Australian Racing: Eclair Awesome the cream of the crop

There are a number of meetings scheduled to take place on Wednesday, including at Kensington, where nine races are scheduled.

Race 8 Kensington

Eclair Awesome @ 6.00

Race 8 Bendigo

Prevailed @ 10.00

Race 3 Ipswich

Ritualize @ SP

Eclair Awesome to complete four-timer

The penultimate contest at Kensington is an 1800m Benchmark 64 handicap expected to take place on a soft 7 track.

Richard Litt’s Ella Hazel is expected to jump as favourite for the race, having been asked to compete at the highest level in both starts since breaking her maiden at Wyong in March.

The daughter of Dundeel came home nearly a length clear of her rivals when contesting a 1600m maiden held on a heavy surface at Wyong.

While the three-year-old has started at big prices for both of those previously mentioned Group 1 efforts, she recorded respectable efforts in finishing seventh each time.

The most recent of those efforts saw her beaten just over four lengths in the 2400m Australian Oaks on the main track here just over a month ago.

This drop in distance shouldn’t pose any issues and she rates highly having been freshened since that latest effort. 

She is set to face off against some promising rivals here, including the in-form Pierata filly ECLAIRE AWESOME.

The youngster has won all three starts since finishing sixth in a 1200m maiden at Newcastle back in March, including when breaking her maiden over 1400m at Albury next time.

All three of those victories have come on wet tracks, including over 1600m when competing in a Class 1 handicap at Gosford on her penultimate start.

Trained by Matthew Smith, the filly has been allocated a double-figure barrier for the first time in her career having won by over a length in an 1870m contest at Newcastle last time.

This selection raced at Benchmark 64 handicap level at Newcastle and she represents a stable whose horses are running well in the main at present.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride for the first time here and his mount is taken to continue her winning run.

Prevailed for Bendigo glory

A good 4 surface is expected at Bendigo, with the concluding race of the day a 1300m Benchmark 70 handicap.

Top weight Eye Of The Eagle is expected to have his supporters on his first start since finishing sixth at Ballarat in December.

This gelding was beaten just over three-and-a-half-lengths when contesting a $130,000 Benchmark 84 handicap over 1400m that day and this looks an easier contest.

The five-year-old has gone well first up in the past, winning twice, including when taking out a Benchmark 70 event on the Hillside track at Sandown on his return to action last prep.

However preference on this occasion is for the race fit PREVAILED, who has won at Geelong on his two most recent starts.

The first of those victories saw him triumph by one-and-a-half-lengths when contesting a 1300m Benchmark 64 handicap.

This son of Justify duly followed up when taking out a Benchmark 70 handicap over 1312m 12 days later.

Both of those victories came on a sound surface with Mark & Levi Kavanagh’s representative set to race at this venue for the first time since July last year.

Jye McNeil, on board for both of those wins, is again set to ride here, with his mount looking capable of completing a double jumping from barrier six. 

Ritualize to complete double

In Queensland they are set to race at Ipswich with the third race of the day the 1100m Gordon’s Gin QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1100m.

A soft 5 track is expected for the race, with RITUALIZE taking the eye, having won his only previous start for a good stable in that of Stuart Kendrick.

The juvenile performed well when runner-up over 850m in his first barrier trial held at Sunshine Coast back in October.

Ritualize was gelded following that effort and he went one better in his second public trial held over the same track and trip on soft going in March.

The son of Written By went on to make the perfect start to his career when successful by a narrow margin on heavy going at Doomben last month.

Ritualize saw off seven rivals when racing on the speed prior to recording a narrow victory that day and he can follow up with Kyle Wilson-Taylor again set to steer.