Avenue Of Pleasure has only had one career start to date, but she looks a horse of ability and can break her maiden in the first at HQ. The Lindsay Park-trained filly mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to finish a close-up third at The Valley on debut and there is little doubt that she’ll enjoy good improvement for the effort. I’m interested to see what she can do down the straight and I’m happy to have something on.
2 Units Avenue Of Pleasure
Red Heeler has found excellent form since debuting and looks well placed to win at Flemington on Saturday. The Redwood mare has missed a place only once in five career starts so far; recording consecutive wins at Pakenham and Ladbrokes Park before a couple of game efforts to place here at Flemington. She’s rock-hard fit and won’t be offered a better opportunity to win on a Saturday.
2 Units Red Heeler
Condo’s Express hasn’t been seen at the races since October, but he is an above-average athlete and can make a winning return on Kensington Stakes Day. The three-year-old has fast become the stable star for Cranbourne trainer Richard Laming; recording two wins and four minors during his seven-start debut prep. He is a black type winner and has lengths on these rivals at his best, and I’m confident he’s ready to go. He is my best of the day at Flemington.
5 Units Condo’s Express
Blossom On Snow is yet to taste anything but success and can continue her rise through the grades in the fourth. The Sebring filly stamped herself as one to watch when breaking her maiden in style on debut, before giving her rivals a galloping lesson in a tougher race at Caulfield last time out. She’ll take further improvement into this and will take beating again.
2 Units Blossom On Snow
Time To Reign is resuming from a lengthy spell in the Kensington Stakes, but his performances at the trials recently suggested that he is coming back to the races with a vengeance and this looks a good launchpad for him. A brother to She Will Reign, Time To Reign won on debut and returned several pleasing efforts and results during his debut prep, including a smart win in the Group 2 Silver Slipper. He beat his closest rivals by more than ten lengths in a Warwick Farm jump-out earlier this month and looks ready to fire.
2 Units Time To Reign
This looks one of the more open contests on the Kensington Stakes Day card and a horse like Fabric looms as a live chance of saluting fresh. The Danny O’Brien-trained mare was a strong and consistent performer last time in; saluting on several occasions including at this track and distance. Regular hoop Craig Williams jumps in the saddle and will have options from the rails draw.
2 Units Fabric
Wall Of Fire has mixed his form a little this time, but he is a horse of excellent ability when he puts it all together and looks over the odds to win the seventh ($15 at publish). The Canford Cliffs gelding worked home well to finish second in the Sandown Cup at Ladbrokes Park two back before finishing fifth in the Bagot Handicap over 2800m here last time out.
1 Unit E/W Wall Of Fire
Just Hifalutin is another horse that is resuming at Flemington on Saturday and looks over the odds to salute. The daughter of Reset relishes racing down the straight at HQ and her first-up record is also outstanding. With the benefit of Liam Riordan’s claim, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish of this, so long as she’s come back fit and healthy.
2 Units E/W Just Hifalutin
Skelm is chasing a hat-trick of wins when he steps out in the late at Flemington and with even luck from the wide barrier, I think he’ll take beating again. The five-year-old son of Animal Kingdom recorded a nice win in BM64 company at Ladbrokes Park two back, before repeating that effort and result in a harder race at Caulfield last time out. This is harder again, but the big Flemington track should suit him, and he can fight out the finish.
2 Units Skelm