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Merc in driver’s seat for winning return

Iowna Merc will be out to add to his impressive first-up record at Kembla Grange.

Iowna Merc.
Iowna Merc. Picture: Steve Hart

A bulked-up Iowna Merc will chase a breakthrough stakes win when he resumes in the Group Three The Warra, and connections are hoping his physical development is reflected in the result.

The five-year-old had contested black-type grade three times, twice filling the minor placings in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone in May and the Listed June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.

Trainer Bjorn Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton is hoping the horse's stronger frame can help deliver him a first stakes success in Saturday's 1000m feature.

"He's definitely a little bit stronger," Hilton said.

"He's at the top level now where he's got to compete in stakes races and he needs to take the extra step to knock one of those off.

"He just needs to find a length or so to be winning a stakes race, he gets his chance on Saturday."

Iowna Merc boasts a strong fresh record with a win and three placings from four first-up runs.

He was a recent trial winner at Warwick Farm and Hilton said the consistent performer was forward enough to run his typically bold race.

"He has come back great. He has trialled well," Hilton said.

"He always does trial well and he tends to run really well first-up - he was third in the stakes race at Scone first-up last time in."

Baker's Kembla Grange team will also include smart mare Infatuation in the Carlton Dry 3.5 Handicap (1200m).

Placed in the Golden Gift at two, she finished fourth in Skirt The Law's Magic Millions Classic (1200m) and was stakes placed in last year's Gosford Guineas (1200m).

Hilton expects her to strip much fitter for her unplaced first-up effort at Rosehill earlier this month as she prepares for another Magic Millions tilt.

"She was a tad disappointing on face value first-up, but she over-raced early and just raced a bit above herself fresh," he said.

"She has had a number of good gallops in between and she should improve sharply second-up."


Racing and Sports

Kembla Grange

Saturday, 23rd November 2024

9
ET

SNAP PRINT SOLUTIONS WOLLONGONG THE WARRA (G3)

WT: 117lbs Type: OPEN
5 f TURF GOOD
9

(local)
AUD $300,000
5 f GOOD

SNAP PRINT SOLUTIONS WOLLONGONG THE WARRA (G3)

WT: 117lbs Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 9. HEADWALL (AUS) 5yo G
DREAM AHEAD (USA) - POSITIVE QUEST (AUS)
BLAKE SPRIGGS
MATTHEW SMITH
$7.5
53kg
R A Young, J H Marsden, Mrs A M Adam & Mrs N Der Sarkissian
2nd 1. DRAGONSTONE (AUS) 6yo G
MIKKI ISLE (JPN) - QUICK'S THE WORD (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
JOSEPH PRIDE
$5
59kg
N Tzaferis, A Tzaferis, Boats & Bees Racing, P Kotsiris, G O A Jenkins, Mrs R Jenkins, Ms J Moore, C Iliadis, L A Fitt, N Quinn, N Vlahos, S Guthrie, A Proutsos, A Floyd, M Collins, A Georgiou, Forest Lodge Nsw Pty Ltd, Hay Merchants, Gate 4 Racing & Cacal Racing

Sales Information

3rd 3. HEDGED (AUS) 4yo G
CAPITALIST (AUS) - ACING SHAMROCK (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
MICK PRICE & MICHAEL KENT JNR
$3
55kg
RTD Racing (Mgr: R Norton), G Franklin, P Mcelvogue, C Bourke, Mrs L Robertson, Olke Alice (Mgr: G Koch), D Mcginnes, D+A Racing, The Middle, Ms M Stewart, PBFF Racing, P Harrison, Bay Boys, Ms J Michael, T Hunter, A Graeber, Gravel Pits Racing, LN Racing, The Crown Racing & Keep Livin

Sales Information

4th 10. FLEETWOOD (AUS) 4yo G
ENCRYPTION (AUS) - JENNIFER JUNIPER (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
JAMES CUMMINGS
$11
53kg

Sales Information

5th 2. BRUDENELL (AUS) 5yo G
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (AUS) - KNIT 'N' PURL (AUS)
TOMMY BERRY
KRIS LEES
$12
57kg

Sales Information

6th 4. FRILLED (AUS) 5yo M
STAR WITNESS (AUS) - FRILL SEEKING (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
MATTHEW SMITH
$16
54kg
7th 11. SOUTH OF INDIA (AUS) 4yo G
CHURCHILL (IRE) - MINNESOTA (AUS)
JAY FORD
ROSS MCCONVILLE
$26
53kg
8th 7. IOWNA MERC (AUS) 5yo G
WINNING RUPERT (AUS) - MERCEDES (AUS)
RACHEL KING
BJORN BAKER
$5.5
53kg
9th 5. KOTE (AUS) 5yo G
CHOISIR (AUS) - SOFFRAAJ (AUS)
REECE JONES
BLAKE RYAN
$101
54kg

Sales Information

10th 6. VAINSTREAM (AUS) 10yo G
BEL ESPRIT (AUS) - YASEY SAN (AUS)
BEANY PANYA
GEOFFREY CROTHERS
$201
54kg

Sales Information

11th 8. QUICK TEMPO (AUS) 6yo G
RUBICK (AUS) - TAWFIQ VALLEY (AUS)
ANDREW ADKINS
MARK MINERVINI
$51
53kg

Sales Information