Kembla preview: Bad draw forces tactics change for Earl Of Devon

Trainer John Thompson was left lamenting after promising stayer Earl Of Devon came up with an outside barrier at Kembla which will force his hand with riding tactics.

The son of Tavistock worked home well when fourth behind Satness over 1600m at Gosford last start and showed he would relish even more ground.

He finally gets to a suitable distance in the Class 1 And Maiden Plate over 2000m but gate 14 in the field of 15 has dented Thompson’s confidence.

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“He is a horse who needed the run first-up at Hawkesbury,” said Thompson.

“The other day at Gosford, the race didn’t suit where he got back but he hit the line nicely.

“Stepping up to 2000m at Kembla will really suit, it’s just a shame he’s drawn in the carpark again which forces us to ride him quietly.

“When he won his maiden at Wyong, he sat outside the leader.

“He is going to be giving them a start, it’s just a matter of if they go quick enough up front that something from the back can come over the top.

“He is a nice stayer in the making though.”

Last-start winner Double Scoop only just got there at Wyong last start but Thompson said there was more to the win than first appearances.

The three-year-old filly tracked the speed in fourth spot and had to start her run before the turn when Burns To Embrace gave a kick.

“She got into a tricky spot and the leader skipped away,” he said.

“She ran it down but with Wyong having a short straight, she only just got there but I think she got there comfortably.

“She has done super between runs and has drawn well on Thursday so she will be up on the speed and should run well again.”

The daughter of Press Statement has drawn ideally in barrier four in the Class 1 Handicap over 1500m.

“She goes all right and will win her fair share of races,” he said.

“The thing about her is that she puts herself up on speed which takes bad luck out of the equation a lot of the time now she has got up to 1400m and 1500m because she is a little bit one-paced.

“She is well placed again.”

Decisive Lass should have no doubt finished closer when fourth behind Kangaroo Court when resuming at Kembla on June 27.

After settling back in the field, she was held up until approaching the 200m when she came off heels and made good ground.

Thomson feels she is a good chance from a low draw in the Midway 3YO Maiden Handicap over 1200m.

“She drew wide and got back but ran home nicely first-up,” he said.

“This week she has drawn better so she should be box seating and finish even closer.

“She has come back a bit stronger this preparation and this looks like a suitable race.”

Former Victorian The Riddler will appreciate getting to the big track at Kembla and he is ready to peak third-up in the 3YO Maiden Handicap over 1500m.

The son of Rubick needed the run when seventh at Hawkesbury at his first start for Thompson before a two and a quarter length fourth to Sonny Fella at Gosford last start.

“At Gosford, he was behind the speed ready to pounce but he just wobbled around the tight corner,” he said.

“Dylan Gibbons rode him and said he thinks the horse needs a set of blinkers because he was having a good look around.

“The blinkers go on and Kembla will suit him a lot better.”

Jones has good view of Villa

Trainer Stephen Jones has liked what he has seen from Villa Treville and will use Thursday’s Scone race as a launching pad to Sydney riches.

The three-year-old filly has recorded two good wins from just four starts and will likely head to a TAB Highway in the coming weeks if everything goes to plan this week.

“She can gallop this filly. She has a few little issues that we have to handle but everything is good with her at the moment,” Jones said.

“Ever since we have had her, she has gotten better with those things all the time and she is pretty good now.

“She has performed well in all four of her starts and she is a progressive filly.

“Our plan has always been to head to a Highway and that will certainly be on the cards if she can win on Thursday.”

The daughter of American Pharoah has drawn out wide in the Fence Dig Me Wright Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) on a heavy track but Jones isn’t too concerned.

“She has handles soft ground and I don’t think the heavy will cause any problems for her. She’s pretty versatile,” he said.

“I would rather the track be heavy than strike a hard surface with her.”

While Villa Treville will be a popular elect with punters, stablemate Naked Eye will be one of the outsiders in the Elders Killara Feedlot Maiden Plate (1000m) but Jones feels she is capable of running a cheeky race.

The two-year-old filly is yet to place in four career starts with her best result a fourth at Gunnedah but she has shown Jones she has her share of ability in her trackwork and trials.

“She has been a little bit of a work in progress,” he said.

“Her work has been great and she has shown that she has ability in her trials, she just has to bring it to race day now.

“She didn’t run out the 1200m last start so dropping back to 1000m will suit her better and I don’t think she will mind the wet track either.

“The day she does put it all together, she might surprise a few people.”