Australia: Big Dance winner Gringotts a slight early favorite in Gong Stakes

Less than three weeks after a win in the $1.8 million Big Dance Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, the red-hot 5-year-old gelding Gringotts is bound for a much smaller venue for the Group 3 Gong Stakes at a mile at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Friday evening.

Thanks to his win in the Big Dance Stakes, as well as second-place finishes in two stakes in September and October, Gringotts will carry topweight of 132 pounds in the $650,000 Gong Stakes, a handicap which drew a full field of 16.

Kembla Grange Racecourse is located in a seaside town of the same name about 40 miles south of Sydney.

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Trained by Ciaron Maher, Gringotts was always near the front in the Big Dance Stakes and won by slightly less than a length. He has a tough draw in the Gong Stakes, starting from the outside post in the one-turn race.

Gringotts, who will be ridden by Tommy Berry, has sufficient speed to be forwardly-placed and avoid a wide trip.

The post position has not scared away early bettors. As of Thursday, Gringotts was the 9-2 favorite, a slight choice over Territory Express (5-1) and King of the Castle (8-1), who is on the also-eligible list.

Territory Express was fifth by 1 1/2 lengths in the $1.34 million Five Diamonds Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for Southern Hemisphere 5-year-olds on Nov. 9. Last April, Territory Express won a restricted race worth approximately $650,000 at a mile at Randwick.

King of the Castle is not a certain runner. If he fails to draw into the race from the also-eligible list, the 8-year-old gelding is entered to start in the preceding race, a lucrative handicap at a mile.

King of the Castle won a handicap at 7 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Nov. 5.

Kembla Grange has a 10-race program beginning at 8:35 p.m. Eastern or 5:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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