SATURDAY’S KEMBLA MEETING MOVED TO INSIDE TRACK

ILLAWARRA Turf Club has got on the front foot and moved Saturday’s course proper meeting to the inside Illawarra Grange track.

As a result of the move, a number of distance changes have been made.

Both the 1000m Benchmark 64 Handicap and 2YO Maiden Plate are now at an increased 1150m, whilst the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap and Super Maiden Plate have been reduced marginally from 1600m to 1450m.

“The course proper is very heavy, and we wanted to give trainers early notice before acceptances tomorrow morning by moving the meeting to our inside track,” ITC racing manager Zane Campbell said this morning.

“Especially as the scheduled 1000m races are now 1150m, as we can’t run 1000m races on the inside track.

“The Illawarra Grange was designed to handle the rain, and came through its first meeting earlier this month (May 5) with flying colours.”

Along with the distance changes, nominations for those four races were extended until 11am today.

With the switch of Saturday’s meeting to the Illawarra Grange, Tuesday’s scheduled meeting on that track has now

been moved back to the course proper.

Again, several distance changes will apply.

The Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap and 4YO & Up Maiden Plate will be 1000m (not 1150m), and the Midway Class 1 Handicap and Maiden Handicap have been extended from 1450m to 1500m.

Meanwhile, Kembla Grange mare Our Gold Hope was sold for $400,000 to Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm in Japan, at yesterday’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.

“She has been purchased by one of the world’s great stud farms,” co-trainer Luke Price said.

Our Gold Hope, a five-year-old grey daughter of Lope De Vega, was runner-up in the 2024 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

Team Price has accepted with both Island Dec and Century Song at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but not recent Gosford 1200m record breaker Smashing Time.

“Smashing Time isn’t comfortable on heavy ground, so we will wait for another day,” Luke Price said.

“Island Dec is an acceptor for the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m), with Tyler Schiller booked.

“Aaron Bullock has been booked for Century Song in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m), but he has drawn near the outside in a capacity field.

“We’ll have a look at both races, but we might keep Century Song for our home track meeting on Tuesday.

“He handled soft ground well in his two wins here in January before going for a break.”

Island Dec has a tongue tie back on, but the cross-over nose band comes off.

Rosehill Gardens this morning was rated a ‘Heavy 8’, and the rail is in the TRUE position.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees accepted with both Tavi Time and Zaphod for the Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) at Rosehill, and Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.

Last year’s Queensland Oaks winner You Wahng (Jay Ford) is the third of Lees’ Lord Mayors Cup acceptors in Sydney.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MAY 27, 2026