Kembla Grange, Kempsey tips, inside mail: Lot to Like about Lees filly

A Kris Lees-trained filly has found the perfect race at Kembla Grange on Thursday to break her maiden, with the added bonus of a 3kg claim from a leading apprentice.

Like Lukey has found the perfect race at Kembla Grange to break his maiden. Picture: Bradley Photos

A Kris Lees-trained filly has found the perfect race at Kembla Grange to break her maiden, with the added bonus of a 3kg claim from a leading apprentice.

Get Mitch Cohen’s best bets and quaddie selections for Kembla and Kempsey on Thursday.

KEMBLA GRANGE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 1 No.6 LIKE LUKEY
Kris Lees-trained galloper that should relish the step up to a mile. She finds the right race to break her maiden.

NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.5 CAPTAIN EAGLE
Looks ready to win on debut after a series of nice trials. Drawn to get every chance with the in-form Kerrin McEvoy aboard.

VALUE BET
Race 2 No.10 ISLAND DEC
Local filly making her debut on home turf. She caught the eye with an excellent trial at the same venue last week.

BEST EXOTIC
Race 1: Trifecta 6 (standout) / 2,8,10

QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 5
Race 6: 3, 4, 5, 7
Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Race 8: 2, 3, 8

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tommy Berry has had a lot of success with Rob and Luke Price over the years and rides a couple of great chances for the stable again.

KEMBLA GRANGE INSIDE MAIL

Race 1: Maiden Plate (1600m)

LIKE LUKEY (6) was scratched from Wednesday’s card for this easier assignment and looks one of the best on the program. She’s a lightly-raced filly by Denman that has finished third at each of her past two starts after getting back in the field. The step up to mile looks ideal as tipping she will be getting over the top of them late. OUR COSMIC BELLE (8) is a hometracker that should be rock-hard fit now. She finished alongside placegetter SHINE LIKE IT DOES (10) over 1300m at this venue last start and expecting both to be among the main challengers again. Throw GOODNIGHT BARLOW (2) in wider exotics.

Bet: Like Lukey to win, trifecta 6 (standout)/2,8,10

Race 2: 2yo Maiden Plate (1000m)

ISLAND DEC (10) is a modest $30,000 purchase from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. The Kermadec filly is ready to make her debut on home turf after she was hard held when second in a recent trial at the same venue. Barrier 13 is the major drawback but happy to take an each way price to find out. VINNIRO (5) makes strong claims as he drops back from Saturday grade on a heavy surface for this. The inside draw and an improved surface should help his cause. SHE CONQUERS (12) and I AM A WINNER (2) deserve consideration off solid trials.

Bet: Island Dec each way.

Race 3: Class 1 (1000m)

BALLET D’ESPRIT (2) is the half-sister to Group 1-winning sprinter Russian Revolution that Michael Freedman has held back for a return to the races. She finds a competitive little race here but is drawn well and has trialled up nicely. A city winner in her debut campaign, she only needs to reproduce that to go close here. TO THE EXTREME (3) also broke her maiden in town in a decent debut prep and also returns from a break here with some decent trials under her belt. It’s hard not to see her fighting out the finish. ZARAGOZA (1) and LADY EXTREME (6) can challenge fresh.

Bet: Ballet D’Esprit to win, boxed trifecta 1,2,3,6.

Race 4: 4yo+ Super Maiden Handicap (1200m)

EUROMASTER (1) has found one better in three of his four starts to date but finds a very winnable maiden here. The Ron Leemon-trained galloper raced three wide last start and was only narrowly beaten in a desperate tight three-way go at Wyong. Second up, he can go one better. CRIMINAL ART (9) is always thereabouts with six placings in 16 starts. Her consistency will see her win a race like this eventually. AQUATICA (7) is having her first start for Kerry Parker and while her trial was only fair, she should be kept safe.

Bet: Euromaster to win.

Race 5: 3yo Maiden Handicap (1200m)

CAPTAIN EAGLE (2) saw his price slashed from $6.50 into $3.50 favouritism in early betting and it’s easy to see why. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding has trialled up really well ahead of his debut where he is drawn perfectly in barrier three. He looks a great chance in a competitive affair. FUGITIVA (5) was scratched from Wednesday’s Canterbury Park card to race at home. She’s finished runner up in three of four starts and looks ready for a great return from a spell. RECRUITER (4) should enough on debut to suggest he’s got the talent to be competitive here.

Bet: Captain Eagle to win.

Race 6: Colts, Horses and Geldings Benchmark 64 (1500m)

AUTUNNO (3) looked to have returned from a break in good order with a strong effort at this venue last time. He was slowly away and got back to last from a wide gate before doing his best work late to finish a length off the winner. A better draw here and step up to 1500m bring him right into this. FIRE TRIBE (4) has been racing only fairly in city class races but will find this easier. His fit now and should have no excuses from a good gate. VOMO ISLAND (5) is yet to deliver on the promise he showed early days but is up to this.

Bet: Autunno to win.

Race 7: Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 (1500m)

FUN SUNDAY (4) will go into her first up assignment having not won for 364 days but can change that here. It will be short of her best but she has performed well fresh before with three placings in five starts. She’s looked great in her trials in the lead up. SPICY HOTPOT (3) was beaten less than a length when third at this track last time and is drawn to run well again. The 60.5kg is against her though. HINCHINJIVE (1) and JUSTELA (2) are racing consistently and can feature in the finish of an even face.

Bet: Fun Sunday to win. Boxed trifecta 1, 2, 3, 4.

Race 8: Benchmark 64 (1300m)

ALL MACHIAVELLIAN (3) is coming off a fast finishing win over this track and trip last start and can repeat the dose here. He goes up 2kg from that performance but has a perfect draw in barrier two and should get a drying surface in his favour. COOL LAD (8) is coming off a luckless run in town when he looked to have plenty to offer. With more luck here from a good draw, he’s one of the chances. WORX (2) only needs to hold his form to finish among the placings again.

Bet: All Machiavellian to win.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

KEMPSEY

BEST BET
Race 2 No. 6 SHE’S GOT TEETH
Leading filly from the all-powerful Kris Lees camp. She’s fit, will handle the conditions and can break the maiden.

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 1 RAHNI FACTOR
Classy mare returning from a long break with the gun Aaron Bullock aboard. Trial indicates she’s ready for a big return.

VALUE BEST
Race 3 No. 2 BOAMBEE BEACH
Ultra-consistent filly that handles all conditions. She’s ready to win again from a good draw.

BEST EXOTIC
All Up – Race 2 No. 6 into Race 7 No. 1

QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Race 6: 3, 6, 7
Race 7: 1, 4,
Race 8: 1, 2, 4, 8

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jon Grisedale has a winning strike rate of close to 18 per cent at Kempsey and has a number of good chances on the program.

Originally published as Kembla Grange, Kempsey tips, inside mail: Lot to Like about Lees filly