2012 Kensington Stakes Preview & Tips

2012 Kensington Stakes Preview

Flemington – Sat 21 January 2012

There is an 8 race program at Flemington on Saturday where the feature event is the Listed $125,000 Kensington Stakes over 1000 metres. The open handicap had attracted a field of 11 sprinters and the topweight is eight-year-old gelding Grand Duels with 59kg, who won this race last year. Number 11 is three-year-old Decircles who will only carry 52.5kg. The track was rated as good at acceptance time, with mostly fine weather expected for the rest of the week. The running rail will be out 6 metres.

Runners in the 2012 Kensington Stakes

Decircles ($5.50) is the only three-year old in the field and has only raced 4 times for a win and a 2^nd. Last year he ran 2^nd in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce over 1400m at Flemington and then went for a spell. He resumed at Seymour on 7 August 2011 where he won a 1200m maiden by 4.5 lengths and then was spelled again. Can obviously go well fresh.

First Command ($6) is a Commands gelding from the Anthony Freedman stable who has had 9 wins and 6 places from 23 starts. He resumed from a 97 day break with a close 3^rd in the 1200m Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield where he was edged out in the final 50m. He has a good record at this distance with 3 wins and a place from 6 starts and is a solid chance here despite drawing the widest barrier.

Weekend Special ($6) is a four-year-old Snitzel gelding from the Mark Kavanagh stable. He has had 7 races for 3 wins and 4 seconds, with all 3 wins over distances of 955 to 1050m. This will be his toughest test, but it is hard to fault a horse that has always been in the first two past the post. Will run well.

General Truce ($7.50) has 4 wins and 12 places from 25 starts, with his wins being over 900m to 1000m. He has had 3 starts this campaign for two 3^rds and a win. His latest run was a head win from Weekend Special over 955m at Moonee Valley. Has won at this track and distance before and is a genuine chance.

Canali ($8) is a five-year-old Exceed and Excel gelding who has 7 wins and 6 places from 19 starts. Five of his wins have been over 1000m. He won an 1100m Open Handicap at Caulfield on 3 December then ran 4^th of 15 over 1200m at Flemington on 2 January behind Catapulted in the Group 3 Standish Handicap. Has a good strike rate and is back to his favourite distance.

Obsidian Dragon ($10) is trained by David Balfour in Adelaide. She has 8 wins and 7 places from 21 runs and has won her last 3 consecutive races. She won by a length over 1050m at Morphettville on 10 December then won by 2.8 lengths over 1000m at Moonee Valley on 31 December .Likes to lead and will give this field a shake.

Jo’s Tips – Kensington Stakes

- Top Tip: (7.) Obsidian Dragon
- Danger: (3.) Canali
- Trifecta: (8.) Weekend Special