Old Flame remains near the top of The Gong 2022 betting for Saturday’s $1 million feature race at Kembla Grange despite the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained galloper drawing out wide.

One-time favourite Old Flame has drawn wide in Saturday’s 2022 The Gong field at Kembla Grange. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The fourth edition of the $1 million The Gong (1600m) highlights the Sydney racing action this weekend, and there is a capacity 16 starter field for the handicap clash.

That includes the first emergency Wild Planet getting a run in on 53.5kg after the withdrawal of the Chris Waller-trained Atishu (14).

Last start Group 2 Matriarch Stakes winner on Stakes Day, Atishu instead jumps as favourite in the Listed $500,000 Ballarat Cup (2000m) in Victoria.

Formerly sitting top of the latest The Gong odds online at $6.50 through Ladbrokes.com.au, the in-form Invincible Spirit entire Old Flame for Team Snowden has work to do from a nasty barrier in the mile feature.

A winner of five of his 11 starts to date, the British-bred five-year-old was excellent at Flemington last time out on Derby Day.

Old Flame returned to winning form with a 1.5 length success in the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes (1400m).

He has drawn out in gate 19 (into 15) for his trip back north for The Gong, but remains a winning hope with jockey Tommy Berry aboard according to the markets.

Early The Gong market mover and new top elect is the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Riodini.

The Proisir six-year-old was at double-figures following final acceptances but has been heavily backed in from $10 to $5.50 to head updated The Gong betting.

Riodini hasn’t finished better than seventh his latest eight starts with his last placing being behind Verry Elleegant when runner-up in the 2021 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) over a year ago.

He is third-up this prep and was last seen running just over three lengths back eighth in an eye-catching performance at triple-figures in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) on October 29.

Now into the same $6.50 quote as one-time favourite Old Flame is the Joe Pride-trained Brutality on the quick back-up.

Regan Bayliss partners the six-year-old son of Shamus Award again with the horse and hoop last seen running over four lengths back ninth to Vilana in Newcastle’s $1 million The Hunter (1300m) last Saturday.

That was on a Good (4), as was his credible ninth when just over three lengths behind stablemate Private Eye in the Nature Strip at Rosehill as a 40/1 outsider two back.

Better on Soft – Heavy going, Brutality is unlikely to get conditions to suit this weekend and the support for him in the markets is surprising.

A further three The Gong runners are at single-figures for the win with Kerry Parker’s in-form Dundeel mare Hope In Your Heart ($8) coming off two Group 3 wins and a close fourth at big odds in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), Kris Lees’ inaugural $2 million The Big Dance winner over the Randwick mile with 59kg on Cup Day Rustic Steel ($8.50), and the rails-drawn Purple Sector ($9.50) the dangers.

The Gong 2022 is set to run as Kembla Grange Race 8 at 4:40pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s big 10-race card.

Click here for the latest markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 The Gong Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.