Racing at her home track at Kembla Grange on Saturday, Theresa Bateup is nearing a training milestone, sitting only four wins off 250 career victories.
While the Sapphire Coast has been Bateup’s happiest hunting ground, having trained an impressive 85 winners at the popular South East racecourse, Kembla Grange is Bateup’s second most prolific racecourse, preparing 29 winners there.
The stable can add to that tally on Saturday, and as soon as the first race, with the 2025 Bega Cup winner and Big Dance-bound Direct Fire finding a nice race in the 1500m Benchmark 64 Handicap.
The 5YO Dracarys gelding has been racing well this preparation, starting three times in stronger Midway Benchmark 72 Handicaps, where he’s not been too far off the pace.
Now four runs into his preparation, and less than two weeks out from the $3 million Big Dance or $750,000 Little Dance, which will be run and won at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, November 4, his upcoming Kembla Grange assignment appears to be the perfect stepping stone and a winnable event for Direct Fire.
Talented apprentice jockey Zac Wadick jumps aboard with his 1.5-kilogram claim, meaning the Kembla Grange galloper will only carry 60kg when jumping from gate three.
Bookmakers installed Direct Fire as the $3.60 second favourite, but punters soon snapped that quote up, backing the local galloper into the $3.20 equal favourite.
While Direct Fire leads the stable’s chances on a big day at Kembla Grange, Bateup will also start the in-form Miss Bariloche (Jess Taylor, 55kg), which will jump from gate four in the 1600m Benchmark 68 Handicap.
Following a decisive win in the 1660m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Moruya on September 16, the 6Y0 Husson mare stepped up in class and still caught the eye, running second to subsequent Bathurst placegetter Wal’s Angels at Moruya in a 1650m Benchmark 66 Handicap on October 3.
Maiden gallopers Pitch ‘N’ Toss (Jess Taylor, 55.5kg) and Pretty Please (Mollie Fitzgerald, 54kg) also go around in the 1600m Midway Maiden Handicap.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos