4:00pm - THE ILLAWARRA MERCURY GONG | 1600m | | i

There is always plenty of depth in The Gong and this year we've got the G1-placed OSIPENKO and G1 Randwick Guineas winner COMMUNIST to add some class. Those two 4YOS get conditions to suit here and will be very hard to hold out late with just a slight question over OSIPENKO after being scratched the day of the Golden Eagle (lameness). The Five Diamonds form of DETONATOR JACK and WATERFORD (better back to 1600m) is expected to measure up too. WILD PLANET (4th in this race last year) is drawn to be around the mark again.