Kembla Grange best bets, inside mail for Saturday August 31, 2024

A Mitch Beer-trained gelding was an impressive debut winner and can kick-off his second preparation the same way. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Progressive gelding Artful Persuasion can resume with a win at Kembla. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Daily Telegraph and Racenet form analyst Adam Sherry gives his best bets and analyses every race for the Kembla meeting on Saturday.

KEMBLA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.4: Artful Persuasion

Impressive win on debut before jumping to a Midway at Randwick. Ready to first-up after a smart trial win.

It's a smart debut for the @beermitchell trained Artful Persuasion!@AnthonyManton's best of the day does it easily. pic.twitter.com/fVPv3LEeoM

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 19, 2024

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.2: King Of Thunder

The slow tempo didn’t suit him last start but he closed off well. Gets his chance here.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.4: Apollo Mission

Had a good campaign last time in and kicked off this preparation with good win. Loves this track.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 8, 12, 13

Race 6: 1, 4, 8

Race 7: 2, 3, 4

Race 8: 3, 7, 8, 9

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Andrew Adkins can start the day with a winning double.

GRAFTON TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.1: Capzinzi

First start for new stable. Has some handy form including a fourth to Ceolwulf early on. Worked home well for second at Moe two starts back.

KEMBLA INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Pleasure Artist was hampered inside the last 100m and taken wider when a half-length fourth to Retainer on debut over 1200m here on Aug 10. She will take improvement from the run and appreciate the step up to 1400m. Grugnito is a debutant by Grunt from the Ryan/Alexiou yard. Pushed up to sit outside the leader before finishing a close second to First Mission with a gap back to third. Lugarno raced keenly early when resuming with a third at Wyong. Will be better for the run.

Bet: Pleasure Artist to win

RACE 2

King Of Thunder went back to last early but wasn’t suited with the slow tempo when a length-and-a-quarter third to Kenmare Bay here last start. Handy second to Trunk on debut. Spacetime Legend found the 1300m on debut at Hawkesbury too short. Stepped up to 1600m at Newcastle and was doing his best work late when a length-and-a-half third to Brooklyn Dash. He will be better over further but will make his presence felt. Forrest Gump has led and placed both starts. Blinkers go on.

Bet: King Of Thunder to win

RACE 3

Artful Persuasion was impressive leading all-the-way to win by nearly three lengths on debut at the Sapphire Coast in February before stepping straight up to a BM72 Midway at Randwick. Not a lot of luck late at Gosford last start before a spell. Nice trial win at Nowra. Pins And Needles is knocking on the door after three consecutive second placings over this trip. C’Mon Mate raced wide without cover when runner-up to Apollo Mission first-up. Has finished top two in six of his seven runs at the track and distance.

Bet: Artful Persuasion to win

RACE 4

Embassy has only missed a place one when fourth to Straight Charge in the Silver Slipper. Will be improved by his first-up second to Lilac at Wyong. First starter Hammett is by Written Tycoon and a half-brother to Rosehill Guineas winner Lindermann from the family of Assertive Lad. Closed well under a hold in his Rosehill trial behind Amelita. Invade And Conquer has placed seven of 10 including twice here. Gets a nice ruin from the pole.

Bet: Embassy to win

RACE 5

Diddle Dumpling was just behind the placegetters in the Sweet Embrace and Percy Sykes in her first campaign. Kicked off this campaign with a second to Aeliana on the Kensington under 60kg. Will be better for the run, drawn ideally and drops to 55.5kg. Reducio was well backed on debut to start a $2.90 fav when fourth behind Dance To The Boom here on Aug 17. She will be better for the experience. Polymnia has finished runner-up in both recent trial behind Spirit Of Wealth who won impressively at Newcastle on Thursday.

Bet: Diddle Dumpling to win

RACE 6

Komodo Dragon was good the third to Zousain Bolt on debut at Wyong after being briefly held up around the turn. Tracked the leader before proving too good for Tenbury Wells and Forrest Gump over this track and distance on Aug 17. Threatening placed his last two in his first campaign ad kicked off this prep with a close third to Zouripper and Trunk at Canterbury. Nice effort to win at Hawkesbury last start. Canny Queen won narrowly at Wyong on debut before jumping to Saturday grade when fifth to Autumn Glow at Rosehill.

Bet: Komodo Dragon to win

RACE 7

Apollo Mission has been very consistent but has improved since moving to Kembla late last year. Kicked off this campaign with a smart win over 1200m here to take his record to two wins and second from three starts at his home track. Can progress to better races. Jon Bon was an upset winner on debut at Newcastle last year. Raced well last prep before jumping to the Group 2 Alister Clark. Resuming in his right grade off two handy trials. Vomo Island races well here. Just has a wide gate to overcome.

Bet: Apollo Mission each-way

RACE 8

Slick ‘N’ Quick raced greenly when put under pressure on debut when down the track behind Zousain Bolt at Wyong. Still did a bit wrong late second-up at Hawkesbury but proved too good for Elegant Artist. Gets a nice run from the draw and 1600m suits. Whatadilemma resumes from a spell off two closing trials. Won his maiden over this trip at Newcastle and placed at two of his three runs here. Devine Outcast and Noble Tess have claims.

Bet: Slick ‘N’ Quick each-way

Originally published as Kembla Grange best bets, inside mail for Saturday August 31, 2024