Kembla Grange is poised to attract some of Australia's best thoroughbred talent, after Racing NSW launched a new $1 million race to be run in November.
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Called The Gong, the Illawarra Turf Club will host the rich new race on November 23 as part of a stand-alone Saturday meeting.
It will come at the end of an extraordinary spring carnival push by Racing NSW bosses, with a race worth at least $1 million held every week in October and November, starting with The Everest at Randwick on October 19.
The Bondi Stakes, a three-year-old race over 1600m, will jump at Randwick on Cox Plate Day in Melbourne, then the four-year-old Golden Eagle (1500m) worth $7.5 million on November 2 and the new $1 million Golden Gift at Rosehill, to run over 1100m.
The new-look Sydney spring schedule will then extend to a 1300m race at Newcastle on November 16, designed to attract some of The Everest runners, before moving to Kembla Grange the following Saturday.
The Gong will be a 1600m race, with top-line three and four-year-old's poised to swoop on the back of the carnival riches, likely including Golden Eagle runners.
With the big prizemoney on offer, The Gong could lure big-name Sydney and Melbourne trainers to continue their Group racing talent's preparations to include the Kembla Grange race.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
