Race-by-race preview and tips for Kensington on Wednesday
By Nick Berney
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 - 1:25PM ANAMOE @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
2. Maori Chief is ready to win third-up and gets a more positive race setup here. The colt wasn’t suited to the race shape last start at Canterbury a fortnight ago, and once in the clear, he savaged the line to just miss in a tight finish. Further, he clocked the meeting’s second-fastest final 200m split, and the margin to third confirmed the quality, indicating the rise in trip is ideal. James McDonald sticks; he has an improvers profile and can settle much closer.
Racing returns to the Kensington track on Wednesday.Credit: Getty
Dangers: 1. Duvana is a nice type who contested Group races last campaign, and his peak figure came on a dry surface. He has trialled well going through the line full of energy and looks ready to sprint fresh. The late market trade will be significant. 3. Mayne was suited on debut but went down fighting to finish second in a high-rating race. He will improve from the experience and roll forward. Debutant 4. California Bay won a recent trial at Randwick in style and draws well, allowing him to follow the rail.
How to play it: Maori Chief to win.
Race 2 - 2:00PM MARCELLIN COLLEGE RANDWICK HANDICAP (1550 METRES)
1. Johnny The Kid is ready to peak fourth-up on the quick back-up with the blinkers on for the first time, and the rise in trip is ideal. The colt always faced the breeze at a genuine tempo last start at Warwick Farm, and to his credit, he never shirked his task to the line. Further, his sectional profile suggests he is set to improve and gets a positive race set-up. Expect him to roll forward and be hard to run down.
Dangers: Expecting 8. Ti Amo Tanto to step sharply with race experience under her belt, and her debut run had more merit than the form guide reads. She had too much to do after being restrained from a wide draw and had to make a long-sustained sprint. The filly will appreciate the bigger track and can settle closer. 6. Wexford Miss is coming out of a high-rating race and is now at optimal fitness third-up. 10. Ocean Diva maps well.
How to play it: Johnny The Kid to win.
Race 3 - 2:35PM STAR TURN @ VINERY STUD HANDICAP (1150 METRES)
2. Epic Proportions returned in style when winning first-up at Kembla Grange 25 days ago and did it easily, producing one of his career peak figures. The gelding always faced the breeze at a slow tempo but sprinted hard, clocking the meeting fastest 400m-200m split, and always looked in control. He will be fitter, maps to have all favours and can make it back-to-back wins.
Dangers: Forgive 5. Astapor’s last start at Caulfield in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) after he was posted three-wide out on a limb. He drops in grade, is suited back in distance and will push forward from the wide draw. 4. Piercing Arrow is wound up for this after winning two trials, and he draws barrier one with Tim Clark to ride. 8. Field Wiri resumes and has the closing speed to run over the top of her rivals.
How to play it: Epic Proportions to win.
Race 4 - 3:10PM TAB HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
All key indicators suggest 4. Agita is set to improve third-up, and he profiles well for this assignment. The David Payne-trained galloper rose sharply in trip last start, and his effort had merit. Further, he loomed to win, running the race’s fastest 400m-200m split, but peaked on his effort. The four-year-old will now be at optimal fitness with a solid platform and maps to be smothered away, conserving energy.
Dangers: 7. Captain Maverick is another runner looking to break through this campaign, bringing the best last-start figure. James McDonald rides and a drying surface suits. Market watch on 1. Rattle And Hum, who will roll forward and control the speed. He can bounce back down in grade. Add 8. Angel Of Light to wider exotics.
How to play it: Agita to win.
Race 5 - 3:45PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Expecting an aggressive ride on 8. Audrey’s Lane from the wide gate second-up, and she gets in with no weight here. The four-year-old was honest first-up in a high-pressure race where she SPed favourite at Hawkesbury and tried hard to the line. She was a winner second-up last prep, will be suited to Kensington being a momentum track and can rate to win. Each-way.
Dangers: 9. Wings Of Desire has lived up to the hype thus far, winning two from two at the Provincials, and deserves her shot at the metropolitan level. She has the attributes to make the step-in grade. 2. Poppin Champagne is a last-start winner and key market watch on 1. Ahuriri, who has ability but is suited over more ground.
How to play it: Audrey’s Lane each-way.
Race 6 - 4:20PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
1. Gitalong was solid in defeat last start at Rosehill after being 35-days between runs, and his effort had merit in a high-rating race. The gelding always faced the breeze at a genuine tempo, had the track pattern against and never shirked his task to the line to hold on for second. He has strong form lines for this assignment, returns to a dry surface where he produces his peak figures, rolls forward and will take some running down.
Dangers: 11. Fire Star is now at optimal fitness, and his SP profile must be respected. The gelding is suited here, and his one defeat at this track had merit. 6. Another Cognac returned as a gelding, and he broke through for a solid win, running fast closing splits. James McDonald rides again, and he has the closing speed figure to run over the top of his rivals. 8. Tanglewood maps well, and 5. Negotiations has a sharp turn of foot.
How to play it: Gitalong to win.
Race 7 - 4:55PM SHINZO AT COOLMORE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Expecting 4. Groundrush to improve sharply second-up here, and he represents value. He resumed as a gelding at Sandown 21 days ago, and the late market trade suggested he would benefit from the run. Further, he had too much to do, getting too far back in a slowly run race and made-up significant ground, running the third-fastest final 200m split of the meeting. The Hawkes-trained galloper is more suited round the clockwise direction and is a winner at this track. Each-way.
Dangers: Hard to go past 5. Rock Empire, who is an improving type, albeit well-found in early markets. He was honest in defeat, running second to smart-type Yorkshire, and the times/margins confirmed the quality of that race. He’ll press forward and take beating. 1. True To Form won with style last start at Hawkesbury and 12. Getafix can bounce back after having issues last start. Market watch on 10. United Kingdom coming out of the Chris Waller yard.
How to play it: Groundrush each-way.
Best Bet: Race 6 # 1 - Gitalong
Next Best: Race 4 # 4 - Agita
Best Value: Race 7 # 4 - Groundrush
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au