Kembla Grange racing preview & best bets | Friday, March 10
| What | Kembla Grange Classic Day |
| Where | Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princes Hwy, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 |
| When | Friday, March 10, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:15pm AEDT |
Racing heads to the Illawarra region of NSW on Friday afternoon as Kembla Grange plays host to a very competitive eight-race program from 1:15pm. It’s Kembla Grange Classic Day and the Group 3 feature over 1600m headlines a strong card. We should be in for perfect conditions on Friday with no rain expected in the lead-up to race-day and a Good 4 surface expected. The rail sits out +2m between the 1100m-winning post and remains in the true position the remainder of the circuit.
Kembla Grange Classic: Call Di
It’s cracking edition of the Kembla Grange Classic for the three-year-old fillies and we feel Call Di is an outstanding bet on the Kembla Grange program. Her two runs on return from a spell have been outstanding. Firstly, she deservedly broke her maiden status on the Randwick-Kensington surface on February 3 winning by a length, although the win visually was much better than the margin. She then travelled down to Victoria to run in behind Shuffle Dancer in the Armanasco at Group 2 level, and really should’ve finished closer than the two-length margin may suggest. She ran home in some of the fastest sectionals of the race, but simply ran out of time as Shuffle Dancer was off an gone. Now back to Sydney and third-up this campaign to the 1600m looks ideal for this daughter of Frankel. The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou stable have dual accepted Call Di for this and the Phar Lap Stakes on Saturday at Rosehill; however, if they elect to come here, we’re very keen to be backing her in this year’s edition of the Kembla Grange Classic.
Kembla Grange Classic
Race 7 – 
#7 Call Di (7)
3yo Gelding | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Tyler Schiller (54kg)
Best Bet at Kembla Grange: Bacchanalia
Race four is a BM94 contest over the 1200m and we think the returning Bacchanalia can find himself in the winners enclosure for the fifth time in his career. He comes here first-up after a 139-day spell for James Cummings and Godolphin and has been trialling nicely heading into his resumption on Friday. Going back through his form you can find multiple efforts behind Remarque, who has gone on to race in Group company in the Challenge Stakes last Saturday and be competitive as well. Bacchanalia can reach similar heights at his best and although he may be more effective on wetter ground than what he’ll see on Friday, it’s a nice platform for him to get some confidence back against a small field. He should be able to dictate to his opposition up on speed with Chad Schofield taking the reins from barrier four and on a slow map should be able to pinch a break from his rivals to secure victory.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#5 Bacchanalia (4)
4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Chad Schofield (56kg)
Next Best at Kembla Grange: Auspicious Cloud
Auspicious Cloud is a consistent staying type for the John Thompson yard and when stepping up to the 2400m looks to be the one to beat. Her run behind Infinitive at Canterbury on February 24 over the 1900m suggested this daughter of American Pharoah was crying out for a step up in trip and that’s exactly what she gets on Friday. Going back through her races from last preparation, the 2400m should hold no issues and gets the gun gate to be much closer than her last-start performance. Brock Ryan can go find the one-one her and with a fitness edge on some key rivals, plus only carrying 56kg, Auspicious Cloud should prove too strong in this BM68 affair.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#9 Auspicious Cloud (4)
4yo Mare | T: John Thompson | J: Brock Ryan (56kg)
Friday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange
Kembla Grange quadrella selections
Friday, March 10, 2023
- 2-7-9
- 1-2-5-13
- 1-2-6-7
- 1-2-7-8
Investment: $192 for 100%