KEMBLA GRANGE trainer Ross McConville has taken the “longer option” for dual acceptor C’Mon Mate at home tomorrow as he seeks a new season breakthrough.
C’Mon Mate, runner-up at his last two starts, will contest the Congratulations Opals Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) rather than the 1200m of the Caitlin Foord Provincial Class 1 Handicap. Shaun Guymer has partnered the lightly-raced four-year-old in both his recent runs, and again has the mount. “Now that C’Mon Mate has had a few runs this time in work, I feel the 1400m suits him better,” McConville said this morning.
The Divine Prophet gelding is having a successful campaign, scoring first-up in a Kembla Grange Provincial Maiden (1200m) on July 1 before finishing fourth to Vindication in a Class 1 Handicap (1350m) at Wyong a fortnight later.
“C’Mon Mate was bred and owned by Ross Williams (who raced under the Superhorse banner), and we bought him after he passed away two years ago,” McConville said.
“He wasn’t dear; I think we paid about $18,000 for him and one of our clients Andrew Kyriacou was interested in racing him with his syndicate.”
C’Mon Mate is the only foal of the unraced Shellscrape mare Shellene, who died not long after giving birth to him, in October, 2019. McConville, the former partner and stable foreman of Kembla Grange’s iconic trainer Gwenda Markwell, who passed away in October last year, took over the training following her death. He prepared eight winners, including several in town, in the last nine months of the 2022-23 season, but has greatly reduced the size of his team. “Gwenda always had around 50 horses in work, but we’ve cut that back to 20 and that suits me,” he said. “I’m enjoying the challenge, and attended a two-day trainers’ course arranged by RacingNSW at Scone earlier in the week.”
McConville’s other Kembla Grange acceptors Amigos No More and Bully For You (Provincial Class 1 Handicap, 1200m) and El Bravo (Delta Amidvovski Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1600m) are also acceptors for Sunday’s Nowra meeting. Whilst he will decide later today which way he will head with the trio, he indicated he will probably split Amigos No More and Bully For You by running one at home and the other at Nowra.
An Illawarra Turf Club syndicate will take on C’Mon Mate with their four-year-old mare Zarni (Jean Van Overmeire). “Zarni’s trainer Paul Murray rang us a couple of weeks before she was ready to race earlier this year to ask if we were interested in racing her on lease,” ITC racing manager Michael Craig explained. “The club manages the syndicate, and races her with nine members who took up the invitation to be involved. “She has proven to be very handy, already winning twice and being placed twice from only seven starts.”
Zarni led throughout in a Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange on July 1, and then had a break of five weeks before finishing third to Nanshe in a Benchmark 64 Handicap over the same distance against her own sex on August 5. Van Overmeire, who rode the mare in her July 1 success and has started the new season in dazzling form (as of yesterday he was the leading jockey in the State with 14 wins), is back on Zarni tomorrow.
The rail is in the TRUE position for the eight-race program which begins at 12.40pm, and racecourse manager Dave Anderson has posted a “Good 4” rating.
Selections by Michael Craig are:
Race 1
7 Decisive Lass finished hard last start
1 Allebasi narrowly beaten here 2 starts back
4 Shadow Dane never runs a bad race
Race 2
8 Life Coach chance at big odds
1 Gelatin placed in town 2 starts back
4 Steel Blaze not far away at most recent outing
Race 3
2 Sunzou getting close to peak form
1 C’mon Mate very honest performer
5 Amigos No More no luck when resuming
Race 4
5 Allapercanto first starter who has trialled well
4 Achlys fitter for 2 recent trials
11 Lady Jezam ready to show best form
Race 5
11 Midnight Harry no luck first up at H’bury
12 Nerano recent trial winner
3 Let’s Try drawn poorly but has ability
Race 6 11 Impressiero racing in career best form
5 Napoleon Solo loves this track
4 Free State may need luck from wide gate
Race 7 10 Orzala could be hard to hold out
8 Zarni looks drawn to advantage
5 Accrue held on strongly at G’burn
Race 8 1 Hemsworth top effort when resuming
8 Miss Couver overcame difficulties to win on debut
2 Picko Rocks racing in fine form
Article by John Curtis, 25th August 2023. Photo: Bradley Photos
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