By Ray Hickson
Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting. Selections based on a heavy track.
Race 1 - 1:25PM 1ST CROP CALYX FOALS HANDICAP (1300 METRES) |
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5. Unwritten looks close to a win after resuming with an eye-catching fifth here three weeks ago. Importantly he appeared to glide through heavy ground easily winning a trial prior to that run and is hard to beat.
Dangers: 2. Dufresne is a well bred gelding who has been trialling up okay for a few months now and finally makes it to the track. His heavy track trial at Canterbury in July is a good sign he’ll handle it. Keep safe. 7. Rocklily was a real eye catcher when going close at Newcastle two weeks ago at this distance. Query in heavy ground but if she handles it she’s right in this. 8. Willowy is a market watch on debut. She’s typically well bred and her dam was capable in the wet. Given two quiet trials and no surprise if she shows something.
How to play it: Unwritten WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Unwritten runs fifth at Kensington on August 4
Race 2 - 2:00PM ARROWFIELD VIRTUAL PARADE HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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3. Omni Man is a half brother to Slipper winner She Will Reign and has looked a little smart in his trials including a dominant performance on a heavy track. Draw well and looks to have tactical speed. Take beating on what we’ve seen.
Dangers: 11. Gymnastics ran a couple of handy races in her first preparation in the autumn. She scored a runaway Kembla trial win leading into this and her best effort to date was on a soft 6 and first-up so she’s one to keep an eye on. 2. All England charged into a placing on debut here then raced a bit closer and boxed on beaten 1.5 lengths last week. Both on good tracks but has trialled okay on heavy ground so well worth another chance. 4. River Snitty hasn’t been asked to do a lot in his recent trials and is a big market watch with the Waller/McDonald combination.
How to play it: Omni Man WIN ($2.90 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Omni Man wins a trial at Randwick on August 6
Race 3 - 2:35PM VINERY HANDICAP (1250 METRES) |
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3. Maurice’s Medad showed a bit of quality in the autumn with a second to Converge and a game effort in the G1 Champagne. He’ll handle a wet track based on what we’ve seen and he is trialling nicely. Should be in the finish.
Dangers: 4. Finally Realise is flying at the moment and had a tough run when claimed in the last stride by Super Effort here last week. Competent in the wet, is hard fit and should be thereabouts again. Read trainer Peter Robl's comments here. 2. Escaped wasn't beaten far in the same race and seems to be improving. Small field gives him every chance. 7. Noble Soldier has been battling a bit in easier races though there is less depth here than last start at Kembla.
How to play it: Maurice’s Medad WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Maurice’s Medad runs second in a Warwick Farm trial on August 17
Race 4 - 3:10PM TAB HANDICAP (1400 METRES) |
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2. Brookspire has a class edge on this field and she resumed on a soft 7 here last prep with a handy third behind Harmony Rose, starting favourite. Great recent trial behind Atishu and is clearly the horse to beat.
Dangers: 8. Grenado doesn’t win out of turn but he is adept in wet ground so his close up efforts of late on good tracks have him in the mix. Should get every chance to show up. 6. Shibli showed some promise in his first local campaign in the autumn finishing just behind the placings in all three starts. Both trial wins have been on the synthetic which is some query but he’s one to keep safe. 4. Armatree made some ground here first-up then beaten favourite at Hawkesbury both on good tracks. His lone win so far was on a soft 7 here in June and he has placed to Private Eye so he’s good enough to feature.
How to play it: Brookspire WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Brookspire runs second in a Rosehill trial on August 13
Race 5 - 3:45PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1250 METRES) |
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4. Sunrise Ruby is an up and coming talent and she ran some slick sectionals to win a Highway at the end of July. Previous three wins were on heavy tracks so she loves the wet ground and has struck a winnable race. Go well.
Dangers: 10. Mascherata was quite impressive winning a Scone maiden (provincial meeting) two weeks ago and she wasn’t disgraced in her only heavy track attempt. On the way up and should be hitting the line strongly. 1. Seleque is racing well, had her chance on a heavy track two runs ago then even effort at Randwick in a comparable race though against the boys. Worth another chance. 6. Calgary Queen won on a heavy track at her third start and performed well at this level at Hawkesbury in April. Handy mare with James McDonald on board and worth respecting.
How to play it: Sunrise Ruby E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Sunrise Ruby wins at Randwick on July 31
Race 6 - 4:20PM BOWERMANS COMMERCIAL FURNITURE HANDICAP (1550 METRES) |
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1. Off Shaw backs up after winning on a good track last week, where he fought back after being headed. Loves heavy ground and was game behind Matowatakpe last time he struck that surface. Will go forward and is a huge chance.
Dangers: 3. Fantastic Baby missed a place for the first time when midfield in a Midway at Rosehill last month. Blinkers off and drawn well and he’s a heavy track winner so he’s worth another chance. 9. Dinado ran quite well here first-up but only fair at Newcastle last time. Inclined to forgive that, she handles a heavy and is capable of improvement. 5. Come Along showed a return to form is imminent with a close up fourth in the same event at Newcastle. Can be a bit 50-50 in the wet but good chance to show up.
How to play it: Off Shaw WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Off Shaw wins at Kensington on August 18
Race 7 - 4:55PM TERRITORIES @ DARLEY HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
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5. Pippali was Group 3 placed before a spell in the Kembla Classic and is an interesting runner here. Only seen a wet track once and that was on debut where she finished close up and while 1100m is likely short of her best she should hit the line hard.
Dangers: 7. A Very Fine Red won well on debut at Hawkesbury then beaten under a length in the Group 2 Percy Sykes after leading. Yet to see a wet track but is trialling well and should be respected. 2. Jawwaal hasn’t raced for 11 months but he is a wet tracker and was given a solid test out in his trial win leading into a return. On pacer who should press forward and he could give some cheek fresh. 6. Coco Cuber has been around the mark at his last two including a heavy track at Canterbury in July. Not disgraced last time in a handy field and is one of the chances.
How to play it: Pippali E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Pippali's latest trial at Warwick Farm on August 17
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting