KEMBLA TRAINERS GET “CONSOLATION WINS”

THERE were “consolation wins” of sorts yesterday for Kembla Grange trainers Kerry Parker and Joe Ible.

Whilst both had winners at home, the news wasn’t as good at Royal Randwick.

Parker had hoped to start Flying Bandit in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) as a lead-up to defending his Wagga Cup crown, but the gelding was second emergency and didn’t make the field, and ironically Doctor Askar was a late withdrawal at the barrier.

Ible’s promising young stayer Barrengarry ran fifth in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), and will be spelled instead of continuing on a Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) path.

Parker and Ible’s home track winners were both double figure odds.

Parker’s Winning Rulet (pictured above - Chad Lever) took the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) first-up at $15, and Common Goal (Shaun Guymer) was at $11 in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m), even though he had won two of his previous three starts.

Four-year-old mare Winning Rulet was an Adelaide yearling purchase for Parker, and is closely related on the dam’s side to his Group 2 and 3 winner and Group 1 runner-up Hope In Your Heart.

“Winning Rulet showed ability early on, but nothing went right for her last time in work,” he said today.

“I gave her a good break and started again, so it was great to get a first-up win with her yesterday.”

In an all-Kembla Grange finish, Winning Rulet burst along the inside rail to defeat Mitch Beer and George Carpenter’s Coco Dior ($3.70) and Theresa Bateup’s Yes Arnie ($26).

Parker now has to revert to a similar preparation with Flying Bandit by starting him in a Benchmark 94 Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday before backing up the following Friday in the $200,000 Listed Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

“I did that last year when Flying Bandit ran fourth at Randwick, and then won at Wagga,” he said.

“After missing yesterday’s race, it’s the only option I have to get him to Wagga to try to win the Cup again.”

Ible believes Common Goal deserves a crack at a Midway Handicap in town in his current brilliant form.

In a tight finish, the lightly-raced four-year-old tenaciously defeated Cheeky Smirk ($5.50) and Laurel Hill ($6).

Common Goal had won a Maiden Plate (1460m) at Queanbeyan on February 17, and Class 2 Handicap (1300m) at Canberra on March 25.

Unfortunately, Ible didn’t quite get back from Randwick, where he had saddled Barrerngarry, in time to see his gelding win.

“I just drove into the car park at the track as the race was being run,” he said.

“Common Goal is going so well that he is now worth trying in a Midway in town.”

Barrengarry ($11) ran well enough when fifth in the Packer Plate, but was feeling the effects of the run this morning.

“He has done a good job winning two races (including a Midway at Rosehill Gardens) this campaign,” Ible said.

“Whilst it would have been nice to go on to Brisbane for the Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June, it’s in Barrengarry’s best interests to spell him now.

“He has had only five starts in his career, and I’m sure we’ve got plenty to look forward to with him next season.”

. Whilst the Beer/Carpenter training combination missed out with Coco Dior, Presides ($8.50) kept the stable’s momentum going by winning the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) at his first start since last June.

Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, the Lonhro five-year-old gamely upset fellow Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price’s $1.60 hotpot Smashing Time.

Racing in a tongue tie for the first time, Presides responded to Van Overmeire’s vigorous riding to overhaul the favorite, who had led and looked the winner until the closing stages.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 19, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS