KENINGSTON STAKES (L)

RACE 3 - 1400m

PERSIAN SPIRIT / ZOU SENSATION / STEPARTY

You may have to be resigned to taking the short odds on PERSIAN SPIRIT, who is in tremendous form for team Hayes and appears the obvious pick. Has won 2 from 3 here, 3 at the distance and yet to finish out of the top three over this trip in six attempts. He was dominant on Cup Day at this track and distance. Subsequently, he competed at Caulfield, narrowly missing victory in the Testa Rossa, before achieving success in the Gold Bullion, where he overcame a disadvantage to win. While he did benefit from favourable ground, his performance was impressive nonetheless. Should he have sufficient energy remaining, he is capable of another remarkable performance.

☆☆☆☆☆

ZOU SENSATION is one reliable customer and we give this ZOUSTAR gelding a fair chance here in the Kensington. Was on a roll from June, winning over 1200m, then 1400m at Caulfield, before taking Jamie Melham on a ride as a passenger when victorious over 1410m at Flemington. Genuine in the Chautauqua and Rupert Clarke on return, then kept going soundly to lead all the way in the Weekend Hussler at Caulfield. Run down late when 2nd in the Gr.2 Linlithgow before a 3rd in the Meteorite at Cranbourne and a last start 4th in the Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. Will go for broke early and try to stretch them. Place looks best, but don't dismiss.

☆☆☆

Paul Preusker had this horse STEPARTY up and flying at one point in his career, although we've yet to see the best of the ARTIE SHILLER gelding return this preperation. Ran 3rd in the Gr.2 Damien Oliver behind ANOTHER WIL and JIMMYSSTAR over 12 months ago, then 3rd in the Gr.1 C.F Orr Stakes to the same winner and MR BRIGHTSIDE. Finished 3rd in the Gr.3 Moonga Stakes behind PRIVATE EYE, and that's been his best result so far this campaign. Only battled in The Ingham (1600m) last start, although better suited back to his favoured 1400m trip. Not out of this by any means.

☆☆

BAGOT HANDICAP (L)

RACE 4 - 2800m

SPEYCASTER / WEALDSTONE / INTERPRETATION

Quite a good 3rd up horse is SPEYCASTER, however his return when dashing home late over the mile at Flemington was strong enough to suggest a good run 2nd up could be possible when 5th in the Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick. The Chris Waller-trained imported son of HIGHLAND REEL won the Stayers Cup over 2400m at Rosehill in June, and although that was on a Heavy 8, he goes OK on a firmer surface, but often tends to warm up a bit late. Won nicely over 1900m at Canterbury in May and backed up to win over 2200m at Newcastle, so up in trip seems a positive strategy by the team. Well weighted with Craig Williams booked to ride.

☆☆☆☆

We give the Cliff Brown trained stayer WEALDSTONE a rough outsiders chance in this endurance event after a dominant victory over 2600m at Cranbourne last start. The FREE EAGLE gelding was going well this time last year, disqualified after pre race blood tests reviled the presence of Caffeine when trained by Jim Conlon, then 3rd over 2400m at Bendigo and another 3rd at Mornington. Got the upper hand to win on the Pakenham synthetic in June, then came back with a 3rd at Pakenham building momentum before the last run. Down in the weights could play a role with the right run.

☆☆☆

The seven-year-old GALILEO gelding INTERPRETATION is about as reliable as a Melbourne cricket strip, and he hasn't really fired since running 3rd in the Auckland Cup (3200m) back in March. Regardless, Ciaron Maher has persevered with this preperation after a flat run in the Zipping Classic at Caulfield and freshened the horse with a month long break. Might be getting on in years, but has won a Bendigo Cup and ran in the Melbourne Cup, so if in the right mood could feature with his best effort.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1000m

CAVALRY GIRL / WILTSHIRE SQUARE / FARAWAY DREAM

CAVALRY GIRL begun her career nicely as a two-year-old, running 2nd on debut at Geelong before taking over under a hold to win over 1000m here at Flemington in January. Went lame in the next, before fading after the leaders got well away on the tight Valley circuit. Resumed here in September, and had nothing left in the tank the last bit before turning it around will a nice victory at Mornington after speeding to the lead. Faded at Moonee Valley, but will go better here and Tom Darbernig should have the BIVOUAC filly in fine shape to give this a shove and potentially dominate the early pace.

☆☆☆☆

The Ciaron Maher-trained WILTSHIRE SQUARE resumes here fresh and could be worth following in after three soft trials to prepare. The WOOTTON BASSETT filly took on some hot company in the Autumn, finishing 2nd to PALM ANGEL in the Merson Cooper at Caulfield, then fighting hard for 3rd in the Gr.3 Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown and Gr.2 Prelude at Caulfield. No luck in the feature, but returned with a 1000m win at Werribee in May, before being put away for the winter. Slow build up until now, although possibly worth keeping safe as she could fire on fresh legs and with those jumpouts in the bank.

☆☆☆

FARAWAY DREAM has two wins from two starts for the astute Busuttin/Young team and the debut win over 1000m at Ballarat was super impressive, cruising away and doing it easily. Backed that up over the same trip at Cranbourne, and was too good for them from the turn. How good this FARNAN filly may be is hard to say, but she has done everything right from her early trials until now and looked very professional in her manner. A $75,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase for Go Racing, Faraway Dream was bred by Ballylinch Stud and is the second winner for UNUSUAL DREAM (IRE), an unraced half-sister to Group winners US Law and FRANKUUS.

☆☆

NYE TWILIGHT SPRINT

RACE 6 - 1000m

CELERITY / HELLO ROMEO / HARRY GOT STYLES

CELERITY is a lightly raced mare who has a nice professional feel about her. The EXCEED AND EXCEL mare now trained by Ciaron Maher on behalf of the powerhouse Godolphin stables, is out of a TESTA ROSSA mare in ELLCIAZOOM, who Kia Ora Stud paid $450,000 for as a broodmare. Her daughter CELERITY won two jumpouts before finishing 2nd on debut, only nailed late. Won her maiden in the next at Hawkesbury, then chased hard for 2nd after being hampered over 1100m at Randwick in July. Only two runs into this preparation, but beware these blue silks as she just may fire up big time in one of the last races of 2025 with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jamie Melham aboard.

☆☆☆☆

The HELLO YOUMZAIN gelding HELLO ROMEO is a good fresh up competitior who looks well suited at this trip resuming. His last race was on August 9th at The Valley, where he finished behind ESHA, who was then considered a potential Group 1 contender. He has since completed two strong jumpouts, and we recommend monitoring the betting markets. Started out well winning at Bendigo late last year, then travelled to New Zealand to compete in the $1M Karaka Million 2YO event, but was a little unlucky in a hot field of juveniles. Resumed with a strong win at Sandown and finished 2nd over 1100m at Randwick. Has trialed up very well leading into this and has tbe ability to win fresh up down the straight.

☆☆☆

We have a soft spot for the HARRY ANGEL five-year-old HARRY GOT STYLES, and despite a couple of tricky runs in the last two where the race pattern didn't help, refer to his powerful 2nd placing here over 1000m in July. Was rock solid powering to the line and was only just beaten by the talented LOSESOMEWINMORE in the final stride. Has really turned it on at times for trainer Matt Laurie over his favoured 1000m trip, although he is a hard horse to catch at the best of times. If everything went to plan, then we could see Logan Bates getting on his bike and driving the gelding to the line winding up hard.

☆☆

BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP

RACE 2 - 1800m

YES I KNOW / FIORENOT / DRAW ATTENTION

YES I KNOW finished third to SNEAKY SUNRISE a few weeks ago at Ballarat. He managed to get into a favourable position from off the pace, but unfortunately, a riderless horse caused significant disruption which he was impacted by, and it was quite unlucky that he didn't get across the line first. Near the 1200m got its head up when being restrained and at the 400m was taken wider, so he looks very eager to win and strikes a good opportunity here. Won at Geelong over 1512m in June, then back that up winning over 1840m there in the next. Just requires a positive ride from Stackhouse to feature and we believe he had the goods to take this out.

☆☆☆☆

FIORENOT presents a compelling opportunity for Tom Dabernig. Few weeks between starts since his last outing over this distance at Caulfield Heath, where he demonstrated a strong closing effort from off the pace, ultimately finishing second to the in-form TOUCHDOWN. His recent form is highly encouraging, building momentum to finish 3nd at Bendigo, before the two Caulfield runs when beaten by the same horse. Maintaining this level of performance should position him as a strong contender. Nice gate with Jordon Childs in the saddle so well worth a punt at tidy win odds.

☆☆☆

The Moody/Coleman trained DRAW ATTENTION is potentially one worth keeping an eye on here down in the weights and after two solid runs back. THE AUTUMN SUN mare peeled four wide to finish 2nd at Geelong over 1760m in May, then did it easy up to the 2100m at Ballarat. Afforded a fair spell before returning with a nice run for 4th at Cranbourne over 1500m trying hard, and the last start run over the mile at Pakenham was better then it looked, revving up late from the tail. Likely to gain a soft trail from the inside gate and at these odds could be worth consideration.

☆☆☆

BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP

RACE 8 - 1200m

SHAALUTE / PODGARGONI / BEDTIME ANGEL

These odds on the Matt Laurie gelding SHAALUTE seem a little crazy considering her solid formline prior to the latest run, and we give her a better then even chance here. The four-year-old SHALAA gelding has worked his way up quickly this year, winning Ballarat in April, before just missing twice, then grinding down the leaders to win again over 1400m at Ballarat. Drew clear in the next at Pakenham, before arriving in the final strides to claim another over 1203m at Kyneton, then catching them at Mornington. Finished 3rd at Pakenham, followed by a tricky run for 3rd when checked off heels at Geelong. Four wide and bunched up last start, although lands a good gate here with a 3kg claim and too good to dismiss with this solid distance record. Be a mighty way to round out 2025.

☆☆☆

The Hayes will present their sprinter PODGARGONI, who has looked very good in a number of limited starts. The four-year-old gelding is by MAGNA GRECIA from the talented New Zealand mare CORNFLOWER BLUE. Wound up steadily to win over 1200m at Ballarat in July before hitting the line hard and responding well to win again at Morphettville in August. Came back, but couldn't quite catch SISTER SHAY over 1300m at Wodonga, then given a short let-up until now. Goes well fresh and ideally stays out of trouble having drawn the outside, before powering up the final bit. Surely has something to prove and we cannot discount coming out of this yard. Good odds and can win.

☆☆☆☆

BEDTIME ANGEL appears a very handy HARRY ANGEL mare who has been ultra consistent in 15 starts for trainer John Moloney. Came back in October to defeat MALDINI over 1200m at Moe, before being gunned down in the final strides when 2nd over 1107m at Geelong, but pushed along strongly. Really punched it out when taking over to win at Mornington in November, then wound up gamely to win over 1200m at Sandown in the latest. Brings the hot formline despite never racing down the Flemington chute and we could see this girl featuring to really amp it up as they close in on the line.

☆☆

BEST BET: PERSIAN SPIRIT

NEXT BEST: SPEYCASTER

BEST VALUE: DRAW ATTENTION

WILDCARD: SHAALUTE