This Saturday the Flemington race-card features a great stakes race to enjoy a bet on with the $125,000 Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) set to take place as race six on January 22^nd, 2011.

The 2011 Kensington Stakes final field features 13 top sprinters ready to face off including top-weight with 59.5kg, Grand Duels.

Drawn in barrier nine, seven-year-old gelding Grand Duels is resuming racing after a month break before which they won back-to-back races including their last start victory in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield when they overcame a wide barrier 15 draw.

Grand Duels will likely start the favourite in the Kensington Stakes odds at Luxbet, a specialist at the Flemington track having run third in the 2008 Newmarket Handicap here and third in the 2009 Lightning Stakes.

Seeking redemption after finishing first in the 2008 Kensington Stakes before being disqualified due to a positive swab, Grand Duels will face off against defending champion Silver Bullion on Saturday.

The Leon Corstens-trained Bel Esprit five-year-old Silver Bullion is another in-form sprinter having won a 1000m handicap at Moonee Valley last start on December 31 and is well weighted for Saturday set to carry 53kg with apprentice jockey Jake Noonan in the mount.

Coming up trumps in the Kensington Stakes barriers is the Anthony Cummings-trained Trader, drawn on the rails in gate one and set to be ridden by champion hoop Glen Boss.

Five-year-old Trader ran a gallant second behind Sound Journey in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) on October 23 before a hefty 59kg weight allocation saw them finish third last at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.

However, dropping back to a more manageable 55kg on Saturday, Trader looks a top pick to win this year’s Kensington Stakes.

The other runner that will advantage from a big weight drop in the Kensington is promising Octagonal filly Warm Love.

Coming off three straight wins, Warm Love carried 56.5kg to victory at Caulfield on January 8 before she stormed home to claim a three length win in the Nouvelle Star Handicap at Flemington on January 15 with 56kg on her back.

On Saturday Warm Love is allocated just 53kg set to be ridden by top hoop Ben Melham from the ideal barrier two draw, making her a real chance.

Other notable runners in the 2011 Kensington Stakes field include the David Payne-trained Cardinal Virtue drawn well in barrier three, Rick Hore-Lacy’s improving four-year-old mare Big Spirit and Mossman gelding Stirling Grove winner at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Betting on the 2011 Kensington Stakes will open at Luxbet shortly so sign up now to get the best odds on all the weekend races.

2011 Kensington Stakes Field, Barriers & Weights