The Gong 2025 Preview
The Gong 2025 Preview
The Gong 2025 returns as one of NSW’s richest and most competitive provincial features, offering $1 million over 1600 metres and drawing a deep field of progressive milers every November. With its new Group 3 status and a growing reputation for producing future stars, The Gong has become a vital spring grand final for horses looking to capitalise outside metropolitan Group 1 pressure.
What is The Gong?
The Gong is a relatively new but fast-growing feature in the Racing NSW Spring calendar. Introduced in 2019 by Racing NSW to support regional racing, it’s a 1600-metre quality handicap for horses aged three and up, held at Kembla Grange under the Illawarra Turf Club’s banner.
Worth a million dollars, it one of the richest provincial race in NSW and recently earned Group 3 status in 2024 Always run in late November, it’s become a proper spring highlight for runners who might have missed out on metro glory.
When is The Gong 2025?
The Gong 2025 will be run at Kembla Grange on Saturday 22nd November.
Race History
Launched in 2019, The Gong was created by Racing NSW to elevate regional racing and act as a lucrative spring target beyond metropolitan carnivals. Run over 1600 metres as a quality handicap, the race has quickly gained prominence and achieved Group 3 status in 2024. Previous winners include Mister Sea Wolf (2019), Archedemus (2020), Count De Rupee (2021), Riodini (2022), Detonator Jack (2023), and 2024 champion Gringotts.
Who Won Last Year’s The Gong?
Gringotts claimed the 2024 edition of The Gong, defeating Suparazi and Steparty.
Previous Winners
In 2024, Gringotts proved too strong, finishing ahead of Suparazi and Steparty to secure a well-earned victory. The 2023 running saw Detonator Jack produce a strong late finish in wet conditions whilst Riodini took the honours in 2022. In 2021, local favourite Count De Rupee thrilled the home crowd with a popular win over Nudge and Yamazaki. Archedemus charged to victory in 2020 and in the inaugural Gong back in 2019 the race was won by Mister Sea Wolf.
Latest The Gong Odds & Tips
A strong edition of The Gong (1600m) rolls into Kembla Grange this Saturday, and while the field is bursting with genuine hopes, the market has made its intentions clear. With $1 million up for grabs and a strong tempo expected, punters should brace for a race where positioning early is everything.
Pickabookie.com.au’s Best Bet, Gringotts ($2.40), returns as the defending champ and the one they all have to beat. Nash Rawiller sticks, Ciaron Maher has him humming, and despite lumping 61kg, he maps to get the gun run just behind the speed. Class has carried him this far, and it’s no shock he’s the firm favourite to go back-to-back.
Among the other fancied runners are Estadio Mestalla ($6.50), a tough on-pace type backing up after a strong fresh win; Tavi Time ($7.50), who gets conditions to suit and appeals as a big closer; Amor Victorious ($8.50), perfectly drawn and weighted with clear each-way claims; and Ducasse ($21), a lightweight miler capable of chiming in late if the breaks fall his way. All look ready to run well—but they’ll need to if they’re to topple the champ.
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