John Sargent believes a spring setback can be a blessing in disguise for $1 million The Gong contender Luvaluva.
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The talented five-year-old mare was to be aimed at the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, before a stable injury ruined Sargent's plans before they began.
Instead, Sargent set his sights on the rich new race at Kembla Grange, which carries the same prizemoney as the Melbourne Group 1 mile feature.
"She was cast in the stall and had a leg infection," Sargent said. "So while Melbourne was out of the picture, we thought The Gong was the perfect option for her close to home.
"She's had two runs back, we've been able to really target this, she should run well."
Sargent had also nominated for the Kingston Town Classic in Perth, but instead expects to press on to the Villiers Stakes at Randwick next month
Luvaluva drew favourably with barrier six on Wednesday, next to race favourite El Dorado Dreaming.
The Kris Lees-trained four-year-old mare was an impressive third in the Group 2 Hot Danish (1400m) three weeks ago.
Luvaluva powered to the line in fifth after being last at the top of the straight.
The two will match motors again, with Sargent expecting jockey Tim Clark to settle midfield.
"It's an ideal draw, he should be able to find a nice spot from there," he said.
"We were drawn wide last start, but out to 1600m and on the big Kembla straight, she should have every chance."
Luvaluva may not boast a brilliant strike rate, with four wins from 25 starts, but she has tasted success at the track before, winning the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic.
She was fifth in the Group 1 Doomben Cup over 2000m in May and has placed in the NZ Breeders Stakes and Group 2 Matriarch Stakes.
By Thursday afternoon, Luvaluva had joined El Dorado Dreaming as race favourite at $5.50, with the Chris Waller-trained Star Of The Seas next $7, in an open market.
El Dorado Dreaming has just one win from 14 career starts, but ran second to Dixie Blossoms on a Heavy 9 in the Coolmore Classic in March. The Gary Portelli-trained eight-year-old Testashadow was scratched after drawing barrier 15, allowing Chris Waller's Asterius to make the field.
As a result, the chances of an Illawarra hope in the race remain remote, with Gwenda Markwell's Esteem Spirit now the second emergency.
Testashadow will instead run in the Benchmark 88 1600m race, effectively a consolation prize to a number of The Gong hopefuls, including the Robert and Luke Price-trained Cuban Royale and likely Esteem Spirit.
The Gong race comes as part of Racing NSW's rich spring carnival push, which included the $14 million The Everest, the Golden Eagle and last Saturday's inaugural running of the $1 million The Hunter.
$1 MILLION THE GONG
Saturday at Kembla Grange (4.20pm)
Prizemoney
First: $580,000
Second: $190,000
Third: $98,000
Gates open: 11am
First race: 1.15pm (nine-race meeting)
Track condition (on Wednesday): Good 4
Rail: True
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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.
