Greg Polson preview and top three bets for Kembla

Greg Polson - Sunday September 17

The James Cummings-trained Schubert is the $1.75 early favourite for the Kids Day Out Class 1 Handicap (1500m) and has only three rivals to beat but there is plenty of strength in his opponents with the short quote looking decidedly skinny.

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The race is restricted to horses with seven or  less starts. Schubert won his maiden at Beaumont four runs back resuming and has been placed in three subsequent runs including a Canterbury third three runs back and a runner-up finish in the Da Vinci at Wyong last start – certainly a winning chance but odds-on - no thanks.

The John Sargent-trained Gaugin strips fitter second-up and was a Warwick Farm winner at the same stage of his preparation last time in, Mate Story from the Jean Dubois stable boasts a debut victory at the track and distance from his four starts to date and was only a length from the winner at Warwick Farm at his second career start and must be respected fresh whilst the Mark de Montfort-prepared Chief Kidder is a last start winner.

The opening race is substantially more open than the betting suggests.

The Best Bets

LEGAL GIRL (Race 2 No 5)

The Clarry Connors-trained Legal Girl will have Corey Brown in the saddle when she chases her second career win in the Bald Hill Class 1 Handicap (8 or more starts) (1500m).

Legal Girl worked home solidly resuming at Warwick Farm chasing home Acqume over 1200m at Warwick Farm resuming and will relish the step up in distance with her solitary career victory from her nine starts to date coming in a Wyong maiden over a mile.

From a good draw on Sunday and back to provincial grade, Legal Girl looks well placed to record her second career win.

FANTASTIC MAN (Race 5 No 4)

Trainer John Thompson provides our two remaining bets beginning with Fantastic Man who returns to racing in the Sheree Ruddock Birthday Class 2 Handicap (1300m).

Fantastic Man showed plenty of promise last time in finishing runner-up on three occasions including chasing home Zumbelina at Canterbury resuming before breaking through with an easy maiden win at Wyong before the break.

Josh Parr was the rider in each of Fantastic Man's runs last preparation and has ridden the son of Redoute's Choice in both his trials this time with the fact he is heading to Kembla on Sunday looking a positive lead.

CUBA (Race 7 No 3)

Fantastic Man's stablemate Cuba will have Blake Shinn on board when he contests the Grand Pacific Drive Metro & Prov Maiden Handicap (1500m).

Shinn had the ride on Cuba at Warwick Farm last start when the three-year-old gelding had no luck finishing second to Aoniar after having a chequered path in the straight.

Cuba should be at peak fitness fourth-up from a break and the step up in distance looks a plus.

Expecting Cuba to make amends on Sunday.

 
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