Small fields are the order of the day at Kembla on Saturday but a $2.30 winner in a three-horse race buys the same Saturday night Chinese as a $2.30 collect from a Group I at Randwick or Caulfield.
Despite the small fields it looks a solid day’s punting with a Gerald Ryan-trained mare looking value in the three-horse class one, a Lee Curtis gelding ready to fire first-up after an impressive trial and a significant claim on a Peter and Paul Snowden-trained three-year-old providing the basis of our three best bets.
MOLLYFIELD (Race 2 No 3)
Mollyfield from the Gerald Ryan stable is one of three mares left in the Assett Professional Services F&M Class 1 Handicap (1200m) and as a $2.30 second pick represents value.
A consistent daughter of Star Witness, Mollyfield boasts a Wyong maiden win and four placings from her seven starts to date including a half-length second at Hawkesbury resuming from a break after enduring a wide run in transit.
From barrier two on Saturday expecting Mollyfield to take the sit on her two rivals in the run and be the strongest at the finish.
HAYMAN (Race 3 No 1)
The Lee Curtis-trained Hayman returns from a spell in the Illawarra Toyota Fleet Specialists Maiden Handicap (1200m) and a recent trial suggests the four-year-old is set for his best preparation.
Hayman hasn’t set the world on fire in his eight starts to date but has finished in the placings on three occasions including a Hawkesbury third in his second preparation.
Hayman’s trial at Rosehill on October 3 was impressive, after being tardy away the son of Hinchinbrook drove through along the fence to take up the running extending his margin in the straight to over five-lengths and in doing so running good time.
If Hayman brings the trial form to race day he will take a power of beating.
ALLIED POWER (Race 4 No 5)
The Snowden-trained Allied Power is ready to peak third-up in the Bears Auto Hospital CG&E Class 1 Handicap (1200m) with the 1.5kg claim for apprentice Nick Heywood the decisive factor.
Allied Power resumed at Kembla on September 23 finishing third in a three-horse field behind Stonebrook who added plenty of merit to the form by winning at Canterbury at his subsequent run.
One of Allied Power’s rivals, Grimoire, finished second in the Stonebrook race at Kembla marginally in front of Allied Power but this is where the claim comes in.
Allied Power meets Grimoire 1kg better after Heywood’s claim and has the added advantage of an additional run at Newcastle on October 7 when the three-year-old charged home late when runner-up in a benchmark 60 at Newcastle.
Allied Power should be right at his peak on Saturday and with the weight advantage gets his chance to go one better.
