Asiago will fly the blue army flag in defence of Godolphin's Kembla Grange Classic title, as Chris Waller rival Subpoenaed will require another stone cold swoop to win the prestigious Group 3 race.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair meet again on Friday, almost three weeks after Waller's three-year-old filly produced a blistering burst from last at Rosehill to come within a whisker of beating Positive Peace in a $125,000 Benchmark 78.
Asiago, the Spring Stakes (1600m) winner at Newcastle in November worked well for third and will be looming on the speed again after drawing barrier two.
And it seems like Tommy Berry will have little choice but to let Subpoenaed drift back again and wind up in the big Kembla Grange straight from barrier 15 after scratchings.
Waller opted to run Subpoenaed in the Classic mile for fillies on Friday, rather than expose her to the likes of highly-rated stablemate Funstar and the Jamie Richards-trained Probabeel.
"Subpoenaed would normally be running in the Phar Lap Stakes but I don't want to run her against Funstar just yet," he told AAP. "But she's progressing the right way and her last-start run was very good. We're getting her closer to a (Group 1 3YO) Vinery as well."
Widdup has decided against starting Akari against benchmark fillies Funstar and Probabeel in the Phar Lap Stakes, instead favouring a Group Three assignment at Kembla Grange.
Widdup accepted with Akari for Saturday's Group Two race at Rosehill and the Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) on Friday but confirmed she would head to the latter.
"I think it's just a safer option. I've got James McDonald on Friday and I'm happy with that from the draw (three). I think she gets her chance," Widdup said.
Akari has finished midfield at two runs from a spell in the Light Fingers Stakes won by Flit and the Surround Stakes won narrowly by Probabeel.
Widdup was particularly pleased with her latest performance when she was checked at a vital stage before picking herself back up and closing strongly late.
That effort has given him confidence to test her over a mile at Kembla and if she runs to expectations, she is likely to face a rematch with Funstar and Probabeel in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill later this month.
Godolphin took out the Kembla Grange Classic last year with Pohutukawa and while she is winless since, will run in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic feature at Rosehill on Saturday.
Peter and Paul Snowden's filly Missile Mantra opened a $3.70 TAB favourite after drawing gate seven and with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
Subpoenaed is next at $4, with Asiago at $6 and Kris Lees' Game Of Thorns at $8.50.
Kerry Parker is the only Kembla Grange trainer in the field with Sorridere, who broke her Maiden on March 3. with AAP
KEMBLA GRANGE CLASSIC
Group 3, Fillies Set Weights (1600m)
Friday, 4.55pm
Market: Missile Mantra (Barrier 7) $3.70, Subpoenaed (15) $4, Asiago (2) $6, Game Of Thorns (12) $8.50, Dorothy Of Oz (9) $26, Nudge (10) $9.50, Akari (3) $12, All Saints Eve (5) $16, Icebath (1) $41, Strange Charm (13) $34, Donnachiara (8) $61, Buba (6) $61, Shout The Bar (16) $18, Pierro Rose (11) $61, Sorridere (4) $126.
Subscribe to our newsletters
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.
