The feature race at Kembla Grange this Saturday is The Gong (1600m), where Gringotts is a hot favourite to defend his crown from last year.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 The Gong.
2025 The Gong Runner Preview:
1.Gringotts: Gringotts won this race last year and is on track to repeat the dose. Big win in The Big Dance given he was asked to carry 62kg but he made a mess of them and was dominant on the line. Class runner of the field and class will carry him a long way.
2.Duke De Sessa: Caulfield Cup winner from last year who is having a light Autumn and I don’t think he’s here to play this prep. More of a tick over prep.
3.Estadio Mestalla: Estadio Mestalla is on the seven day back up after racing in The Hunter last Saturday where he was a real eye catcher against the pattern, working home with real purpose from out wide behind stablemate Coal Crusher. Hard fit, 1600m, can settle closer…very dangerous.
4.New Endeavour: Did more than enough first up on Oaks Day at Flemington behind Apulia. He maps to stalk the speed, be strong late…must include in exotics.
5.Victoria Road: He looks cast. Plain return, plain trial since…struggling.
6.Waterford: Up in trip suits from the 1300m of the Russell Balding…but the draw makes things very tricky. Had he drawn an inside gate, he’d be a knockout hope. But I think he’ll struggle.
7.Territory Express: Better effort in the Ladies Day Cup but he’s drawn the car park here. Pass.
8.Loch Eagle: Loch Eagle is a class runner and could threaten at odds. He resumed in The Big Dance Wild Card where he got too far back and was never really a factor behind the in form Vivy Air. Tick over trial was very good and his best is good enough to measure up.
9.Steparty: SCR
10.Detonator Jack: Given an all time ride on Oaks Day at Flemington and just missed. He’s back on track but he strikes a very hot race. Wider exotics at best.
11.Port Lockroy: This time last year, he was winning the Railway. Fast forward 12 months, he’s going to struggle to beat the ambulance.
12.Sandpaper: Seemingly had every chance in the Ladies Day Cup and this looks too hard.
13.Tavi Time: Didn’t have the best of luck in the Big Dance. Drawn wide so will get clear but how much start will he concede in a race where on speed will be the place to be.
14.Amor Victorious: Amor Victorious is the one I want to back each way here. I thought he did a very credible job in the Russell Balding after doing work out wide, being first up. He was entitled to drop away but he kept finding and grinding in a good effort. That form is A1 for this and loved the way he went in a trial last week. I say he’s ready to rock and roll in this.
15.Democracy Manifest: Not for me.
16.Palmetto: Racing well but he’s not a miler.
17.Regal Azmon (First Emergency): Regal Azmon was an eye catcher behind Apulia on Oaks Day. He got back to near last in the run and made up decent headway late without threatening when fifth. If he can get a more positive ride, I think he’s quite dangerous at odds.
18.Ducasse (Second Emergency): Far from disgraced in the Five Diamonds but is finding it very hard to win.
19.Shadizi (Third Emergency): Nice horse but needs more time.
20.Touristic (Fourth Emergency): Unlikely to get a run, but keep an eye on this horse. I think he’s flying.
2025 The Gong $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win/$80 Place Amor Victorious @ $13/$4
The Gong Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 61kg |
| 2 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Adam Farragher | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | ESTADIO MESTALLA (IRE) | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus | 19 | 55.5kg |
| 4 | NEW ENDEAVOUR (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 2 | 55.5kg | |
| 5 | VICTORIA ROAD (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Joshua Parr | 8 | 55.5kg |
| 6 | WATERFORD (IRE) | Chris Waller | 14 | 55kg | |
| 7 | TERRITORY EXPRESS | Paul Niceforo | Jean Van Overmeire | 20 | 54kg |
| 8 | LOCH EAGLE | Kris Lees | Jason Collett | 18 | 54kg |
| 9 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | 10 | 54kg | |
| 10 | DETONATOR JACK (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Andrew Adkins | 17 | 54kg |
| 11 | PORT LOCKROY | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Tom Sherry | 15 | 54kg |
| 12 | SANDPAPER | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 11 | 53.5kg |
| 13 | TAVI TIME (NZ) | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 16 | 53.5kg |
| 14 | AMOR VICTORIOUS | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 1 | 53kg |
| 15 | DEMOCRACY MANIFEST | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 5 | 53kg |
| 16 | PALMETTO (NZ) | John Sargent | Ms Alysha Collett | 12 | 53kg |
| 17e | REGAL AZMON | Phillip Stokes | Tyler Schiller | 13 | 53kg |
| 18e | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 54kg |
| 19e | SHADIZI (FR) | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 6 | 53kg |
| 20e | TOURISTIC (GB) | Peter Snowden | 3 | 54kg |
The Gong Odds
2025 The Gong Speed Map
I think Amor Victorious will get front end control here. Gringotts will be on speed but won’t put pressure on with the weight. Suspect they’ll be 1-2. Sandpaper, Palmetto and Estadio Mestalla could all potentially slide forward and find a spot from tricky gates.
