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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Thursday’s Kensington meeting. Selections based on a good to soft track.

2. Call Me Gorgeous showed promise with a game debut effort here back in January where he sat wide on the speed and kept trying as he held second. Given a break and looked ready to go with his latest trial. With even luck this is a winnable race.

Dangers: 11. Rubikins found a bit of traffic in the straight when resuming at Hawkesbury a month ago, not sure whether she pressures the winner but could have finished closer. Draws well this time and is the logical danger. 3. Greyt Thinker hasn’t raced for over a year and returns as a gelding. Both trials have been handy and while the margin was narrow in the latest he was holding them. Respect. 12. Sweet Heaven has improved with each trial of late and from the inside gate will get every chance to be competitive.

How to play it: Call Me Gorgeous WIN ($1.65 TAB Fixed Odds).

Call Me Gorgeous wins a trial at Warwick Farm on April 12

There was merit in the first-up run of 7. Until Valhalla as she found the 1200m too slick for her fresh. There was support to say she’d run well, and she did, but up in trip with a soft gate and the likelihood of good speed all look to suit. Won this course in November. Go well.

Dangers: 10. Redbreast might have some company on speed here but if she gets any control she’s the worthy favourite. Impressive maiden winner from the front at Hawkesbury two months ago and has trialled sharply since. Hard to run down. 6. One Beat No Beat is a handy filly who was far from disgraced running fourth in the Northern Wild Card at Scone against some pretty solid country horses. Should have won at Tamworth before that. Keep in mind. 8. Bellenth couldn't have been more impressive scoring a maiden win at Wyong at his second start. Up in class but is all upside.

How to play it: Until Valhalla EACH-WAY ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Until Valhalla runs fourth at Warwick Farm on April 1

1. Casual Connection has been working up to a win in his last couple over shorter trips and gets to 2400m on the back up after a narrow defeat at Canterbury last week. Should roll forward onto the speed somewhere and get his chance.

Dangers: 5. Awesome Wonder is also proven at the distance and is third-up after a sound second at Gosford two weeks ago in a race that changed shape quickly. Should be around the mark again. 4. Our Maryanne was the winner of that race, she took off before the turn and was able to hold them off comfortably enough on the line. Was a $26 chance there so needs to reproduce it. 2. Rattle And Hum started favourite in that Gosford race and led them but was outsprinted when they took off. Won well in lesser grade before that and worth another chance.

How to play it: Casual Connection WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Casual Connection runs second at Canterbury on April 17

3. Kokoro has been freshened up since failing at Rosehill two months ago where he led and engaged in a speed battle up front before dropping out. Looked his usual self brushing home in a recent trial, drawn nicely and he’ll be hard to hold out if he can get last look at them.

Dangers: 1. Nails Murphy trialled impressively behind the placings at Gosford five weeks ago and was scratched from an engagement soon after that. Not seen since. Perhaps a small setback? His two efforts in his first local campaign were promising and in stronger grade. Market a big pointer. 2. Bunker Hut comes through the Provincial-Midway Championships series and there was merit in both runs without placing. No surprise to see him in the finish somewhere. 8. Tenderize didn’t have the best of luck in a Midway behind Elettrica at Rosehill a month ago. Only won one from 13 but is honest and an each-way chance here.

How to play it: Kokoro EACH-WAY ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Kokoro runs third in a Randwick trial on April 8

3. Mountain Guest is a good each-way chance if she can be afforded a bit more luck this time around. Was ready to go when she ran into the back of a wall in front at Canterbury last week, recovered and hit the line again late. Down in class and the claim helps. Can be competitive.

Dangers: 2. Defining beat a subsequent winner first-up from a year off then every chance when third at Warwick Farm three weeks ago. Perhaps she’s better for that after the long layoff, draws okay and is one of the main hopes. 7. Princess Rayaa ran past Defining to finish second in that race at what was her first run back. She did get inside runs but ran well over this course prior to a spell behind City Of Lights and can only be fitter. Include. 9. Bright Red wasn’t disgraced in the Adrian Knox when up in class off a fast finishing maiden win over a mile. Back in distance here so likely gives away a start but have to include in the chances.

How to play it: Mountain Guest EACH-WAY ($7.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Mountain Guest’s last start at Canterbury on April 17

2. Jedibeel can run a big race first-up having drawn to sit right on the back of the speed. Has a handy record and since being gelded this prep he’s trialled nicely on his home track. Should be a fast run race and if he’s in touch he can finish strongly late.

Dangers: Not sure what to do with 5. Martial Music. He was dynamic winning first-up at Randwick over this trip then up 100m he looked to be travelling nicely into the straight but had nothing there when asked. Freshened and back to the 1000m, he’ll have his chance to bounce back.4. Storm The Ramparts hasn’t put a foot wrong in eight starts and went for a break with a Warwick Farm win in December on heavy. Just as effective on top of the ground and can show up. 1. Heuristic is a query runner. Group 3 winner in Adelaide a year ago and has been gelded. Tricky draw so be guided by the market.

How to play it: Jedibeel WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Jedibeel wins a Hawkesbury trial on April 16

2. Zouatica relished getting up to a mile as he ran them into the ground at Gosford two weeks ago. Should find the lead here and 1800m will hold no fears especially if he gets control. Claim for the stable apprentice is a plus and he will give a big sight.

Dangers: 1. City Of Lights reacted well to the race changing complexion mid-race to score over this course a month ago. Has top weight and the outside to contend with but scratchings help and she'sl the logical threat. 4. Perfect Play is a huge query on debut for Annabel Neasham having not raced since September where was placed at Ascot (UK) over 2414m. Had a solid record back home and his last trial was promising. Keep safe. 7. Harlow Mist looked in for a handy preparation with her first-up fourth in Melbourne but two runs since then have been well below par. Forgive last time off a wide gate, blinkers on and gets gate one. Every chance to show her best.

How to play it: Zouatica WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Zouatica wins at Gosford on April 10

4. Wembanyama looks well suited here after a super performance to finish as close as he did at Wyong two weeks ago. Drew out and went back, swung very wide on the turn yet still charged to go under by less than a length. Soft draw and JMac. Big chance to atone.

Dangers: 2. Magnatear had some support in the Provincial-Midway qualifier at Newcastle won by Tavi Time but was no match running fourth. Kept fresh and while drawn out he has shown an ability to roll forward if needed. He’ll run well. 12. Ohtani is coming off a maiden win at Newcastle two weeks ago but it was expected by the market. Placed here prior to that and while up in class he’s in form and could measure up. 8. Draco’s Fire backed up his Goulburn maiden win with a sound effort at Wyong chasing Professor Pickles home. Draws one and will be prominent for a long way.

How to play it: Wembanyama WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wembanyama runs third at Wyong on April 11

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kensington meeting