Summary of Best Bets
Best Bet: R4 (1) Oso Spirited
Next Best: R3 (1) Ernaux
Best Value: R5 (7) Stella Rhonda
Best Roughie: R8 (2) Hurstville Zagreb
Race 1
A strong race to kick us off here at Kensington. Thought the debut run of Unhinged had plenty of merit. He showed signs of greenness throughout, though still fought on strongly late and will take plenty of benefit from the experience. Nash should be able to roll forward on him and give him every chance. Tron Bolt looks ideally drawn from the inside gate and the rise to 1400m appears the perfect set up. JMac jumping in the saddle is another major positive and he looks a likely improver. Rye Manhattan has been trialling well leading into her debut. The decision to go straight to 1400m suggests the Charlton stable believes she is fit and ready to fire first up. Nations League looks to be improving with each run this campaign, strips fitter again here and can work his way into the numbers.
Selections:
2 Unhinged
4 Tron Bolt
9 Rye Manhattan
1 Nations League
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2
A wide open maiden here with a number of chances. Happy to put Nuclear Pete on top. His debut performance showed plenty of ability and he can only benefit from the experience. With added fitness, expect we will see further improvement here. James taking the ride gives plenty of confidence. Adenauer worked to the line nicely first up, which suggests the rise to 1400m looks ideal. Drawn to get the run of the race from barrier 2 and looks a genuine contender. It is interesting the Waller camp have decided to drop Mehsun back in trip after he was close up in a bunched finish at Randwick first up. They are a very smart stable and, with some luck from barrier 9, expect he will be in the finish. Artgirl has teased at times throughout her career to date. She was a long way off a very strong winner in Agatha first up, though she should take plenty of benefit from that run and can improve with added fitness.
Selections:
6 Nuclear Pete
1 Adenauer
5 Mehsun
9 Artgirl
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
Thought Ernaux was terrific last start and was probably beaten by the barrier after being forced to race three wide throughout and doing plenty of early work. Despite that, he was super to the line and the effort had plenty of merit. He has drawn much more favourably here and the rise in trip looks the perfect set up. Should get a far kinder run in transit and looks the one to beat. Siragusa drops back in trip after fighting on soundly last start. He should be nearing peak fitness now and looks one who can improve sharply. I Am Carrot has always shown potential and gets the run of the race from the inside gate here. Expect he will be right in the finish first up. Three Arrows appears to have returned in good order following strong trial form and can run a bold race fresh.
Selections:
1 Ernaux
4 Siragusa
2 I Am Carrot
8 Three Arrows
Suggested Bet: Ernaux WIN
Race 4
This looks a much easier race for Oso Spirited, who drops significantly in grade after a strong showing in a BM78 last start. He will be fitter for that effort and looks ready to peak third up. Expect he will use his gate speed to roll forward and lead again. We are getting a nice price here. Nasebah resumes after 32 weeks for her first Australian start. A competitive trial leading into this suggests she is ready to go and she looks a nice type moving forward. Wounder and Sunsprite both look to have genuine claims here after working to the line strongly last start. Both appear suited by the rise in trip and can improve again.
Selections:
1 Oso Spirited
3 Nasebah
9 Wounder
5 Island Dec
7 Petticoat
Suggested Bet: Oso Spirited WIN
Race 5
Stella Rhonda is chasing the hat-trick after strong back-to-back wins. This looks no harder than her latest victory and the rise to 1800m appears the ideal set up after she worked to the line strongly again last start. Chispa did her best work late last time out and now looks ready for this trip. This appears a suitable assignment for her. November Air has plenty of early speed and looks the likely leader of the field. She can give them something to run down. Hold The Door looks next best.
Selections:
7 Stella Rhonda
10 Chispa
5 November Air
8 Hold The Door
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6
The Extreme Cat has shown he is capable of carrying the weight and drops back in grade here. With a touch of luck from the wide draw, he looks a strong chance in this field. JMac in the saddle only adds to his appeal. Mafia has drawn ideally in barrier 2 and should be able to jump and lead without doing too much work. Fitter now and can give a strong sight. West Of Dalby does not win out of turn, though his latest effort was his best run for some time. He strips fitter for that performance and, if able to find his best form again, will be in the finish. High Blue Sea is a proven fresh performer. He may be a little short of his preferred trip, though he is more than capable of running a drum here.
Selections:
3 The Extreme Cat
1 Mafia
7 West Of Dalby
2 High Blue Sea
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 7
Mamushka won first up here last preparation off a similar let-up and the stable appears to have worked out how to have her firing fresh. Two quiet trials leading into this suggest she is ready to go. She should settle just off the leader and be strong late. Fleeting Spirit showed enough first up to suggest she has returned in good order. Fitter here and expected to improve again. Thames will need some luck from the wide draw, though if she can secure clear running late, expect she will be storming home. Mrs Maree looks next best in a competitive field.
Selections:
2 Mamushka
7 Fleeting Spirit
4 Thames
8 Mrs Maree
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 8
His best form has come over further, though the recent trials of Hurstville Zagreb have been encouraging leading into this. He is a proven fresh performer and, if able to secure clear running late, expect he will be right in the finish. Theblade has always shown promise and should continue to improve third up with the added fitness. He also looks set to get an ideal run from barrier 3. Cellarmaster looks to get the run of the race from barrier 2. He is a previous winner over this trip and can certainly win again here. Unique Ambition rises in grade after a strong last start win over this distance. Expect he will settle closer in the run this time around.
Selections:
2 Hurstville Zagreb
7 Theblade
6 Cellarmaster
9 Unique Ambition
Suggested Bet: Hurstville Zagreb Each Way
