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Kenilworth Picks - Saturday, 23 March

Racecourse : Kenilworth (South Africa)
Racecourse : Kenilworth (South Africa) Picture: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Race 1
Race Summary: TUSCAN ROMANCE caught the eye on debut when running on strongly from a long way back to finish 2nd over track and trip, so needn't improve a great deal with the benefit of that experience to open her account. IN THE GREEN ZONE and BABELICIOUS have the form and experience to pose a threat, while any market support for well-bred newcomers MY ONLY WEAKNESS, GREENLIGHT SKYE and HUSH MONEY could be indicative of their chances. MISS WORLD is open to any amount of improvement after an encouraging debut so would be dangerous to discount.

Selections:
#5 Tuscan Romance, #10 In The Green Zone, #3 Babelicious, #8 Hush Money

Race 2
Race Summary: THE ABDICATOR has improved as a gelding and confirmed as much by finishing 2nd over track and trip in a similar contest recently, so ought to play another leading role. Both PIROSHKA and BLUFF ON BLUFF are consistent sorts with solid credentials, while best-weighted SOUTHERN SKIES has also shown enough to make her presence felt if ready to go on her reappearance. ROD THE MOD is another to note on his return after a layoff.

Selections:
#2 The Abdicator, #4 Piroshka, #6 Bluff On Bluff, #1 Rod The Mod

Race 3
Race Summary: ELLORIX has finished 2nd in both starts this year over 1200m and deserves to get her head in front. Is unlikely to be inconvenienced by this shorter trip, so could belatedly open her account. HANGING ROCK returns from a layoff but has both the form and experience to fight for victory. SPIRIT GUIDE and LUCY ROCKET were disappointing last time out but could have a say if bouncing back to the form of their previous outings.

Selections:
#9 Ellorix, #7 Hanging Rock, #4 Beijing Boulevard, #2 Lucy Rocket

Race 4
Race Summary: Improver PLUM PUDDING was runner-up over track and trip last time and will go one better if making further progress. SAINT BRIGID and TICKING BOMB have also improved in recent outings so are likely to pose a threat. NATIONAL DISGRACE has been off for 15 weeks and is drawn wide but has scope to improve on her return to action.

Selections:
#8 Plum Pudding, #3 Ticking Bomb, #2 Saint Brigid, #11 National Disgrace

Race 5
Race Summary: APACHE CHIEF has run well in defeat from a wide draw in each of his last three starts, so ought to be even more competitive from a plum draw on this occasion. DAIMYO improved for the step up to this distance with blinkers removed last time and is also likely to play a leading role if confirming that improvement. NOCTURNAL FLIGHT wasn't disgraced in the lucrative Gold Rush and the drop back into a maiden should result in a more competitive showing. Well-bred MOREMI GORGE caught the eye in a sprint on his return from a rest/gelding and should find this distance more to his liking. Good race!

Selections:
#1 Apache Chief, #3 Daimyo, #10 Moremi Gorge, #6 Nocturnal Flight

Race 6
Race Summary: Open. GIMME MORE TIME was rewarded for consistency with a last-start success over 2200m but is versatile and ought to remain competitive under a penalty. BROADWAY GIRL is better off on these terms so capable of having a say too. TIME FOR LOVE and GENTLEMAN JOE are also weighted to pose more of a threat to last-start conqueror KATSU who is also drawn wide. KITCHAKAL is another deeply drawn so will need things to his way. GAINSFORD, on the other hand, is ideally positioned in the stalls and could represent the value in the race after an encouraging last start. Others aren't out of it. Tricky!

Selections:
#2 Gainsford, #4 Time For Love, #11 Kitchakal, #12 Katsu

Race 7
Race Summary: ASPECT has won back-to-back outings over course and distance but faces an uphill task completing a hat-trick under a 6-point penalty. MICHAEL FARADAY also shoulders a penalty after a last-start victory over track and trip and is drawn wide, though ought to remain competitive. OLIVER ran on from a long way back to finish 2nd in a similar course-and-distance contest last time and is likely to go close off an unchanged mark. DANCINGTOTHELIGHT and SOOTY have scope to improve over this distance so aren't without a chance either.

Selections:
#4 Oliver, #9 Aspect, #11 Michael Faraday, #13 Dancingtothelight

Race 8
Race Summary: Tricky. SAN PEDRO bounced back to form after the blinkers were dispensed with by finishing 2nd in a stronger race over track and trip last time, so needs only to confirm that improvement to fight for victory. However, unexposed 3yo GREETING MY MASTER also drops in class having competed in both Guineas trials earlier this summer and is open to improvement on his reappearance. He is drawn wide but the booking of Richard Fourie bodes well for his chances. SOLOMONS SEAL, FUN ZONE and CARRIACOU complete the shortlist.

Selections:
#11 Greeting My Master, #10 San Pedro, #7 Fun Zone, #3 Solomons Seal

Race 9
Race Summary: NORDIC QUEST and her last-start conqueror, PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN, have a score to settle. The former has benefitted from reverting to sprints and renews rivalry with the latter on 1.5kg better terms, so is good value to turn the tables. MIA'S HARPER and GIRL LIKE US should get closer on the revised terms. Consistent WHERE'S THE PARTY, capable GREAT CAT and improving last-start winner CAPTAIN'S DESTINY are others with claims.

Selections:
#3 Nordic Quest, #6 Pineapplemintgreen, #9 Mia's Harper, #14 Where's The Party

Best Win: #2 THE ABDICATOR            
Best Value Bet: #2 GAINSFORD              
Best Longshot: #2 GAINSFORD              


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