KEMBLA GRANGE NEWCOMER PUTTING SMALL VILLAGE ON THE MAP

BARRENGARRY is a small village near Kangaroo Valley in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

It has a population of just over 200, and might become better known through a young horse named after him, who broke through at Newcastle yesterday.

Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible’s father Darrell hails from Barrengarry, and also shares in the ownership of the three-year-old gelding, who overcame difficulties to take the Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m) at only his third start.

Ridden by Zac Lloyd, the $2.15 favorite comfortably defeated Newcastle pair Almonzo ($7) and Cool Summer Nights ($7).

“Dad didn’t get to Newcastle yesterday, but doesn’t miss the races too often when I have runners,” Ible said today.

“Hopefully Barrengarry can continue to do well for him.”

Ible secured Barrengarry for $10,000 at the 2024 Inglis Ready2Race sale in Sydney, and hasn’t pushed him, not racing him as a two-year-old.

He is a son of Ghayyiath, the Irish-bred stallion who was the 2020 European Horse Of The Year.

“Barrengarry moved nicely in the breeze-ups leading up to the Ready2Race sale, and looked a likely type,” Ible said.

“On his breeding he should continue to improve, and get over further ground.

“He has pulled up well, and I’m excited as to how far he can go for us.”

The RacingNSW stewards’ report shed light on the merit of Barrengarry’s performance.

“He had to be steadied from the heels of Cool Summer Lights near the 1200m when the pace slackened, and near the 250m was awkwardly placed at the heels of Savoonga,” the report said.

“Barrengarry was shifted to the inside of that runner to obtain clear running shortly afterwards, and Lloyd (jockey) dropped his whip near the 50m.”

Barrengarry was Ible’s 135^th career winner, and fifth this season.

Talk about a bargain buy!

He fetched $100,000 as a yearling and never raced before James Ponsonby bought him online in January for only $1500.

Two starts later Farnan three-year-old Claudio has already earned $22,375 for the Hawkesbury trainer’s wife Keryn, boosted by a Dubbo breakthrough yesterday which also carried a BOBS bonus.

Ridden by Mathew Cahill, Claudio ($5) defeated Mr Gunna Do ($8.50) and Fortians ($4.80) in the Maiden Handicap (1100m).

That followed a debut second at $16 in a Mudgee Maiden Plate (1100m) on February 21.

So why was Claudio sold without racing for the Sydney stable of successful Melbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr?

“He had an operation for a wind infirmity,” Ponsonby explained today.

“I’ve been keen to train a horse by Farnan (2020 Golden Slipper Stakes winner), and really liked this fellow on type.

“I looked at his 900m trial at Rosehill Gardens in December and, whilst he ran sixth of seven, he was wide all the way.

“The form out of that trial has been good, and he was a Farnan I was able to buy at the right price.

“Claudio ran really well at Mudgee, and I was confident he would be hard to beat yesterday.”

Ponsonby said Claudio had pulled up well from his Dubbo victory, and he would search for another suitable country race in the coming weeks.

Claudio was Ponsonby’s fifth winner of the season, and the former standardbred trainer-driver’s 65^th as a thoroughbred trainer.

Ponsonby took three horses to the Dubbo meeting, and was also pleased with his old-stager Will To Excel’s second in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (2200m).

It was the rising 11-year-old’s 70^th start, and it was his 16^th placing along with eight wins.

“Hopefully we can pick up another country race with him soon,” Ponsonby said.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 7, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS