Australia: Getting Centimental at Kembla Grange

It’s a Rest of the World Bet Back day with TwinSpires on Friday night, as all races at the Rosehill meet in New South Wales will provide the opportunity to earn your win bet back, if your runner finishes second.

Rosehill transfer to Kembla Grange

The meet won’t actually be at Rosehill, however, because Sydney has been overrun by the Delta variant of COVID-19. Instead, the races have been moved to Kembla Grange in Wollongong, about 56 miles south of Sydney.

It’s a track similar in design to Sydney’s other main course, Royal Randwick. With the rail out four meters, it would normally be more difficult for closers to win, but the likelihood of a sodden turf track probably evens things out.

The headline races are two contests for three-year-olds, the San Domenico S. (G2) and the Ming Dynasty Quality H. (G3) at 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs), along with the Premier’s Cup (G3) for all ages.

BROWN: Australian racing picks for Kembla Grange on Aug. 27

Race 3 in focus

The Bet Back offer applies only to races with six horses or more, so I’m going to leave the three-year-old races alone, as there’s a chance they may not meet this criteria. The Premier’s Cup should have sufficient runners, but I’m going to instead look at Race 3, the Peltzer Special Achievement H. (1,500 meters, or about 7 1/2 furlongs) for fillies and mares.

It’s a Rating 78 event, but it includes 2021 Queensland Oaks (G1) third-place finisher #2 Signora Nera and 2020 The Roses (G2) third #1 Celestial Falls. The latter hasn’t raced for more than a year, and while Signora Nera has won over shorter trips in New Zealand, she may need the run.

#5 Steel Diamond and #11 Rock My Wand, who both ran well at Kembla Grange Aug. 14, are well favored, but the best chance is #10 Centimental.

One of three runners for trainer Chris Waller, Centimental has been in the top two in her past two runs and should appreciate the return to a wet track.

The fact that leading rider James McDonald is on her, rather than Waller’s other runners, is a good guide and the guarantee of getting your win bet back if she runs second is a nice persuader.

Wagers

Rosehill at Kembla Grange, Race 3 (10:40 p.m. ET)

• $10 win: #10 Centimental
• $1 exacta box: #1 Celestial Falls, #2 Signora Nera, #3 Foxborough, #5 Steel Diamond, #10 Centimental