TOUGH KEMBLA GRANGE GELDING BACKS UP FOUR WEEKS IN A ROW

ROSS McConville says he will “get a guide” on Flying Arabesque when he makes his city debut at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

Not only is the lightly-raced four-year-old on a hat-trick mission, but also is lining up for his fourth Saturday start in a row.

Kembla Grange trainer McConville has booked Alysha Collett for Flying Arabesque in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m), which will be his sixth career appearance.

Flying Arabesque ran fifth to Green Winter in a Midway Maiden Plate (1400m) at his home track on August 8, then stormed home a week later, again at Kembla Grange, to break through in a 1600m Super Maiden Handicap.

He journeyed north to Newcastle last Saturday and made it two in a row when he again finished strongly to take a Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1600m).

McConville had not initially planned to back up Flying Arabesque tomorrow before deciding to nominate him for the Midway.

“There is nothing else really suitable coming up in the near future,” he said today.

“The three runs on consecutive Saturdays haven’t hurt Flying Arabesque at all.

“He’s tough and is jumping out of his skin.

“Flying Arabesque is going to 1800m, and we’ll get a better guide about him taking on city grade.”

Chad Lever has ridden the gelding at his last three runs, and also partnered his dam, the now deceased Foxwedge mare Paris For Me, in two of her four wins.

He has five rides at Kembla Grange tomorrow, including first-up placegetter C’Mon Mate for McConville in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m).

McConville paid $15,000 for the son of Trapeze Artist at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale.

However, he has had to be patient with Flying Arabesque because of a problem with the x-rays when he bought him.

Assured by vendor Widden Stud that Flying Arabesque would be fine, McConville turned him out for 12 months and understandably views delaying his entry to racing has proven to be a blessing.

Whilst McConville chases a city breakthrough with Flying Arabesque, senior Newcastle jockey Andrew Gibbons is looking forward to also heading to town for one ride.

He partners the Australian Bloodstock-raced Whateley in the TAB Highway Handicap (1400m).

“When I went to Sydney to ride Zaphod for Kris Lees at Rosehill on June 27, trainer Todd Howlett put me on Whateley that day, and we were just beaten in a 1500m Highway,” Gibbons said today.

“Todd freshened him after that race, and I couldn’t ride him next time when he ran sixth back at Rosehill a fortnight ago.’

“No doubt that run would have improved him, and I feel he has a terrific chance tomorrow from a good barrier.”

Gibbons nowadays rides rarely in town on Saturdays, and his last city winner was Redoute’s Choice (for Australian Bloodstock and Kris Lees) at a midweek Canterbury meeting on July 22, 2020.

It was one he won’t forget; being his 400th winner for leading Newcastle trainer Lees. STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 28, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS