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By Neil Evans

Track is rated a Soft 5 with the rail out 2m the entire circumference.

We start with the youngsters on a firming track and most are on debut. Snitzel colt 5. Verne ($2.60 favourite on TAB) is out of a US mare who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Tears I Cry. Has had four progressive trials in four months, cruising home from off the speed under a good hold in the latest, and wears winkers.

Dangers: Another Snitzel colt 3. In The Congo ($3.50) flew the barriers to control the second of two recent trials before extending away to win impressively by four lengths. Bred to run being out of high class South African sprinting mare Via Africa, and trial jockey sticks solid for race debut. Keep safe debutant Deep Field colt 1. Dickson Horse ($7.50) who has trialled okay; while Written Tycoon filly 7. Prasiolite ($6) returns off two improving trials after a one-off debut run at the provincials nearly three months ago when fading after leading.

How to play it: Verne to win and trifecta 3,5/1,3,5,7/1,3,5,7
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Keen here at very good value on lightly raced five-year-old mare 3. Lillium ($6) from the good 'cover' draw with a 2kg claim. Flew late to land her maiden first-up at the provincials before charging home again to finish less than a length from the winner in similar company at Warwick Farm. Longer journey and bigger track are both ideal.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old mare 1. Faschanel ($2.30 fav) keeps testing the handicapper. Up to a career high 61.5kg after a smart second-up win here in similar grade, but drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. Improving mare 2. Crosscheck ($6.50) held her ground okay resuming in her first run for the new metro stable. Already a three-time winner from eight starts, and extra ground is a bonus. Watch the betting on 7. Chapelis ($10), down significantly in weight a month after sweeping home to win in weaker class at Scone. Include in wider exotics 8. Miss Spiteful ($8.50) who is on the quick back-up and prefers dry ground.

How to play it: Lillium each-way and quinella 1 and 3
Odds and Evens: Split

Smart provincial debut winner 5. Imposing Beau ($3 fav) is the one to beat from the inside gate. That came only a week after a dominant trial win and he's undoubtedly headed for bigger prizes.

Dangers: Resuming filly and debut winner in early March, 11. Star Cherie ($5) is drawn wide but has had two recent trials. Provincial colt 4. Kinloch ($7) returns off a lengthy spell and two forward trials, with the blinkers removed. Was a dominant winner on debut in autumn last year. Watch the betting on improving gelding 3. Hurt Money ($7) off a tidy first-up run in BM 66 country grade.

How to play it: Imposing Beau to win
Odds and Evens: Odds a special

Out to the tricky middle-distance where a few could challenge for favouritism. The first-up run of four-year-old 6. Kutayha ($4.60) in heavy ground was rock solid considering he's far more effective on firmer footing. Stays at the trip and weight second-up, and form jockey sticking is a big pointer.

Dangers: Liked the way big-striding provincial four-year-old 4. Bethencourt ($3.10 fav) got home late, resuming over a shorter trip on that same day. Bigger track and step up in distance suit nicely, although the inside draw doesn't do his racing pattern any favours. Dropping back from Group 3 company where he wilted late under pressure, home track three-year-old 2. Acrophobic ($4.20) can bounce back with winkers replacing blinkers, but he does go up a testing 4kg. Got plenty of time for improving mare 9. Betty Blooms ($7.50) who didn't finish off at this track second-up after winning her maiden, and suspect will be ridden quieter from the wider draw. Include in exotics local four-year-old 3. Good Stock ($8) who draws to get a nice run.

How to play it: Kutayha each-way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Another testing battle over the same trip. Topweight three-year-old 1. Easy Campese ($5) is tough as teak and comes back in grade. Far from out of his depth in the Group 3 Carbine before boxing on okay after leading in a BM 72. Drawn better here and will give a huge sight.

Dangers: Well bred gelding 6. Too Much Caviar ($2.80 fav) went to the front at Newcastle in only his second start and gave nothing else a chance, and this shapes as a nice progression from a soft draw. Expect further improvement from 3. Perfect Radiance ($6) fourth-up with the blinkers applied; while 9. Canadian Spice ($9) kept closing at the provincials fourth-up and is over the each-way odds from a good draw.

How to play it: Easy Campese to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Good strong race with many still early in their prep. Lightly-raced Godolphin mare 10. Katalin ($2 fav) has been off the scene for more than a year, but looks well prepared for a big return. Was never let go tracking the speed in the second of two controlled trials, and of course, she started her career with back-to-back wins including an explosive off-speed CL1 demolition at Newcastle.

Dangers: Consistent four-year-old 4. Olympic Legend ($4.80) surged home to win first-up in similar company, and while normally takes that form into his next run, has to cart 60kg from a trickier gate; while improving 6. Zell ($8) steps up to a more suitable trip second-up and draws the inside.

How to play it: Katalin to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Open sprint to finish. Talented three-year-old 6. Stoltz ($.480 equal fav) has been given three weeks since powering home to thrash a handy BM 64 provincial field, and won his only previous second-up start. Can settle back off a good speed and produce that turn of foot with a top jockey back on board.

Dangers: Progressive three-year-old 7. Time For Victory ($4.80 eq fav) hasn't finished further back than second in his last four at the provincials. Churned through the heavy for a dominant win in weaker grade under a big weight at Hawkesbury, but not convinced he'll be as effective on firm footing drawn off the track. Keep safe four-year-old 1. Shadow Crush ($7.50) third-up with blinkers added; while classy provincial mare 9. Miss Fox ($6) resumes off two smart trials with the winkers removed.

How to play it: Stoltz to win and box trifecta 1,6,7,9
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS
R6 10. KATALIN ($2 fav)
R7 6. STOLTZ ($4.80 eq fav)

BEST VALUE
R2 3. LILLIUM ($6)

View the final fields with full form & race replays for the Kensington Track here