Australia: Brookspire looks tough in Kembla Grange Classic
Brookspire is one of the most lightly-raced fillies in Friday’s Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia, and a starter with ample promise.
Brookspire has had three starts, winning a maiden race in her second outing on the Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in December. In her lone start this year on Feb. 17, again on the Kensington course, Brookspire finished with interest to be third in a seven-furlong handicap against fillies and mares by 3 1/2 lengths.
Brookspire typically raced as a stalker, but was farther back when Elegant Grace led by a wide margin into the stretch. The Feb. 17 race has been productive. Race winner Harmony Rose returned to finish third in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas against colts and geldings at Randwick last Saturday.
Brookspire is part of a field of 11 in the $154,200 Kembla Grange Classic, run at a mile for 3-year-old fillies. Although Brookspire is having her stakes debut, the Kembla Grange Classic is a race she can win for trainer Chris Waller.
The expected favorite is Elizabeel, a winner of 2 of 10 starts who was third in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies on Feb. 27 at Randwick. Elizabeel was 25-1 and finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Forbidden Love, who starts in Saturday’s $3.85 million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.
:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing
The one-mile distance is a question for Elizabeel. She has not won beyond six furlongs and was fourth by 4 1/4 lengths in the $713,500 Bondi Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile at Randwick last October.
Thermosphere, a two-time group stakes winner who was 10th in the Surround Stakes, and Nothinsweetaboutme, a winner of her first two starts in overnight races, also are part of the Kembla Grange Classic field.
The eight-race program begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, or 6:15 p.m. Pacific, on Thursday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.