Race day dawns for The Gong hopeful

DAWN Passage is like many good gallopers — he saves his best for race day.

“I swear this horse knows when he is going to the races,’’ trainer Gai Waterhouse said.

“As (jockey) Tim Clark tells me, the Dawn Passage he works on the track or in a barrier trial is totally different to the Dawn Passage he rides in a race.

“This horse puts his ‘game face’ on for race day.’’

But Waterhouse acknowledges Dawn Passage will need to be right on “top of his game” when he takes on a star-studded field for the $1 million The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The Gong has attracted an outstanding line-up with 13 of the 16 starters having won at Group or Listed level previously, including three individual Group 1 winners — Olmedo, Best Of Days and Nettoyer.

The trio who have yet to win a stakes race are two-time Group 1 placegetter Reloaded, multiple Group placegetter Bottega, and last start Goulburn Cup winner Al Mah Haha.

“It is a top class field but we couldn’t be happier with Dawn Passage,’’ said Waterhouse, who trains in partnership with Adrian Bott.

“He’s a lovely colt, a class individual, and he’s had a little trial in between runs.

“By his standards, he was impressive winning the Wyong trial and his trackwork since has also been very good.’’

Dawn Passage, winner of five of his 13 starts and nearly $1.5 million prizemoney, goes to The Gong after third placings in the Silver Eagle and Golden Eagle.

But it seems the stars are finally aligning on a major race day for Dawn Passage as he has drawn the rails barrier and gets a firm racing surface for The Gong.

“He gets a dry track and the right barrier, all the little things are in his favour and you need to have that sort of luck to win these big races,’’ Waterhouse said. “I’m really looking forward to this race.’’

Dawn Passage has firmed into favouritism at $4.60 ahead of Purple Sector at $5 in Ladbrokes’ market for The Gong.