the weekend’s racing at Royal Randwick and Flemington.
Originally published asKembla Grange tips: It’s time to Go For Gold
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