Opinion
Off to the Kensington track this week for my ten-unit play.
There are some nice fields with some lower-carnival types taking on the up-and-comers in standard Saturday class.
The last few weeks haven’t been pretty (I’ve dropped below even and it’s only been getting worse). Hopefully a few winners below will get me back on track.
Best bet
Race 7 – 9 Hilo
This horse maps well to be around a soft speed and has a bit of a class edge on the others.
Dixie’s 2020 tally
Units bet: 148
Units won: 123.80
Based on one unit being equal to $1 win bet, NSW dividends (see comments for any changes based on scratchings or track condition).
Race 2 – 7 Amitto (one unit)
I’m sticking with the favourite Amitto to start off – that two-year-old phobia continues. Has the winning record and there’s no superstars here. Expect her to get back in the field but the 1800-metre trip helps cover that. Gone Bye was also nominated to run at Wagga on Friday. He can run well here and they’ve made the right call. Can’t spruik many of the others.
Race 3 – 13 Shelby Sixtysix (one unit)
The highway returns! From far and wide they have come, and far and wide my trifecta will be. The lightly-raced Shelby Sixtysix comes to town on the back of a maiden win, gets the needed weight drop and actually ran fast time at Wagga, she might be the best of the lot here. Couru should run well at big odds. I’ve taken Jailbreak before and he did okay at this level. I’ll have Zelago and Delago Bay in my exotics, good luck to the caller if they’re fighting out the finish.
(PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
Race 4 – 9 L’cosmo (one unit)
Seven seconds from 11 starts tells the story about L’cosmo. She’s worth another chance here after just missing first up. She has a good draw and is well overdue. There’s been some early money for her, which I’m happy with considering her record. Mansa Musa rates well and Fituese is the winner but has drawn wide and may have to work to get in or even lead.
Race 5 – 10 Cardiff (one unit)
Plenty of speed in this one. Cardiff and Dirty Work will get the nice sit and potentially fight it out. Dirty Work is currently leading 1-nil, he got the chocolates at this track. Cardiff meets him two kilos better here and should be fitter second up.
Race 6 – 9 Mayaaseh (one unit)
I’m hoping the dry surface is the key to Mayaaseh, his third behind Akari in the spring is good enough for this. I like My Demetra dropping 4.5 kilos, and am very worried about Rocha Clock, who has been heavily backed since the market opened, but steps back in distance and will go forward from a wide barrier and contest a hot speed.
Race 7 – 9 Hilo (two units)
Hilo steps back to benchmark class after taking on some hot three-year-olds over the carnival and not doing too badly. I expect him to go forward and should be hard to hold out. Black Magnum rates well, while my quaddie will include Hightail and Oakfield Twilight at massive odds (as the Oakfield horses also seem to be).
Race 8 – 12 Bandersnatch (two units)
The high numbers dominate my ratings here. Bandersnatch is a quick thing that could run them off their legs fresh. He’s nicely placed. Lisdoonvarna (an Irish spa town, it seems) comes into this after a good run fresh, will love being back on the dry and will be running on. Surreal Step isn’t the worst. Happy to risk Outrageous at 1400 metres.
Race 9 – 14 Wild About Her (one unit)
Tricky one to finish. I’ll take the long way home with Wild About Her. She was warming up nicely late last time, will be fitter for that and is suited by the extra distance and the dry track. The short way home, meanwhile, is California Salto. He’s also got the Akari form and then wasn’t too far behind Rubiaski. Juventus is the other one I’m wary of.
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