Single Gaze went onto G1 success out of it so watch the 2023 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Friday.
2023 KEMBLA GRANGE CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Kembla Grange Classic is a Group 3 race for three-year-old fillies conducted by the Illawarra Turf Club at Kembla Grange.
First run in 1999 it was known as the Keith F Nolan Classic in honour of the founding chairman of the Illawarra Turf Club. Due to sponsorship arrangements it has been known as the Kembla Grange Classic since 2015.
The Kembla Grange Classic is run over 1600m under set weights and penalty conditions as a preliminary for fillies set to contest the G1 Vinery Stud (Storm Queen) Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill Gardens and the G1 ATC Australian Oaks over 2400m at the Randwick autumn carnival.
The Kembla Grange Classic was a Listed Race from 2003-2009 and has been a Group 3 race since 2010.
The Kembla Grange Classic was not run at Kembla Grange was in 2011 when the meeting was abandoned due to track conditions. The race was transferred to Rosehill Gardens and run over 1800m. It was also moved to Goulburn in 2022 due to the horrible weather but stayed at the mile.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Coco Cobanna is the only filly to win the Kembla Grange Classic/ATC Oaks double in 2000. Heavenly Glow finished third in the 2008 Kembla Grange Classic before she won the G1 Storm Queen Stakes and ATC Oaks at her next two starts.
Zanbagh won the 2014 Kembla Grange Classic before she finished second in the ATC Oaks. Single Gaze also won the Vinery after winning at Kembla.
Asiago won the Spring Stakes at Newcastle against the boys in November and then this race in March. She beat home the subsequent dual G1 winner Shout The Bar.
The 2023 Kembla Grange Classic was worth $200,000.
Other notable winners of the Kembla Grange Classic include Zaroyale, Ain't Seen Nothin', Pasikatera, Hot Danish, Allez Wonder, Brazilian Pulse, Appearance, Cameo, Slightly Sweet, Single Gaze, Luvaluva, Asiago and Pretty Amazing.
The 2022 Kembla Grange Classic was won by Pretty Amazing from Hope In Your Heart and Gin Martini.
