The Gong – 2022

Track: Good  Weather: Sunny

Twenty runners (four of which are emergencies) have accepted for the $1,000,000 Gong and there have been no early scratchings.

There have been some nice horses win this race since its inception in 2019 with those winners being Mr Sea Wolf, Archedemus, and Count De Rupee. Of those three trainers, two of them have horses going around in this race on Saturday.

Chris Waller won the inaugural event with Mr Sea Wolf and he will saddle up Kolding ($34.00), Atishu ($11.00) and Oscar Zulu ($20.00). Archedemus won the second edition of this race for Team Hawkes, and they only have one runner this year in the first emergency Wild Planet ($51.00).

Old Flame ($6.50) is the early favourite for this race following his 1.6-length Group 2 success in the Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington.

1. Just Folk (17)

Has run three consecutive seconds over his last three runs in listed and group 3 races. Record on firm surfaces isn’t flash and they have drawn ordinary.

2. Kolding (4)

Feel like his best is long gone and probably wants further.

3. Promise of Success (2)

She is poorly weighted. Finished tenth by only two lengths in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Flemington. Drawn okay but I can’t have her.

4. Rustic Steel (5)

It was a nice win in the Big Dance. Wondering if this race is an afterthought but he is going well, is drawn well, and maps to get a nice run.

5. Kirwin’s Lane (16)

Won the Ladies’ Day Cup at Hawkesbury last start by half a length. He will need a new peak figure here if he is to go close to winning.

6. Surf Dancer (9)

Drawn well and maps to head forward with little fight. Finished almost four lengths off in fourth in the Big Dance. Can’t have.

7. Berdibek (6)

First up after 128 days. Hard to have with a poor first up record.

8. Old Flame (19)

Won the Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington last time out in impressive fashion. Would be a clear favourite had he drawn a gate. Tough ask, so place at best.

9. Sky Lab (3)

On the quick backup. Made good ground last week in the Hunter when 3.8 lengths off in sixth. Can’t have.

10. Atishu (14)

Won the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington last start by two lengths. She has also been entered for a race at Ballarat. The draw here is okay but she will need luck.

11. Oscar Zulu (13)

Won well first up at Goulburn. He will need a big jump in form to be a factor here.

12. Hope In Your Heart (15)

She wasn’t disgraced when fourth in the Golden Eagle. Leading into that race she had won three races on the trot. Drawn poorly and will need some luck. Definite place chance.

13. Brutality (11)

Plugging along well this preparation and this has been the target. He is on the quick backup from the Hunter and the blinkers are back on. The draw isn’t too bad and with a nice ride, he is a winning chance.

14. Purple Sector (1)

Ran second in three of his past four runs with the latest being a tight second to Diamil. Has since trialled well and should be ready for this. Drawn ideally and maps to get a quality run. Massively over the odds.

15. Love Tap (18)

Won nicely first up on Cup Day but he has drawn poorly and will probably head north.

16. Riodini (8)

Hasn’t run the greatest over his first two runs but he is up to the mile now and drawn/maps well. Will need to improve.

17e. Wild Planet (7)

His form is okay over his last couple of runs in harder races but this is a lot harder for him.

18e. Parry Sound (12)

First up over 250 days. Can’t have.

19e. Steely (10)

Solid each-way chance if he gets a run.

20e. Kiss Sum (20)

Unlikely.

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.

Josh’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
14 Purple Sector	4 Rustic Steel
13 Brutality	8 Old Flame
4 Rustic Steel	12 Hope In Your Heart
8 Old Flame	11 Oscar Zulu

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	16 Riodini
2nd	12 Hope In Your Heart	0.5 length
3rd	8 Old Flame	1 length
4th	17 Wild Planet	1.2 lengths

Riodini set a new track record with a time of 1:33.57R

The track was rated as Good 3

Scratchings: 5. Kirwan’s Lane, 10. Atishu, 19. Steely, 20. Kiss Sum.