Following on from The Hunter last weekend, the big prizemoney heads to Kembla Grange this Saturday for the ingaurual running of The Gong.
A capacity field will contest The Gong and it does shape as a very interesting betting race, with a host of winning chances.
We have analysed the entire field and our complete 2019 The Gong tips can be found below.
Mister Sea Wolf
Mister Sea Wolf was able to return to winning form in the Shannon Stakes before he produced a fairly flat performance in the Redzel Stakes. This is a drop in quality and the step-up in trip does suit. The $12 currently available does around the right price.
Star Of The Seas
Star Of The Seas has been racing well without winning during his Spring Racing Carnival campaign. He finished third behind Kolding and Fierce Impact in the Epsom Handicap and the form coming out of that race has been very strong. In saying that, he did produce a slightly flat effort in the Cantala Stakes and he would need to improve on that effort to win. You can’t take on the Chris Waller and Glen Boss combination at the moment and he is in the mix.
Nicoletta
Nicoletta made her Australian racing debut with a credible sixth place finish in the Hot Danish Stakes and she should take good benefit from that performance. The wide barrier draw does make her task tough and she definitely isn’t a proven winner.
El Dorado Dreaming
It has been a long time between wins for El Dorado Dreaming, but she has still opened as favourite in The Gong betting. She found the line nicely in the Hot Danish Stakes and the step-up to 1600 metres will be ideal, but it is tough to have a huge amount of confidence in a mare that has recorded only one race win from her 14 starts. I can’t get her as short as her current quote.
Looks Like Elvis
Looks Like Elvis definitely represents value in The Gong betting. He ran well in races like the Turnbull Stakes earlier this campaign and he finished a close second behind Yulong Prince in the Furphy Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. He will need some luck in running from the wide barrier draw, but he is over the odds at his current quote.
Luvaluva
It has been a while between race wins for Luvaluva, but she does look well-placed in The Gong. She found the line nicely to finish second behind Greyworm in the Filante Handicap at Royal Randwick first-up and she ran the fastest closing sectionals in the race in the Hot Danish Stakes. Barrier six is ideal and she maps to get a lovely run in transit with Tim Clark in the saddle. This does look like her chance to return to winning form.
Military Zone
Military Zone is the value runner in The Gong betting. He showed his quality when he won the Fred Best Classic in Brisbane during the Winter Racing Carnival and his form this Spring has been better than it looked on paper. He had no luck in either the Testa Rossa Stakes or The Silver Eagle before he finished a credible seventh in The Golden Eagle. This is a genuine drop in quality and he does represent value at his current price.
Sir Plush
Sir Plush is on the quick back-up after he finished 11th in The Hunter last weekend. He does seem to be struggling this campaign and he is big odds for a reason.
Noble Boy
Noble Boy has been racing well without winning this campaign. He wasn’t beaten far in either The Kosciusko or the Goulburn Cup before he ran the fastest closing sectionals when he finished third in the Chatham Stakes. He would still need to improve on that performance to win The Gong and I’m not sure that he has the upside to do that.
Goodfella
Goodfella is another horse on the quick back-up from The Hunter. He wasn’t disgraced in that contest, but it is still tough to see him winning this race.
Jonker
Jonker was never able to get into the race in The Hunter following a credible effort in The Golden Eagle. I remain unconvinced that he has the stamina to win over 1600 metres.
Testashadow
Testashadow has been scratched from The Gong and will run at Kembla Grange earlier in the day.
Taikomochi
Taikomochi is well and truly over the odds at his current price of $26. He returned to the races with a close third place finish in the Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury and he should take good improvement from that performance. Winona Costin will be able to take him straight to the front in the early stages of this race and he will give his rivals something to catch.
Articus
Articus ran well earlier in his Spring campaign, highlighted by a second place finish in the Cameron Handicap, but he has gone backwards since. $41 does seem the right price.
Quackerjack
There has been an early move for Quackerjack in The Gong betting. He was able to return to winning form with a tough victory in the Goulburn Cup and he still has a fair amount of upside. The wide barrier draw is something of a concern and Rachel King may be forced to get stuck in a speed battle early. He is right in this race, but he will need some luck in running.
Tamarack
Tamarack returned to a semblance of his best form to finish a close second in the Ladies Day Cup. I’m not sure that he has the same amount of upside as some of the other horses in this field and the wide barrier draw does make this a very tough assignment.
Asterius
Asterius produced a career best performance to win at Rosehill Gardens last start, but this race is a step-up in quality. I would be surprised if he is able to measure up in this quality.
Ranier
Ranier showed plenty of ability as a younger horse, but he hasn’t really been able to go on with the job since. He still requires another scratching to earn a place in The Gong field.
Esteeem Spirit
Esteem Spirit is a last start winner at Kembla Grange, but this is a much tougher race.
All But Gone
All But Gone is the fourth emergency for The Gong and looks unlikely to earn a start.