Last Saturday’s Flemington winner Ken’s Dream could return to headquarters this weekend to back up in the Listed $120,000 Kensington Stakes (1000m).
Ken’s Dream, above, is among the nominations for the Kensington Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Ken’s Dream was one of three Flemington winners from the Darren Weir stable last Saturday and is among the twelve nominations for the Kensington Stakes.
Stablemate Thermal Current who finished third to Ken’s Dream in the $100,000 Better Beyond Plate (1100m) down the Flemington straight is also entered for the Kensington Stakes.
Stable representative Darryn Murphy said that Ken’s Dream was a deserved winner at his second run back from a spell after running some some handy races during his Winter campaign.
“He ran some really good races at the end of his last preparation,” Murphy said after Saturday’s win.
“We thought the widest barrier today (Saturday) turned out to really play into his hands. It was a beautiful race with no weight on his back.”
“The outside was the way to go. Benny (Allen) just scripted it beautifully, got a bit of cover.”
“Terrific to see him really race like his true potential.”
Veteran sprinter Lord Of The Sky is also nominated for the Kensington Stakes and is also looking for back to back Flemington victories after scoring a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Standish Handicap (1200m) on New Year’s Day.
Trainer Paddy Payne is hoping for another forward first up performance from Husson Eagle in the Kensington Stakes after the six year old has raced well while fresh in the past for three wins and a second from five first up outings.
“He often is brilliant first-up and he’s showing us pretty good signs,” Payne told AAP.
Husson Eagle has raced since finishing fifth over 1000m at Morphettville Parks in August last year and hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since taking out the Listed $120,000 Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Sandown at the end of the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The six year old is the winner of five of his twenty-nine starts and has amassed a total of $956,618 in prizemoney, courtesy of his $606,000 winning cheque for his victory in the $1m Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) at the Gold Coast on Magic Millions Race Day in January, 2016.
The nominations for the Kensington Stakes have been extended until 10am on Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Nominations for the 2018 Kensington Stakes (1000m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 036x82x43x | AMBER SKY | G | 8 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 106 |
| 2 | 0x98x4408x | FLAMBERGE | G | 8 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 110 |
| 3 | 067034265x | HUSSON EAGLE | G | 6 | Patrick Payne | 94 |
| 4 | 13x32213x1 | ITZ INVINCIBLE | G | 5 | Matthew J Seyers | 87 |
| 5 | 1275537×51 | KEN’S DREAM | G | 4 | Darren Weir | 90 |
| 6 | 0x415x66x1 | LORD OF THE SKY | H | 7 | Robbie Laing | 106 |
| 7 | 1x3127x18 | MISS WONDERLAND | M | 4 | David Brideoake | 79 |
| 8 | 3512116×12 | MURPHY’S REWARD | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 83 |
| 9 | 1974x | QUEEN ANNABEL | M | 4 | Rebecca Kelly | 63 |
| 10 | 130×221445 | ROCK ’N’ GOLD | G | 7 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 90 |
| 11 | x43816x80x | SARACINO (NZ) | G | 4 | Michael Moroney | 98 |
| 12 | 68735×2343 | THERMAL CURRENT | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 98 |