A couple of eye-catching runs at Kembla Grange Racecourse.

Racing Tomorrow!

Mo’s Crown showed plenty of promise earlier this year and trainer Jason Coyle hopes he can take the next step this preparation as his colt begins his spring tilt at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
Coyle will look to get the ball rolling for his son of Uncle Mo when the three-year-old returns in the Lake Illawarra CG&E Maiden Handicap (1000m).
Mo’s Crown went toe-to-toe with talented colt True Detective at his maiden start at Rosehill in February, narrowly going down to Chris Waller’s three-year-old.
He finished midfield in seventh on a heavy (10) track in a Group III Pago Pago Stakes at his next start before Coyle put him away with the spring in mind.
This time in Mo’s Crown will make his return in a competitive Kembla maiden which Coyle hopes can be a stepping-stone to bigger races in the spring.
“He has shown enough to say this could be a nice spring for him,” Coyle said.
“The fact that he has come back in as a colt sort of shows what you are going to do with him.
“You are going to test him at a stakes level and see if he can handle that sort of pressure and see how far he can go, otherwise he would have walked back into the stable the gelding.
“I think he is up to stakes grade but he has to come back in and prove it.”
Coyle scratched Mo’s Crown from a maiden at Canterbury on Wednesday after the colt drew wide in barrier 14.
He has drawn favourably in barrier one at Kembla where is the $1.85 favourite with bookmakers and will be ridden by Kathy O’Hara.
Coyle has given Mo’s Crown a pair of trials heading in, the second of which he won comfortably over 803m at Warwick Farm.
“He finds a nice race down there and I think the form out of the maiden might just hold up, which is always appropriate at this time of year,” Coyle said.
“There is a lot of younger horses coming back into work testing the water so hopefully this can be a nice launching pad for him down at Kembla.”
Coyle confirmed he plans to keep Mo’s Crown over the sprint trips after he comes through Thursday’s 1000m scamper.
“I would say up to 1200m (is his best trip this time) as I don’t think there is any rush to get him up over further,” he said.
Race one at Kembla jumps at 1.10pm. ... See more

RACE DAY WRAP UP

A drought of more than 500 days ended when Virgilio surged back into form with an impressive win at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The Kerry Parker-trained son of Snippetson hadn’t saluted since February 16 last year but was far too good on his home track when claiming the Horsley Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

Apprentice Ceejay Graham had Virgilio in the perfect position to pounce outside the lead and Parker’s gelding took advantage.

Virgilio ($2.90 fav) beat Godolphin’s Segalas ($3.40) by a length with Theresa Bateup’s Golly I’m Lucky ($26) 2-1/4 lengths back in third.

It boosted Virgilio’s record to five wins, nine placings from 40 starts with close to $200,000 in prize money earned.

Fellow Kembla trainers Robert and Luke Price also tasted success when Mick’s New Chick claimed the Lindsey Barnaba Appreciation Class I Handicap (1400m).

Mick’s New Chick staged a two-horse war with Jason Coyle’s Singing River in the straight and was thrown over the line by 3kg claiming apprentice Louise Day.

Kembla Grange jockeys premiership winner Keagan Latham started the new season how he finished the last piloting a double again at the Illawarra Turf Club.

Promising three-year-old Steel Diamond provided Latham with his first in a dominant performance to win the National Jockeys Trust 3yo Maiden Plate (1000m).

Latham had his double when $1.45 favourite Camp Rifle raced away with the Kembla Grange Maiden Plate (1200m).

John Thompson, Mark Newnham, Peter and Paul Snowden as well as Robert and Michael Freedman all also trained winners on the afternoon. ... See more

Racing Tomorrow! Gates open at 11am and the first race is 12.04pm.

The trainer-jockey combo of Gwenda Markwell and Keagan Latham helped both claim premierships last season and they’ll be looking to put it to good effect again at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Markwell and Latham will combine for three rides at the first meeting of the new season as both celebrate their newly acquired premierships.

It was no surprise to see Markwell defend her title as Kembla’s leading trainer after the Group I winning trainer finished the season with 28 winners in 2018-19.

Markwell also won the overall trainers title while her strong relationship with Latham helped him win the Kembla jockeys crown.

On Saturday Latham will ride Philanthropist (race four), Chicansalade (race six) and Chicadilly (race seven) for Markwell.

Latham rates Chicadilly the best of the bunch and mare will contest the Horsley Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

“I really like Chicadilly,” Latham said.

“Although she was a little disappointing last start, she seems to hang a bit and the Wyong has got a long bend. She just hung the whole way out.

“Now she is a back at her home track where she has won two races already I think she will give a good account of herself.”

Chicansalade will be looking to return to form in ‘The Gong’ 23rd November Class Handicap (1400m) after finishing at rear of the field last time out.

Philanthropist gets the chance to breakthrough in the Rose Todner Appreciation Maiden Handicap (1400m).

“Philanthropist can be a bit difficult but I think he does have the ability deep down,” Latham said.

“He gets a bit wound up before races so the main thing is trying to keep him cool calm and collected, I think he can be involved in the finish.”

Latham also has rides for Rick Worthington, John O’Shea and James Cummings.

Latham has only had a handful of rides in the past for Godolphin and partners a pair of promising gallopers in Amitto and Camp Rifle.

Amitto is first-up in the Dapto Maiden Plate (1200m) and Camp Rifle makes his debut in the Kembla Grange Maiden Plate (1200m).

“I’ve only had about six of seven rides for them and they have only recently started showing me support which is a huge plus,” Latham said.

“They are a massive part of racing here in Australia and when you ride for big stables like that other trainers want to start using you as well because if you’re good enough for them, you’re good enough for others.” ... See more