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We return to the Kensington track this Wednesday for a seven-race metropolitan midweek program.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
At time of writing, the track is rated a Good 4 with the rail out 4m the entire circuit.
Continue reading for our thoughts on each race below.
RACE 1 - 2:00PM: 2YO FILLIES MAIDEN PLATE (1000 METRES)Tricky way to start the day with all seven fillies having their first race start.
Gai's Artist (3) showed good speed to find the front in an 800m trial at Hawkesbury before working home well under her own steam to win by half a length.
The Ryan and Alexiou stable have a knack of getting a horse to fire first-up so the daughter of Snitzel should be ready to go.
She's drawn nicely for Tyler Schiller.
RACE 2 - 2:35PM: THREE-YEARS-OLD MAIDEN PLATE (1300 METRES)Armed Forces (1) returns from Melbourne following two very good runs against quality opposition.
The Chris Waller-trained I Am Invincible colt resumed in the Listed McKenzie Stakes and gave a good account of himself to finish 2.3 lengths behind Steparty and Scentify.
He then put up an almighty fight last start when being run down late by Maharba and Brave Mead.
Brave Mead subsequently won last Saturday at Caulfield to frank the form.
He'll strip fitter third-up and will appreciate dropping back to maiden company.
RACE 3 - 3:10PM: BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (2400 METRES)Amazingly seven of the eight acceptors raced each other two weeks ago at Warwick Farm where Casual Connection won.
Yet that still doesn't make the task of finding the winner any easier!
I'm going with the consistent Golden Passport (7) who after winning first-up, has placed in four of his past five starts.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained stayer was forced to go early and found himself on a three-wide run from the 600m mark last start over 2400m at Warwick Farm. Despite that, he fought bravely to go down by a head and finish fourth.
He drops 1kg from that run and the blinkers come off.
Tim Clark should be able to settle in a forward position easier than last time.
RACE 4 - 3:50PM: 4YO+ BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)Sweet Baby Boom (1) will appreciate dropping in class after a courageous effort last start in a Benchmark 78 Handicap over this course and distance.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained four-year-old mare led before tiring late but still boxed on well to finish second to the well backed Avebury.
Prior to that, she won in strong fashion over 1150m here and was a dominant winner two starts back at Canterbury.
Jett Stanley, who claims 2kg, takes the ride and should be able to dictate terms in front which should make his mount hard to run down.
RACE 5 - 4:30PM: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1800 METRES)The Englishman (3) has come back this preparation in fine fettle and looks ready to breakthrough for a win third-up.
The four-year-old Tavistock gelding improved second-up when finding the line strongly to finish a head second over 1600m at Kembla Grange.
He was powerful through the line suggesting that The Snowdens have pulled the right rein in stepping him up to 1800m.
RACE 6 - 5:10PM: 3&4YO BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)Waikiki (4) was luckless when resuming at Warwick Farm two weeks ago.
The Chris Waller-trained Capitalist mare settled back before saving ground on the turn and coming along the fence in the straight.
Unfortunately, the four-year-old ran into a wall of horses and went to the line untested, finishing 2.56 lengths ninth.
She'll appreciate the drop in class and will strip fitter second-up.
If Kerrin McEvoy can get her to the outside, as she did when winning second-up last preparation, she could take some holding out.
RACE 7 - 5:50PM: 4YO+ BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP (1250 METRES)Shohei (3) resumes here following a nice piece of work where she stormed home under a hold in a 900m Rosehill trial.
The Team Hawkes-trained mare races well fresh having won two of three resumptions and placing second in the other.
Last preparation she won first-up at Newcastle before heading south where she went down by a whisker to Foxy Frida in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet.
She looks primed for a big showing first-up and with a likely strong speed, she'll be charging to the line.
