Australia: Tutta La Vita facing easier rivals in Kembla Grange Classic

Third or fourth in three Group 1 races since late September, Tutta La Vita will race against an easier field in Thursday’s Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic for Southern Hemipshere 3-year-old fillies at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Thursday evening.

Considering her recent competition, Tutta La Vita has an excellent chance for her first stakes win in the $165,750 Kembla Grange Classic at a mile, provided she can beat Arctic Glamour, who also has recent experience in Group 1 races. Tutta La Vita’s improving stablemate, Mare of Mt Buller, is a longshot who could play an important role in the result.

Tutta La Vita and Mare of Mt Buller are two of four runners trained by Chris Waller in the Kembla Grange Classic, although the outsider About a Girl was on the also-eligible list on Wednesday. The race will have a maximum of 16 runners.

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Tutta La Vita was third in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on March 2, closing from eighth of 12 to lose by 1 3/4 lengths.

Arctic Glamour was 10th by about 5 1/2 lengths in the Surround Stakes, never reaching contention in her first start since a fifth-place finish by three lengths in the Group 1 1000 Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne last November.

Mare of Mt Buller has won 3 of 4 starts. After finishing fourth in her debut last June, Mare of Mt Buller scored three consecutive wins from mid-December to late February in a maiden race and two minor handicaps at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 7 3/4 furlongs.

Tyler Schiller rode Mare of Mt Buller to a maiden race win at Kembla Grange in December and regains the mount in the Kembla Grange Classic.

Kembla Grange has an eight-race program beginning at 10:05 p.m. Eastern or 7:05 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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