HORSE RACING
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Just three horses can lay claim to beating Group 1 winner Complacent in the Darley star's short racing career.
One claimed Group 1 glory in the Victoria Derby last spring, the second is a multiple city winner and the third? He'll run at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Tribal Art will feature in a Class 1 (1000m) on an expected bog track at the Illawarra Turf Club for his sixth visit to the races.
An impressive record of a win and four placings in five previous starts was headlined by the five-year-old son of Excellent Art's triumph over eventual Group 1 Spring Champion winner Complacent at Hawkesbury in July last year.
However, he may have to wait. The track is rated heavy (10) and racing NSW stewards will conduct another inspection on Saturday morning to determine if the meeting proceeds.
Trainer David Vandyke sees a city future for his gelding, but if he does have the chance today, the focus is on finding the winner's stall at Kembla first.
"He should run well. He is a good track worker and I think we have found the right race for him if he is up near his best," Vandyke said.
"He has got wet-weather form. We were going to trial him but you are aware with the issues there [rain]," he said.
Any performance on the track might come as some surprise for Vandyke, who only took over training the gelding from Graeme Rogerson in the past six months.
Tribal Art will be the second of Vandyke's runners on the day.
Date With Fate will race in the opening event on the card - a Class 2 (2400m).
"He is a big, heavy horse and first start out to 2400 is a bit of a concern on a heavy.
"That's the way it is. It is a nice race for him if he gets through it," Vandyke said.