Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting. Selections based on a good track.

4. Nielsen Park is a nicely bred colt who cost $650,000 and debuts having hit the line nicely at the end of 740m in his latest trial about a month ago. Drawn nicely and should be able to make some use of it up to the 1100m now. Any support significant but should run well.

Dangers: 3. Farnicle from the Waterhouse/Bott yard led all the way to a comfortable trial win over 1045m two weeks ago. Imagine he looks to lead this field and with that grounding he’ll be giving a good account. 2. Grand Prairie warmed up at the end of the 1000m on this track two weeks ago to finish a close second. Better for that and if open to improvement can be in the finish. 5. Regulated Affair is a Wootton Bassett colt from the Waller stable on debut and both public trials this month have been handy. Worth some respect.

How to play it: Nielsen Park WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds).

Nielsen Park runs third in a Randwick trial on February 24

4. Ernaux was a $3 million purchase and steps out for her debut after two trials and she’s been competitive in both. Followed the leader in the latest then hooked across heels before going down narrowly. Go well.

Dangers: 2. Scrumptious was a drifter in betting first-up and did a good job after having to check at a vital stage when running second two weeks ago. Better for it and has to be included. 1. Pleasure Queen was the winner of that race and ran right up to some good support to get the job done. Tricky gate this time but hard to knock. 6. Spice Prawn is another to come through that race and she was also strongly supported but didn’t have the best of luck when strung up on the inside before running on just behind them. No surprise if she’s right in the finish.

How to play it: Ernaux WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Ernaux runs second in a Rosehill trial on March 17

5. Marais is bursting to win a race having placed in eight of his nine starts and gets another chance here from a soft gate with JMac up. Hit the front at Canberra second-up and was cut down late, the third horse has since won. Should be right in the thick of it again.

Dangers: 6. Monte Veebee has bumped into some smart ones in his six starts to date and resumes since the spring with a couple of trials under his belt and is now a gelding. Has the talent and looks a major threat. 9. Fleeting Spirit has found one better at her past two including last time when bumping into the promising Meridiana two weeks ago. Well worth including in the chances. 2. Mission Gold has been runner-up in both starts to date and while no match for the winner last time he stuck on well. Capable of another placing.

How to play it: Marais WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds).

Marais runs second at Canberra on March 9

6. Campaldino found the 1400m too short when resuming two weeks ago but he did a great job to run second. Fitter for that and gets a nice weight drop and rise to a more suitable trip so expecting him to be much harder to beat.

Dangers: 2. Inquiring Minds had about six weeks between runs when running into a close second at Canterbury almost four weeks ago. Consistent type who has won in this grade previously and should be around the mark again. 3. Don Pedro won twice at 1400m at Warwick Farm before stepping to 1550m here two weeks ago and running on without threatening into fourth. Has placed at this sort of trip previously and is in the mix. 1. State Of America was never in the race when resuming at Rosehill at a trip short of his best. Struck three wins together last time in and expect him to improve up to this trip. Whether he wants one more remains to be seen.

How to play it: Campaldino WIN ($2.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Campaldino runs second at Kensington on March 13

1. Seascape was solid in betting when she resumed with a third here two weeks ago, where she led and probably just didn’t settle well enough before kicking clear and being run down late. Has to be fitter and gets the chance to own this from a wider gate. Hard to beat.

Dangers: 11. To The Extreme resumed with a promising third at Warwick Farm before a fair effort in a Midway at Randwick a few weeks ago. Inclined to give her another chance. 6. Useapin got the job done when resuming at Gosford, finishing off well late to score a narrow win. Draws well and could go on with it. 12. Soho Artist jumps from a BM58 win at Goulburn into this grade but is on the way up and no surprise to see her somewhere in the finish.

How to play it: Seascape WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Seascape runs third at Kensington on March 13

2. Ballroom Bella was Group 2 placed this time last year and is right back in grade on what she contested in the spring. Plenty to like about her latest trial effort where she scored in good style, gets in okay with the claim and would be surprised if she doesn’t show up.

Dangers: 6. Althoff is back as a gelding after some fair efforts in stakes company last time in. Not tested in his trial a few weeks ago and bears close watching first-up. 8. Midnight Dynamite wasn’t a factor first-up at Flemington but have to forgive that as he was quite consistent last time in including a placing behind Private Harry. 3. Key Largo has been a bit below his best but was only beaten 1.4 lengths when resuming at Randwick in a BM88. Could lift.

How to play it: Ballroom Bella WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds).

Ballroom Bella wins a Rosehill trial on March 17

3. Peace Officer doesn’t often get the breaks but he looks well placed to make an impact after a nice second-up effort at Warwick Farm and a tickover trial since. Has won at this track and distance and sure to be hard to hold out.

Dangers: 10. Mickey’s Medal tried hard when resuming with a close up third over the 1400m two weeks ago. Drawn ideally and any improvement would see him pose a big threat second-up. 1. Roma Avenue did a good job to box on and run third at Kensington two weeks ago over this trip and with two runs back he should be at his peak. Can be harder to run down. 5. Collect Your Cash is an ex-Kiwi first-up for the Waterhouse/Bott yard and he’s trialled a couple of times. Resumes in blinkers and any support would be a significant push.

How to play it: Peace Officer WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds).

Peace Officer runs third at Warwick Farm on March 5

8. Brutal Bowler didn’t have the best of luck when resuming at Hawkesbury and found the line in great style late when he did get a chance to wind up. Is a second-up winner and can only be improved for the extra 100m of this. Good chance.

Dangers: 4. Climb The Ladder led at Warwick Farm a month ago and while reeled in to run fourth wasn’t disgraced. No surprise if he’s better for that first run in Sydney and is worth another chance. 1. Mogul Monarch hasn’t done a lot wrong and followed a narrow Midway defeat with a game second at Gosford in a Provincial-Midway Championships heat. Claim helps and he should be somewhere in the finish. 3. Iron Hawk is back as a gelding and he was a runaway winner of a 792m trial a few weeks ago which is a little unlike his style. Took on Autumn Glow a couple of times and was placed behind her, one to keep an eye on.

How to play it: Brutal Bowler WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Brutal Bowler runs third at Hawkesbury on March 8

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting