Lord Of The Sky scored a convincing first-up win on New Year’s Day, but the enigmatic sprinter remains friendless in betting for Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Lord Of The Sky has shown outstanding ability throughout his entire racing career to date, but he has also been plagued by injury and has spent long stints away from the track.
Sent off a $16 shot in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on the 1st, the Danerich entire was taken to the lead by champion hoop Damien Oliver and produced a typically-tough performance to beat a smart field.
He will only take benefit from that run and is a horse that simply relishes racing at HQ; a course where he has also finished fourth in a Newmarket Handicap.
While Oliver will not be in the saddle this weekend, in-form hoop Ben Melham will take the ride and Lord Of The Sky is worth consideration for a bet at current odds of $6 in our Kensington Stakes market.
This is a particularly open Kensington Stakes field and there is a case to be made for all eight entrants. There is subsequently plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective.
Oliver has elected to jump onto Kiwi raider Saracino, which could underline the hoop’s confidence that he is primed for a big first-up performance.
Saracino is no stranger to Australian racing and was a smart winner of the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight as a three-year-old.
The son of Per Incanto returned for two starts during the recent Spring Carnival, but failed to come up and was sent to the paddock after he didn’t beat a runner home in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on September 16th.
Trainer Mike Moroney has reportedly been thrilled with the horse’s condition leading into this race and he should have no issue finding the inside rail from barrier 3.
At the time of publish, Amber Sky has heralded the most interest in Kensington Stakes betting and has firmed into $4.50 favouritism.
The Exceed And Excel gelding has yet to make an appearance on an Australian race track, but has been a strong and consistent performer in Hong Kong since making his debut in 2012; posting seven wins and six minors through a total of twenty-eight starts.
Though not seen at the races since finishing third in the Friendship Bridge Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on March 5th, Amber Sky is a proven fresh performer and is a Group 1 winner at the distance of this race, having taken out the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in 2014.
Three-time Group 1 winner Flamberge will resume from barrier 4, but has been charged with overcoming a race-high 61.5kgs, while there’s been some early money for both Thermal Current ($4.40) and Husson Eagle ($5.50).