G3 Kembla Grange Classic, $200,000, 1600m
It’s rare that Goulburn gets to host a stakes race, but the big wet on the East Coast has seen this Group 3 race for the 3-year-old fillies transferred from Kembla Grange.
The progressive Chris Waller-trained Roots (Press Statement) heads the pre-race markets, although she is nominated for the G2 Phar Lap S. on Saturday. She has looked very good winning two of her four starts to date, including a victory on debut at this track back in September and will be hard to beat should she line up.
Kerry Parker's filly Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel {NZ}) was very good in the G1 Surround S. last time out, finishing sixth beaten just 2.5l. She is building nicely into her campaign, having placed at her two previous runs and does also boast a win at this track over 1400 metres back in October.
Joseph Pride's Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is one filly who should really appreciate the wet ground, having won impressively at Wyong two starts back and then closed off very nicely to finish second at Newcastle last time out. Her only run over this distance resulted in a win at Newcastle last December.
Summerbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) is the likely leader in the race for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and could prove hard to chase down based off her all-the-way wins on this track two starts back and then at Kembla Grange.
In an open race, chances must also be afforded to Waller's American Pharoah (USA) filly Pretty Amazing, who was a good winner at a Canterbury Friday night meeting last time out, as well as Matthew Smith's Ellenmac (Maurice {Jpn}), who was a winner over this trip at Newcastle last time out, but has to overcome a wide barrier.
