Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kensington, Walcha
A James Cummings-trained filly has been trialling nicely and can resume a winner at Kensington. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Kensington.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
KENSINGTON
BEST BET
Race 2, No.9: PARISAL
Promising Godolphin filly returning from a spell. Trials indicate she‘s ready to go first-up.
NEXT BEST
Race 5, No.6: SUMMERBEEL
Did enough in her first run back from a long break. Will be a significant improver.
VALUE BEST
Race 4, No.7: MONFELICITY
Genuine stayer that will be suited by the step up to 2400m third run back from a spell.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 3, 7, 8
Race 5: 1, 6, 7, 8
Race 6: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
Race 7: 2, 3
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
No prizes for picking the top gun, James McDonald. He‘s got a couple of sensational chances early and late.
WALCHA
BEST BET
Race 4, No.2: EIGHTY EIGHT STARS
Knocking out the door after a pair of seconds to start his career. Can go one better.
NEXT BEST
Race 7, No.4: ZAIDIN
The last start Inverell Cup winner can add more silverware to the trophy cabinet in the Walcha Cup.
VALUE BEST
Race 3, No.2: EARLY HOURS
Ready to improve second-up after a solid fresh performance.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR KENSINGTON
RACE 1
Getty was one of the unlucky few that had to face a deteriorating track at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Day on debut. The Capitalist colt battled on resolutely in tough conditions to finish second. Provided that performance didn’t take too much out of him, he should relish a better surface with star hoop J-Mac aboard. Capital Heart has caught the eye at the trials, winning both hit outs. The inside draw looks ideal as he should roll forward and be tough to run down. Shaken is out of Godolphin’s former Blue Diamond winner Earthquake. She’s trialled okay behind Barber most recently and could be over the odds.
Bet: Getty to win.
RACE 2
You won’t get juicy odds but Parisal should be breaking the maiden here. The Godolphin filly is another classy progeny of emerging sire Astern, which has produced the likes of stablemates Golden Mile and Aft Cabin. Her trials in the lead up to her return from a break have been excellent, where she gets an excellent draw and Australia’s leading hoop in the chair. Dakota Vroom is a $1.2m daughter of I Am Invincible out of the ultra-talented Catchy. Trained by Chris Waller, she has shown some promise in recent trials. Botanica is another first starter and a forward showing wouldn’t surprise based off what he’s done in recent heats.
Bet: Parisal to win.
RACE 3
Associate just missed when stepping out over this track and trip on debut in December and can go close again. The Danielle Seib-trained galloper was only beaten by a hair on that occasion with the trainer confident he’s capable of going one better this time. Star apprentice Tyler Schiller sticks and knows the horse well. Call Di is a genuine blueblood as a daughter of Frankel and Group 1 mare Samantha Miss. She placed in Listed grade last time and will no doubt have more black type in mind this prep. Episodic can only improve off her debut third at Canterbury from the one alley here.
Bet: Associate, Call Di quinella.
RACE 4
Monfelicity wears the same colours as David Payne’s stable weapon Montefilia and is similarly suited by the staying trips. She raced without a lot of luck when finishing midfield over the 2000m in Saturday grade last time. Stepping up to the mile and a half now looks ideal for her third up from a break. Endorphins hasn’t won in her past nine starts but is edging closer. She’s been placed at her past two including a near miss at Warwick Farm over 2200m two back. Whangaehu hasn’t missed the placings in his past six runs with one win. The 2400m trip has to be the question mark; he’s never won over more than 1900m.
Bet: Monfelicity to win.
RACE 5
Summerbeel spent 40 weeks away from the races before running a credible fifth at Warwick Farm first up from a break. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare can only improve off that showing. A winner second up before and over the trip, she should go close. Ella Te Ama has also accepted in a race on Saturday at Randwick. Should Kris Lees head here, she is certainly a chance after finishing a strong second to the in-form Banana Queen in Saturday grade last time. Chris Waller’s fillies Pink Baroque and Infinitive are only lightly-raced but have shown enough this preparation to be competitive against the older mares.
Bet: Summerbeel to win.
RACE 6
Owen County was last seen finishing midfield in a Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, a race his father Dundeel won. The John Sargent-trained gelding will follow likely follow a three-year-old Classics path in the autumn but will be doing his best work late here. Ditto Stroke Of Luck. He is another Classic type resuming and will being surging home when it matters. Noble Conqueror, formerly Conqueror, has a win and a second in two past fresh runs so expecting him to be around the money first up from a break. True Crime is the likely favourite but has been set a task from the wide draw.
Bet: Owen County each way.
RACE 7
Narito boasts a decent record of two wins and two placings from six starts. Both those placings have come this preparation where he hasn’t been far away. Trainer Chris Waller has tinkered with the gear to get the best out of him, adding a cross-over nose band and ear muffs pre-race. His A-Game should be good enough to win this but you’ll need to back him on trust. Duchy Of Savoy does some of her best racing fresh, winning two and placing in another first up. She should get every chance to feature from barrier two. Big Happiness won his first start back in Australia at Gosford after returning from a stint in Hong Kong. He’s a deadset 1000m specialist.
Bet: Narito to win.
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kensington, Walcha
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