David Balfour’s Morphettville visitor Obsidian Dragon will look to extend their winning streak to four straight this Saturday when lining up against a quality field in the 2012 Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
The four-year-old daughter of Hidden Dragon from Monde Blue mare Aradina was one of 15 horses nominated for the $125,000 Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) this year when early entries were taken by Racing Victoria on Monday.
There is little doubt that Obsidian Dragon is the form horse heading into the sprint clash as she comes off three straight turf triumphs over the distance.
A three length win in November and a one length victory in December at her home track were followed by a trip to Melbourne where she claimed an impressive win at just her second interstate appearance.
Unlike September 2010 when Obsidian Dragon made her Melbourne debut with a disappointing 10th place finish to Lone Rock in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at the Valley, this New Year’s Eve she was able to carry a hefty 59.5kg with Steve Arnold aboard to a comprehensive three length victory over Heath Conners’ Centexpress in the Fisher & Paykel Premium Handicap (1000m).
She will now look to score another Victorian turf triumph, this time at the state’s most famed track, Flemington.
One thing firmly in Obsidian Dragon’s favour for Saturday – when she could come face-to-face with the likes of Danny O’Brien’s boom three-year-olds Decirlces and Rifleman, defending Kensington Stakes winner Grand Duels and recent Doveton Stakes placegetter First Command – is her weight.
Under the set weights plus penalties conditions she will carry 56kg, a full three and half kilos less than she carried to victory at Moonee Valley last start when giving away between 3.5 and 5.5 kilos to her rivals.
Her Kensington Stakes weight includes a 2kg penalty for her Moonee Valley win, which boosted the bargain buy mare’s career earnings to $345,250.
“She has a lot of pace,” Balfour said.
“I bought her for $23,000 as a weanling at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.”
Saturday will be the mare’s ninth black-type assignment.
Her best results at stakes level to date have both been behind the David Jolly-trained Streetcar Magic.
She ran a close third when beaten only half a length in the Listed Reliance Petrolem Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville in July of 2010, and was then fourth to Streetcar Magic again in the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (11000m) last April finishing less than two lengths off them.
Her most recent black-type appearance was in the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) last July when three and a half lengths away third to the Peter Moody-trained Kulgrinda.
The 2012 Kensington Stakes final field and barrier draw is due for release on Wednesday, with Races.com.au to publish the full list of acceptors and gates.
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