Surf Dancer and Riodini look set to dominate $1m feature from the front

Tulloch Lodge is well known for the front-running style of many of their horses and that tactic will make Surf Dancer and Riodini tough to catch in The Gong.

Surf Dancer will race on speed and looks great value in The Gong. Picture: Getty Images)

Surf Dancer and Riodini, the Tulloch Lodge stablemates, are set to control the race tempo and will be hard to run down in the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained duo look the only likely leaders unless Oscar Zulu and Love Tap are ridden with intent early form their wide barriers. Either way, Surf Dancer and Riodini will be on speed making their own luck.

TAB Fixed Odds betting has Riodini pressing for favouritism at $7.50 with Surf Dancer at $21 but Bott is adamant there is nothing between the stablemates.

“I find it hard to split them, they are nice styles of horses and they are both in good form,” Bott said.

Riodini has been specifically set for The Gong third-up and is pushing for favouritism. Picture: Getty Images

Surf Dancer goes to The Gong off a competitive fourth in the Big Dance so he does seem at generous odds.

“He was excellent in the Big Dance,” Bott said. “It ended up a high-pressure race and he stuck on well considering. He will be suited by the mile, he should be improved out of that run and this looks a nice race for him.”

Bott said Riodini has been set for The Gong and goes to Kembla Grange third-up after unplaced runs in the Sydney Stakes and Nature Strip Stakes.

“For Riodini, this is one of the races we have had targeted for him this campaign,” Bott said.

“He has had two nice runs over shorter trips and stepping up to the mile is what he has been looking for.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Kembla Grange for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1000m: 6,5,7,2

1200m: 2,1,3,8

1400m: 1,4,7,2

1600m: 3,5,6,7

2000m: 2,1,5,4

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Tap N Run $10-$6.50-$6, Lady Kah $7-$4.40

Race 2: Danish Prince $6.50-$7-$6 after bets of $300 e/w at $7/$2.50, $2,000 at $2.70 place, Prince Aurelius $12-$10

Race 3: Smirk $12-$7-$7.50, Colour Sergeant $9-$7 after a $1,000 wager at $7, Naval Seal $6.50-$6 with a $400 bet at $6.50

Race 4: Quick Tempo $14-$6.50 with bets of $220/$200 e/w at $15/$4.40, $200/$500 e/w at $10/$3.30, Way To The Stars $5.50-$3.90-$4-$4.20 after bets of $450 at $5.50, $1,000 at $4.40, $500 at $4.20, $500 at $4, $500 at $3.90

Race 5: Vianello $5.50-$4.60 including a $445 wager at $5.50

Race 6: Able Willie $4.60-$4

Race 7: Malkovich $4.20-$3.90-$4 with a bet of $500 at $3.90, Bruckner $10-$7.50 including a bet of $500 at $10, Athelric $19-$10-$7 after bets of $300/$500 e/w at $12/$3.70, $450 at $7.50, Dragonstone $6-$5 with bets of $1,000 at $6, $2,000 at $5.50

Race 8: Promise Of Success $16-$13 after bets of $400/$100 e/w at $16/$5, $500 at $15, $200 e/w at $15/$4.80, Hope In Your Heart $10-$7-$7.50 with bets of $300/$900 e/w at $7.50/$2.70, Brutality $8-$8.50-$8-$7 with bets of $300 e/w at $8.50/$3, $500 at $7.50, Riodini $12-$9.50-$8.50 after bets of $200/$500 e/w at $11/$3.60, $500 at $10, $1,000 at $3.60 place

Race 9: Steely $7-$7.50-$6.50 with bets of $350 at $7.50, $400 at $7, Nugget $4.40-$3.40-$2.80 after bets of $1,000 at $4.40, $500 at $3.50, $2,000 at $3.40, $1,500 at $3.30, $1,200

at $3.30, $911 at $3.30, $750 at $3.30, $950 at $3.10, $500 at $2.90 multiple times,

Honeycreeper $9-$7.50-$8

Race 10: Cavalier Charles $13-$9, Tamlerane $8-$7

Nugget (right) has been well supported in race 9 at Kembla. Picture: Getty Images

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 2,7,10,12

Race 4: 6,9,14

Race 5: 1,9,11,14

Race 6: 6,12,14

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,2,10,15

Race 8: 3,8,12,14

Race 9: 2,4,7

Race 10: 2,3,5,7

PRICE CHECK

Nugget (race 9) has been heavily backed all week. He has firmed from $4.40 into $2.80 since the final field and barrier draw was declared after a series of big bets including $1,000 at $4.40, $500 at $3.50, $2,000 at $3.40, $1,500 at $3.30, $1,200 at $3.30, $950 at $3.10 and $500 at $2.90 multiple times.

TRIAL POINTERS

Pretty Wild (race 5) is an exceptionally well-bred mare. The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old is a daughter of the master’s own crack colt, Brazen Beau, and her grandam is a sister to the champion racehorse and sire, Fastnet Rock. As for Pretty Wild herself, the Samantha Armytage part-owned galloper, she was near enough to faultless at her first campaign winning on either side of her narrow second at Randwick. Given she has won on debut, it is clear that Pretty Wild comes to hand quickly and she certainly looked up to the mark required to win on Saturday when a solid and unhurried fourth in a Kensington trial.

Able Willie (race 6) is another well-bred four-year-old from the Waller yard ready to enter the winner’s stall at Kembla on The Gong day. This son of Written Tycoon’s form is notable for its depth. That is to say, Able Willie has finished behind Mazu twice, Overpass and Sky Command among others all in the space of six starts; one of which he won together with three placings. Able Willie has a great fresh record; his only win so far coming first-up or in this case on debut. Able Willie surely impressed avid trial watchers when runner-up in his 850m heat on the Kensington track on November 8.

Pretty Wild is proven fresh and has trialled nicely ahead of her return to racing at Kembla on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

SECTIONAL STARS

Lady Kah (race 1) created an enormous impression at Goulburn on debut when she came from last and down the outside to swamp her rivals in the straight to win by the best part of two lengths. Incredibly, the daughter of Duporth skipped two grades when she next appeared in a Class 3, again at home, and had the talent and temerity to repeat the dose, winning in remarkably similar barnstorming fashion. The Emma and Lucy Longmire trained daughter of Duporth has to take another step up in Saturday’s Highway but is at this point, she is untapped and loaded with promise.

Jest A Jedi (race 3) had no luck first-up at Rosehill when kept safe in the betting. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding was about to hit top gear only to be stopped in his tracks. No such issues for the South Australian-bred gelding at his next start there a week later where he was taken to the middle of the track and roared home, just missing out on running down the winner - Pale King. Perfectly catered for on Saturday with the step up to 2000m. Drawn wide but looks to get the tempo to suit his pattern.

BEST BET

Vianello (race 5) shaped promisingly first-up when she closed fast to just miss behind Way To The Stars over 1000m at Warwick Farm. The Godolphin mare will be improved by the run, will appreciate going out to 1200m and she has drawn ideally in gate three. With Zac Lloyd’s 3kg claim she gets in very well at the weights with 54.5kg. She ticks a lot of boxes for this race and is ready to win.

VALUE BET

Burning Crown (race 4) went to the line basically untouched when fifth behind Key Largo over 1000m at Randwick on Cup Day. This followed a game effort when second to Kallos at Warwick Farm. He’s racing in good touch and gets a favourable draw. With even luck in running, he can run a big race and is over the odds at $23.

THE JUDGMENT

KEMBLA GRANGE

R7: The Warra (1000m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “It will be interesting to see the track pattern by this stage of the day. If they can make up ground, there is value everywhere, and I think A Very Fine Red can give trainer Mark Newnham a big provincial double. This mare has always had her fair share of talent, and she’ll be strong at the finish. Malkovich is quick, he will lead and try and get his opposition out of their comfort zone. At good odds I can see the likes of Key Largo and Kallos running into the money somewhere.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I really like Athelric here in a race where he is likely to find the right spot from a great draw. Has an imposing 1000m record with three wins and a second from six starts with his latest placing to Eduardo in the Concorde first up. Look for improvement from Juan Diva back onto firm going.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Malkovich has drawn beautifully in barrier 3 and Josh Parr can take him straight to the front where he will prove very hard to run down. Drops 2kg on his last start second where he employed similar tactics and he should take improvement from that effort. Athelric has been very well backed after opening at $14.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Punters took the overs on Athelric after we went $19 on Wednesday. He’s single figures now and will get the benefit of 3kg claimer, Zac Lloyd. Hard to beat.”

Verdict: Athelric

Athelric will prove hard to beat in The Warra at Kembla. Picture: Grant Guy

R8: The Gong (1600m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “Rustic Steel was terrific in the Big Dance and I’m thinking he can knock off another feature race here. He’s drawn to get the perfect run in the race, and if he’s in the same frame of mind as last start, he’ll be hard to hold out. Old Flame is having a great preparation, he’ll be able to stay out of trouble from the wide draw and make his run at the right time. Local mare Hope In Your Heart ran out of her skin in the Golden Eagle, a repeat has her right in the mix. Riodini is very fit now and is probably the horse to run down.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “An open race here and I can’t see why Purple Sector won’t run a good race returning after four off and a barrier trial. Has form around Old Flame meeting it 5.5kg better for a narrow defeat first up and then chased home Top Ranked. Both those runs on Soft tracks, which aren’t his forte and his last Good track run was back in January this year when placed in the Listed Carrington Stakes.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Old Flame will need a little bit of luck after drawing barrier 19 but he is in outstanding form this spring. His last start victory in the Group 2 Linlithgow was excellent and a repeat of that will see him go very close here. Will have to settle further back than usual but will be running on hard late.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Open affair but Brutality holds the majority of the early investment. I love the Golden Eagle form so off that basis, Hope In Your Heart, which came from the rear that day, has to be a big threat here.”

Verdict: Old Flame

R9: Benchmark Hcp (1600m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I’m liking the form around Steely. He’ll settle midfield with cover, and I can see an in-form Tyler Schiller bringing him with a well-timed run over the top. He also has a liking for Kembla having won there on three occasions already. There are plenty of dangers including Bullfinch who should get a beautiful run in the race and he’s ready to peak third up. Nugget is the clear favourite, his Aussie debut was very good, and this race looks perfect. Solar Apex was much better last start and may have found form.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Steely won this race last year and carries the same weight. More importantly he was ridden positive in that race and I would love to see him ridden the same way here. Ran down Zoushack in that race and meets him 5kg better. Run down late in the Little Dance spotting winner 6kg and Solar Apex 5kg (meets it 2.5kg better). Right in this as is Solar Apex.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “There has been a very good go for the Maher and Eustace trained Nugget who opened at $4.20 earlier in the week. He ran well on his Australian debut and the money suggests we should expect further improvement. I also expect Bullfinch to improve third up on a good track and will keep him safe at double figure odds.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “One of the best moves all week has been for Nugget which has nearly halved its opening quote. Has a good second-up record and handles all conditions. Yes!”

Verdict: Nugget

Originally published as Surf Dancer and Riodini look set to dominate $1m feature from the front