PROMISING KEMBLA 4YO SET FOR CITY DEBUT

PROMISING Kembla Grange four-year-old Wild Thoughts (pictured) won’t have stable company when he makes his city debut at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Trainer Kerry Parker also accepted with Irish Bliss for the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m), but he is most likely heading further north to Gosford.

It’s Tradies’ Day at Gosford, and Irish Bliss (Lee Magorrian) will join stablemate Faye Runaway (Andrew Adkins) in the Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).

Wild Thoughts, who races in the same Proven Thoroughbreds colours as Parker’s Wagga Cup winner Flying Bandit, goes to town after only four starts which have produced two local victories (both over 1500m) and two placings.

“This will be his biggest test of course, but he has trained on well since his last win in a Class 1 Handicap on August 7 on a heavy track,” Parker said this afternoon.

“Wild Thoughts goes to 1800m for the first time, and gives every indication he will handle it.

“Win, lose or draw he is going to the paddock after this run.

“He has had a nice little preparation and hopefully we have more to look forward to with him next time.”

Flying Bandit’s regular rider Jay Ford has partnered hat-trick seeker Wild Thoughts, a $45,000 Adelaide yearling buy, in three of his four starts and continues his association with the lightly-raced gelding.

A son of international star So You Think, Wild Thoughts will have no shortage of provincial opposition in Saturday’s Midway.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has Be Real (apprentice Siena Grima) and last start winner Sunset Park (Alysha Collett), fellow Hawkesbury trainers James Ponsonby and Peter Green have Philipsburg (Winona Costin) and Avion Fury (Dylan Gibbons) respectively, Wyong trainer Denim Wynen has last start Rosehill winner Monkhana (apprentice Anna Roper) as she hunts her fifth winner this month, and Parker’s Kembla Grange compatriots Ross McConville (Gwendie, Rachel King) and Anthony Mountney (Jacobs Fury, apprentice Olivia Chamers) also will be represented.

McConville meanwhile was in the winning list at today’s TAB meeting at Wagga, taking the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m) with $7 chance Montigo Bay (Chad Lever).

Widdup is taking the nose roll off Be Real and instead will use winkers on the mare, whilst Gwendie will race in a brow band for the first time.

TAB.com.au on Thursday evening had Wild Thoughts as a $3.10 favorite, with Monkhana on the third line of betting at $5.50.

Gosford today was rated a “Soft 7”, and Parker was hoping it stayed in the heavy range for his five-year-old mare Faye Runaway, who broke through at Newcastle last time in a Class 1/Maiden Plate (1880m) at her 12^th start.

“I would have preferred a heavy track for her as she is one-paced,” he said.

“In saying that, it doesn’t look to be an overly strong field, and she has done well since winning at Newcastle on August 14.

“Irish Bliss joined our stable from Newcastle this preparation and now has had three runs for us.

“One of his two career wins was at 1600m, and he has been placed three times at the distance.”

Wyong’s Nacim Dilmi, chasing a breakthrough victory since recently taking over as Domeland’s private trainer, has pre-post favorite Aix En Provence (Zac Lloyd), who drops back to provincial grade after racing in town at his last four starts.

Aix En Provence, who will race in a lugging bit for the first time, headed betting at $3.50 on Thursday evening, ahead of Irish Bliss ($4.80).

Meanwhile, Parker’s Group 1 Metropolitan contender Flying Bandit will begin a new campaign at Royal Randwick on Saturday week in a Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m).

Flying Bandit was raised 14 benchmark points to 93 for his Wagga Cup (2000m) triumph in May.

However, Parker won’t be seeking to claim on the gelding for his resumption, with Jay Ford continuing a successful association with the gelding.

Story John Curtis, August 28, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos