3 minute read
Punters are faced with a tough final event at Mornington today but topweight Kempside gets the chance to break back into winning form.
Prepared by Steven Roberts at the course, Kempside is fitter for two runs from a spell and looks hard to hold out as he steps up to 1200m for this RB58.
Last campaign he failed to record a placing but ran some good races in tougher grade and had some excuses as well.
He resumed this preparation here over 1000m in this class and after settling second last in the small field ran on well to finish fourth, beaten only half a length.
He then raced over 1000m in this grade again but at Cranbourne, where he settled fifth in the run and turned there before running on steadily to finish fourth again, beaten 1.4 lengths.
Today he carries the same weight in the same grade but looks suited by the extra furlong this time.
He is a dead track winner and from a good draw can bring up his first win on home turf.
The Monica Cid trained Bennati is close to a win and looks the biggest danger.
The gelding ran on well four back to just miss before a wide run at Sale where he battled on well for sixth.
He then stepped up to 1400m at Pakenham and the jury is out whether he ran the journey, drifting back but not finishing it off when eighth.
Backing up a week later over 1000m, he was beaten for speed early but ran on well late to finish a length third.
The extra ground is ideal and he carries the same weight in the same grade. The gelding has drawn wide but should be hard to hold out.
Bella's Cry doesn't win often but has a fairly honest overall record and looks well placed here.
The Stephen Theodore-trained mare was runner up over 100m at Echuca fresh then stepped up to 1400m at Pakenham and after drawing wide ran on well to finish runner up.
That was the same race Bennati disappointed in.
Bella's Cry stepped up to 1524m last time here and may not have run out the journey either, racing on the speed before fading to finish fifth.
She looks suited back to 1200m and with the lighter weight and a good drawn should be hitting the line hard.
Marashot is a last start winner at Stawell when finding the line well and although drawn wide with the big weight should be running on strongly.
