Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kembla

A drop in grade back to the provincials can see the Michael Freedman-trained Just Gisella bounce back to the winners’ circle. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Just Gisella can bounce back from her last start defeat when she heads to Kembla on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Kembla.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

KEMBLA

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 4: Reigning King

The half-brother to She Will Reign made ground on debut at Ballarat. Now with Nathan Doyle and has won his two recent trials with something in hand.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 11: Hasty Honey

Turned in a nice effort on debit when fifth in the listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. Drops back to a maiden after an unplaced run in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 8: Just Gisella

Resumed with a handy maiden win at Hawkesbury before stepping up to city grade when last at Warwick Farm. Back to a Class 1 here and can atone.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 11

Race 5: 1, 4, 6

Race 6: 4, 7, 14

Race 7: 1, 3, 8

Kerrin McEvoy looks set for a big day at Kembla on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Kerrin McEvoy heads to Kembla with a strong book of rides including Frilled in the opening event.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR KEMBLA

RACE 1

Frilled has yet to taste defeat in either a race or a barrier trial and she can maintain her perfect record when she resumes here. She was dynamic winning by over three lengths from Terra Mater on debut at Nowra in April and followed with a two length win over Scorch at Kembla in May. Crushed her rivals by nearly six lengths at Randwick on Aug 15. Another Cognac was just over two lengths off Dashing Legend in the Listed Fireball at Randwick to end his last campaign after two narrow placings at the same track. Bulls Blood has returned to trainer Greg Hickman after two country wins in good fashion over this trip. Gilmore was third to Filled last start before a spell.

Bet: Frilled to win

RACE 2

Reigning King is a half-brother to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign who is having his first start for new trainer Nathan Doyle. Raced back and wide from the outside gate when a three length sixth at Ballarat on debut back in March. Led all-the-way to win his two recent barrier trials. Lady Ishikawa missed the kick And was tailed off before finishing third in her first trial at Muswellbrook in August. Sat third and come over the top to win her Beaumont heat on Sept 4. Drawn the inside and expect her to figure prominently. Twentyeightdragons placed in two of his three runs back from a long spell last campiagn. Keep safe. Jinsoku has trialled well ahead of his debut here. Led and beaten a half neck by Sovereign Fund at Hawkesbury on Aug 21 before leading all-the-way at Kembla on Sept 6.

Bet: Reigning King to win

RACE 3

Riff Rocket, a relation to smart sprinter Rain Affair, came with a strong run down the outside to score a debut win over Mojave Desert in a 2YO Maiden at Geelong in late April before stepping up to a 2YO Open at Flemington three weeks later when seventh to Le Zebra. Not pressured in his two recent trials but has been strong through the line. Fiddlers Green made ground nearer the rails when a two length fourth to August Bloom on debut at Hawkesbury. Settled closer and raced away for a good win second-up at the same track. A leading contender again. Snowman was good winning from Fortress Australia here two starts back before a length third to the promising Agita here on Aug 26.

Bet: Riff Rocket to win

Jean Van Overmeire will partner Hasty Honey at Kembla. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

There was plenty of merit in run on Hasty Honey when closing late for a length and a quarter fifth behind Hip Hip Hurrah in the listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone back in May. Settled 10 lengths off the leaders before finishing a five length 10th behind Tom Kitten in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes when resuming on Aug 26. Will appreciate dropping down to maiden grade and can record her first win. Jean Van Overmeire rode her at Scone and reunites with her. Koning came from just worse than midfield and stretched out strongly late when a head second to Steel Blaze on debut here on Aug 26. Will be prominent again. Mickey’s Medal has been good in finishing third in both runs over 1200m and looks like he will handle stepping up to 1500m.

Bet: Hasty Honey to win

RACE 5

Showsumgrit was held up for a run rounding the bend before being checked and losing momentum when fourth to Oakfield Redgum at Wyong last time. She scored a handy win when resuming at Newcastle before that. Drawn the pole and should get an ideal run. Local mare Zarni won impressively here over 1400m three runs back before going up in grade and weight when placed at her next two starts. Picko Rocks kicked off his campaign with back-to-back wins here at Kembla including his Class 1 over this trip from Diabelli. Was crowded at the start when sixth to Agita last time out. Vancouver Khan will be fitter for his first-up run at Newcastle behind Pushy. Tongue Tie goes on for the first time and from barrier 1, can run a cheeky race at big odds.

Bet: Showsumgrit each-way

RACE 6

Struff resumed from a spell with a handy third behind Just Gisella over 1100m at Hawkesbury then went to Nowra where she bumped into Gimcrack Stakes runner-up Perfect Proposal in a maiden when she finished a length and a half second. Drawn well and can break through for her first win. Simplicity drifted back from a wide gate to settle second last before coming wide in the straight and running on well for fourth behind Write This Way when resuming over 1200m here on Aug 26. Will appreciate the extra distance. General Sensei worked to the line nicely when a close second to Oscar Charlie in his Rosehill trial on Aug 22. Expect a forward showing. Furious ran on well to finish a neck second behind Surf On Turf on debut at Newcastle neck in April. Wide draw is the query.

Bet: Struff to win

RACE 7

Just Gisella showed enough early on to make her debut in the Gimcrack Stakes last year where she finished eighth to Platinum Jubilee. She resumed to win her maiden by a length from Alvina’s Luck and Struff at Hawkesbury before heading to Warwick Farm when last of seven to Fightertown in and Bm64. Drops back to a Class 1 here. Sunzou has led and been run down late to finish a close third in his last two starts at Hawkesbury and Kembla. Egyptian Tycoon hasn’t been far away in both runs back from a spell and has claims. Waikato Flyer resumes off one trial. Drawn well and won’t be far away.

Bet: Just Gisella each-way

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kembla