Listed Kensington S. - a trio of Flemington straight specialists
Watching speedsters dash down the famed Flemington straight is always a great spectacle and this year's running of this 1100-metre contest - one which was first held in 1997 - promises to be a fun race to watch.
Especially as three of its runners boast excellent straight-track records including two horses who lined up in this same race last year, both running so well - Parsifal (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) second and Halvorsen (Magnus) third.
The latter boasts one of the best Flemington straight records going around, the Robbie Griffiths and Mat de Kock-trained 7-year-old being a five-time winner at Headquarters. He boasts a great overall record as well - 33 starts; nine wins and nine placings.
Halvorsen boasts an excellent record at Flemington, having won at Headquarters five times previously, can he make it a sixth win down the straight in the Listed Kensington S. on Saturday? | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Parsifal has had an interesting journey into this race, having his first run since racing in Dubai on three occasions earlier in the year. Placed at Group 2 level at Meydan, he has been in the first two at three of his five Flemington runs.
Rose Quartz is also rather fond of the track, the daughter of Written Tycoon and the very fast mare Obsidian Dragon (Hidden Dragon) a two-time straight winner from four attempts - and her last-start fast-finishing Listed Doveton S. second was full of merit.
G3 Van Heemst S. - another first for the mighty Frankel?
Group 1 form is always good form which is why Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is favourite for this 2100-metre race at Ascot, one which has a history going back to 1914 when it was won by the previous year's WA Derby winner Radnor (Earlston {GB}).
Right in the thick of things boxing on gamely for a G1 Northerly S. third two weeks ago, the Victorian-trained mare seeks a second stakes success on the back of her 2021 G3 Summoned S. win.
Should she succeed, Steinem will create another bit of history for her high-achieving sire - his first Western Australian stakes winner.
Steinem (GB), the current favourite for the G3 Van Heemst S. at Ascot | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The main danger looks to be another visiting import, the South Australian Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was run down only late when holding on for a game second in the Northerly.
Dubawi (Ire) has had a Perth stakes winner with Bippo No Bungus having taked out the Listed Starstruck Classic in 2013 and is also represented by a grandson here - the 2018 G1 Mackinnon S. winner Trap For Fools being a son of Poet's Voice (GB). He was well held when resuming but did work from a wide gate - drawn better this time.
Marocchino (Maschino) leads the way for the local chances, the Lou Luciani-trained 6-year-old racing in fine form winning two of his last three; the Listed Northam Cup and the Listed AJ Scahill S.
G3 Grand Prix S. - Kovalica too good again?
It is always enjoyable to witness a horse make his way through the classes, wondering just how far they might get. Are we seeing the start of something special? Will we look back and think how nice it was to see the beginnings of a big career?
Of course, only the minority take those next big steps, but you just never know - and Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is certainly a horse of promise, winning all three races since finishing off strongly for a debut fourth in mid-October as the Chris Waller-trained gelding lines up at Eagle Farm.
Overcoming trouble in running at his latest outing at Doomben two weeks ago, Kovalica was at his most impressive on that occasion - relishing the step up to 2000 metres. Little wonder on the back of that 2.3l victory that he is a very short-priced favourite on Saturday.
Kovalica (NZ) looks to add some black type to his name after winning his last three starts | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
A son of a G1 Cox Plate winner, in Ocean Park (NZ), Kovalica hails from a proven Group 1 family - his dam a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) while his grandam is a half-sister to the ten-time Group 1 winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
The main threat to Kovalica's winning run appears to be another in-form runner, Godolphin's Tradition (Frankel {GB}) who followed up a 6l maiden victory with a determined victory at Canterbury late last month.
Also racing in fine form is Noah 'N' A Deel (Maurice {Jpn}) who was second to Kovalica last time out - her second placing from an eight-start career which has seen her successful on three occasions.
Listed Gold Edition S. - another Alligator Blood in the making?
In its short history - first run in 2010 - this test for 3-year-olds at Eagle Farm, many of whom are bound for the rich Magic Millions meeting, has been won by some very nice horses; all but one of its 11 winners going on to further black-type glory.
Including the subsequent four-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) and Grandview Farm's speedy Winning Rupert.
This year's field looks bound to produce a stakes winner or two with all eight of its contestants displaying a nice degree of natural talent - three of them being last-start winners and two of those being unbeaten... Golden Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and End Assembly (Outreach).
Gallery: Golden Boom and End Assembly will be looking to fight out the finish in the Listed Gold Edition S. at Eagle Farm with both of them being currently unbeaten, images courtesy of Racing QLD
Winning his maiden by 6.3l at the Sunshine Coast, the Tony Gollan-trained Golden Boom returned to that track two weeks later and was able to lead throughout - winning in nice type with the Listed Oxlade S. winner Johnny Rocker (Jukebox), who again takes him on here, trying hard in second place.
The Toowoomba galloper End Assembly has also impressed, the interestingly bred gelding, his sire and dam hail from the same family, winning his first two hometrack assignments by wide margins.
Steady Ready (Better Than Ready) is another one with a pedigree of note - his grandam Woodman's Girl (USA) (Woodman {USA}) being the dam of his grandsire More Than Ready (USA). And he too has plenty of speed and talent. As does Golden Boom's stablemate Spiritualised, who is incidentally also by Spirit Of Boom.
Group action in New Zealand - three races on two tracks
The G2 Manawatu Challenge S. is the first of two features being contested at Trentham on Saturday, a 1400-metre weight-for-age contest shaping as a clash between two talented mares - Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
The former is in great form having won her last three - two of those at Group level - while the latter is a dual Group 1 winner who is second-up having been below her best when resuming. Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) looks a likely challenger having bolted in with the G3 Canterbury Breeders' S. last time out.
Darci La Bella (NZ), the current favourite in the G2 Manawatu Challenge S. at Trentham | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The G3 Manawatu Cup is the other highlight of the Trentham card, a 2300-metre race which sees four runners open up at single-figure odds including the Listed Wanganui Cup quinella of La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) rises in class but was strong to the line saluting at Te Rapa late last month whilst Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) was good off a tardy start second-up behind La Flora Belle.
The G3 Eulogy S. is the Te Rapa feature (postponed and relocated from Awapuni), a race in which eight of the 12 acceptors are last-start winners; three of whom were making their debuts.
Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) who was successful over 1600 metres at New Plymouth in late October, while Sealed With A Kiss (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) showed plenty of heart at Hastings 10 days ago and Tavernia (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) who was too good in trying conditions at Arawa Park in mid-November.
A lead-up to the G1 New Zealand Oaks, the 1600-metre contest sees several other promising fillies take their place, such as Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) who finished powerfully to break her maiden at just her second outing and the smart last-start winners Tivaci Princess (NZ) (Tivaci) and Imarichgirl (NZ) (Mongolian Khan).
Listed Starstruck Classic - Group 1 form vs the up-and-comer
The Adam Durrant and Clint Johnston-Porter combination seeks a second win in this race at Ascot, having 12 months ago cheered on Beret (Helmet). This time around they are hoping that Treasured Star (Toronado {Ire}) can make the most of a drop in class.
Not far away contesting Group 1 races - the Railway S., in which she had no luck at all, and the G1 Northerly S. - at her last two outings, the Peters family mare is already a two-time Group winner.
Alsephina, the current favourite for the Listed Starstruck Classic at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
The one for her to beat is the flying Alsephina (Star Turn), who has tasted defeat just twice in nine starts - winning her last four in impressive fashion.
Last start Listed Jungle Dawn Classic winner Buzzoom (Safeguard) is a chance for the double on her home-track while Ginger Flyer (Gingerbread Man) was just too bad to be true when last behind that mare when resuming. She was in great form last time in, winning three in a row before her spell. And she is yet to miss a second-up placing.
