Australian Racing: Wednesday 28 July 2021 – Kensington

Race 5.

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet SOAMI to chalk up his fifth career victory. He followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second place finish last time out when stepping up to 1100M, just a head behind the winner. He finished strongly that day, despite hanging in at the top of the home straight. He gets a handy draw three and has his peak run after returning from a 17 week rest and could prove difficult to topple here.

EXPLOSIVE TRUTH showed marked improvement to win his last start over six furlongs by putting four lengths between himself and the opposition. He went from jump to wire that day and was reported to have spread a near-hind plate, which makes the victory that much more encouraging. He is drawn one inside the top choice and could emerge as his biggest threat.

BRAZEN GEM is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position. She was a tad disappointing when ending up in sixth place last time out over 1100M, 6.2L adrift of the winner, but it should be noted that she was crowded at the jump and was then cut into on her near-hind leg, so that effort is best ignored. On her better form, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 6.

MATTERHORN has won two of this last three outings since returning from a lengthy 35 week break, the latest over six furlongs by 1.3L when going from gun to tape. He is drawn nine out of ten, but given his frontrunning tactics, this may not be too big an issue.

SCENIC WARRIOR has, by coincidence, also won two of his last three runs, the latest over six furlongs by some 1.8L when returning from an even longer 39 week absence. The colt did not get the clearest passage in the home stretch that day, only seeing daylight at the 280M mark, but he finished off his race well. He jumps form a kinder draw four and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

GAME THEORY has finished second in his last two starts, the latest over a mile, but his penultimate outing was over 1300M, so the drop in trip should not present him with a problem. He has pulled gate six and should be included in all bets.

Race 7.

NELSPRUIT won his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then went on to finish third next time out over this c&d, one and a half lengths back from the victor. He is seldom far the action and from his cozy draw two he should turn in another honest performance today and is taken to be the value bet on the program.

MISS EINSTEIN is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she finished well when making solid improvement to win her last outing over 1500M by half a length, notwithstanding coming the widest into the home straight. She will have to deal with a wide draw twelve out of thirteen, but should be doing her best work late and should give the boys a good run for their money.

JUNGLE BOOK was crowded and eased shortly after the start before making good late progress to end up in second place last time out over 1500M, just a half length back from the winner. He has a kinder draw seven and should be right up there when they hit the line.

Race 8.

GLORIOUS DREAM is a versatile sort who’s last four runs have yielded three wins and a third place finish over a variety of different distances, the latest a head victory over today’s seven furlongs journey. She faces a wideish draw nine, but she should turn in another honest performance here.

ROSA MOYESSI last three runs formline reads, win, second and then a short-head win last time out over 1300M at this venue. She has an even wider draw twelve to overcome, but on the plus side, she will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

EXOTIC RUBY on the other hand has pulled pole position and cost herself valuable ground by shifting out over the closing stages of her latest outing over seven furlongs, ending up in seventh spot, just under five lengths behind the winner. Her trainer/jockey combination have a good strike rate, so she should not be lightly overlooked in this line-up.