Racing enthusiasts are in for a thrilling day at Kembla Grange with a competitive ten-race program featuring several standout performers worth watching closely. The meeting showcases promising contenders across various grades, with particular attention on Write Your Own, Weeping Woman and Hurstville Zagreb as horses to follow.
Highway Handicap Highlights
The TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap sees Write Your Own emerge as a strong each-way chance for trainer Matt Dale. This consistent performer has demonstrated excellent finishing ability in three previous Highway starts, despite facing challenging wide barriers in his last two appearances.
Drawing a more favourable gate this time around should allow Write Your Own to settle closer to the action, while the month between runs suggests he'll be fresh and ready to perform. Other notable contenders in this race include Big Opinion, who deserves forgiveness for his recent misfortunes, and Hell Of A Fox, who showed tremendous heart at Canberra despite racing wide.
Feature Race Contenders
Weeping Woman faces the challenge of carrying 61kg from an outside barrier in the Carlton Dry F&M Benchmark 78 Handicap, but her dominant first-up victory at Rosehill indicates she's up to the task. Her ability to find the front and break away convincingly last start makes her the one to beat, despite the weight concern.
Spirit Of Wealth, who finished second behind Weeping Woman last time, presents as the logical threat with slightly better weight conditions. The wild card in this race could be Amreekiyah, who returns from a spell after disappointing when favourite in August, though she had genuine excuses that day.
In the PFD Food Services Benchmark 78 Handicap, Hurstville Zagreb gets his chance to redeem himself after being narrowly defeated as favourite at Rosehill two weeks ago. His effort was far from disappointing as he worked hard from an outside gate before being vulnerable late.
With a perfect inside draw this time and potential for some cut in the ground, conditions appear ideal for Hurstville Zagreb to bounce back to winning form. Oceanfront comes into this race seeking four consecutive victories, while Natoya and Bestower both represent solid each-way value.
Other Races to Watch
The meeting's opening race features the reliable mare Callistemon, who resumes on her home track over 1400 metres. Having placed in her first three runs last preparation before winning easily over the mile in June, she appears well positioned to perform fresh.
Race 3 sees the return of Spywire, who looked impressive winning his recent trial and has previously shown strong first-up form. This handy type should benefit from good speed in the race and could feature prominently in the finish.
The Warra presents an intriguing contest with Barber appearing somewhat underestimated following his solid first preparation for his new stable. His excellent first-up performance earlier this year, followed by victory in the Takeover Target at Gosford, suggests he'll run well fresh.
The feature event, The Illawarra Mercury Gong, sees Gringotts return as the overwhelming favourite after winning this race comfortably last year. Since that victory, he's claimed Group 1 success and dominated the Big Dance under 62kg, making him incredibly difficult to oppose despite carrying top weight.
Estadio Mestalla represents the main danger, having shown tremendous form this preparation with victories at 1100m under 63kg fresh before backing up with a strong performance in the Hunter last week.
The final race of the day could see Midnight Dynamite return to winning ways after his dominant front-running performance at Randwick two starts ago. With two weeks between runs and likely to either lead or sit handy, he presents as the horse to beat in the concluding event.
Today's Kembla Grange meeting offers racing fans plenty of excitement with competitive fields throughout the card and several horses showing strong winning chances based on recent form and favourable conditions.
