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Missile Mantra ready for lift off in Kembla Classic

The Missile is set to be launched and on target come Friday in the Group III Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).

Missile Mantra ready for lift off in Kembla Classic
Missile Mantra (all red) in the Thousand Guineas. Photo: Darryl Sherer.

“It’s a winnable race that’s for sure,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden when discussing his promising filly Missile Mantra who lines up as the fancy in Kembla Grange’s 3YO fillies feature race.

It’s been just on 11 months since the daughter of Smart Missile broke her maiden at Ballarat and she has done nothing but improve and you get the feeling Paul Snowden believes her best is in front of her.

Missile Mantra is already a listed winner and Group I-placed having finished a narrow second to Flit in the Thousand Guineas during the spring.

According to Snowden, who trains with his father Paul, that was all done on raw ability.

“This time in she is a different filly,” he said. “She is more furnished and a stronger girl that is coping with racing a lot better.

“Her run the other day behind Probabeel and Funstar was really pleasing as she doesn’t like being inside horses yet she was only beaten a length and a half.

“A big track like Kembla over the mile should be perfect and give her a good base as she steps to 2000m next start in the Group I Vinery.”

The big question is whether Chris Waller will send his highly touted filly Subpoenaed down the highway to Kembla as she also holds a spot in Saturday’s Group II Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) where she could line up against the two big guns in Probabeel and Funstar.

“I will change my mind 100 times before Friday as it’s an important decision but at the moment I’m probably leaning to Saturday after drawing a horrible gate at Kembla,” Waller said from Warwick Farm races Wednesday.

“She is in good form and even if she races against Funstar and Probabeel she will acquit herself well”

Kubrick will line up in the Phar Lap for Waller while Nudge is expected to be the stable’s only representative in the Kembla Grange classic if Subpoenaed stays home.