Talented mare Sweet Emily will make her debut at Listed level at Flemington on Saturday after being included in the 2015 Kensington Stakes field.
Harry Coffey has been booked to ride Sweet Emily in the 2015 Kensington Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Sweet Emily started her summer campaign with a dominant five and a half lengths win at Swan Hill on October 6 and she went on to win two heats of the Jeep 55 Second Challenge at Moonee Valley before her winning streak was ended at the same venue on December 12.
The Bon Hoffa mare returned to her best form with a scintillating performance in the Drummond Golf Handicap on December 27; with the four-year-old leading from start to finish to break the 1000 metre track record at Moonee Valley that was previously held by champion mare Miss Andretti.
Sweet Emily will need to perform at her very best to be any chance of recording a maiden stakes win after a number of talented gallopers were included in the 2015 Kensington Stakes field including two-time Group 3 placegetter The Quarterback.
The Quarterback returned to winning form with a fast-finishing victory in the Flemington 1840-2015 Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day and he will be returning to Stakes level for the first time since he finished fifth behind Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 3.
Another horse that has previously performed well at Group level which has been included in the Kensington Stakes field is the resuming Hard Stride.
Hard Stride has been a consistent performer since he made his racing debut at Bendigo in March of 2013 and broke through for a maiden win at Listed level when he upset Moment Of Change to take out the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 16 and he went on to finish a close third behind Flamberge and Rifleman in Theshark.com.au Stakes (1100m) at the same venue a fortnight later.
The four-year-old will be joined in the Kensington Stakes field by stablemate Kaiser Sun, while Thermal Current, who is also owned by Contract Racing, has also been included in the acceptances for the Listed event.
The Kensington Stakes field is rounded out by Doveton Stakes winner Danger Close (barrier 11), Stephen Brown-trained The Thief (barrier two), out of form mare Sumakaray (barrier three), last start winner Sandhill Flash (barrier seven), Robbie Laing-trained Audino (barrier one), Klishina (barrier nine), Beach Front (barrier eight) and Godolphin colt Orujo (barrier 13)
