Joe Pride to hit The Gong with in-form trio

Joe Pride is set to have a strong hand in the feature race at the stand-alone Kembla Grange meeting with up to three runners in the $1 million The Gong.

The Warwick Farm horseman has nominated Little Dance runner-up Estadio Mestalla, last start winner King Of The Castle and proven stakes performer Lekvarte for Saturday’s mile feature, which has attracted 33 entries.

Lekvarte was a brilliant winner of the Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick two starts ago and was far from disgraced when sixth to Atishu in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington at her most recent appearance.

While Pride wasn’t disappointed with her effort there, he feels she doesn’t perform at her best interstate.

“It was probably a bit strong for her to be fair, that Group One standard,” Pride said.

“She has just never raced as well when I have travelled her for some reason. She likes Sydney.

“To me, she always runs a length or so off what she is capable of when she’s away. I’ve had horses like that in the past, so hopefully Kembla should suit her.”

A nine-time winner, Lekvarte is Pride’s top-seed for The Gong (1600m), although both Estadio Mestalla and King Of The Castle also head there in good form.

Estadio Mestalla was touched out by St Lawrence in the Little Dance (1600m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick, while King Of The Castle lumped 62.5kg to victory in a 1500m benchmark race on the undercard.

“It was good to see him back in the winner’s circle and he’s going well,” Pride said.

“He will drop a fair bit in weight for his next start, which is nice.

“Coming back off Group One standard, Lekvarte will probably be the best of those three chances, although it might come down to luck and barriers and everything else. But they’ve all got a hope.”

The Gong will be one of two feature races at Kembla, along with the Group 3 The Warra (1000m), in which Pride has entered last-start Randwick winner Dragonstone.