PREMIERSHIP WINNERS TO BE CROWNED AT KEMBLA GRANGE

A new track will usher in new premiership winners at Illawarra Turf Club’s season closer tomorrow.

Ahead of the third meeting to be held on the Illawarra Grange circuit inside the course proper (the first two were on May 5 and 30), ITC racing manager Zane Campbell says Mitch Beer and George Carpenter are in the box seat to win both the Local and All Trainers’ premierships in their first season as a duo.

“Mitch and George have an unbeatable lead in the All Trainers’ premiership and, with six runners tomorrow, hold a two-win advantage over Kerry Parker in the Local Trainers’ title,” Campbell said today.

“Whilst they have bigger numbers, it has been a terrific season for them considering they did not start their new partnership until scoring with their first runner Greyt Thinker at Hawkesbury on September 25.

“The All Trainers’ premiership is decided on a points basis (3, 2 and 1 for the three placegetters), whilst the Local premiership relates to wins only on both the course proper and Illawarra Grange tracks.

”Mitch and George have amassed 97 points with their runners at home this season, and have further chances to increase that tally tomorrow.”

Team Beer’s five runners are:

RACE 3 – Pariah Time, $12 with TAB.com.au (Jean Van Overmeire);

RACE 6 – Dubai Adventure, $8.50 (JVO) and Kool Kade, $31 (Dylan Gibbons);

RACE 7 – Heuristic, $4 favorite (apprentice Siena Grima) and Denial, $13 (D. Gibbons);

RACE 8 – Fifthyfivechevy, $3.70 (D. Gibbons).

Team Beer has won the first race at both meetings on the Illawarra Grange track, which has earned terrific reviews from all sections of the industry.

The new training duo takes over the dual premierships from father and son Rob and Luke Price, who have won both titles for the last three years.

“Diane Poidevin Laine’s mare Audenzia is our Horse Of The Year for the 2025-26 season,” Campbell said.

“Audenzia had her first start this season here last December, and overall her nine runs have produced four wins, a second, two thirds and a fourth for 45 points.

“Both the jockeys and apprentices’ premierships haven’t changed.

“Provincial king Keagan Latham takes his seventh title, and Mollie Fitzgerald makes it back to back apprentices’ premierships.”

Presentations to the various winners along with the Horse Of The Year award will take place at the second meeting of the new season on Saturday, August 15.

. Prior to tomorrow’s final meeting, the current standings are:

ALL TRAINERS (3, 2 and 1 points system for first three placings)

M. Beer & G. Carpenter 97

C. Waller 88

R. & L. Price 70

K. Parker 67

M. Smith 66

LOCAL TRAINERS (Wins Only)

M. Beer & G. Carpenter 16

K. Parker 14

R. & L. Price 9

D. Poidevin Laine 6

T. Bateup 5

A. Mountney 4

JOCKEYS (3, 2 and 1 points system)

K. Latham 117

M. Bell 85

B. Ryan 71

M. Fitzgerald (a) 71

J. Van Overmeire 63

APPRENTICES (3, 2 and 1 points system)

M. Fitzgerald 71

M. Stapleford 48

Z. Wadick 33

O. Chambers 27

HORSE OF THE YEAR (8, 5, 3 and 2 points system)

Audenzia (D. Poidevin Laine) 45

Century Song (R. & L. Price) 32

All Machiavellian (R. & L. Price) 30

Magical Moments (Beer/Carpenter) 26

Aisle Two (R. & L. Price) 22

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 29, 2026 - PICS SUPPLIED