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By Ray Hickson

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

All eyes on 7. Yumi from the in-form Snowden stable and with an appealing form reference through her only trial, a solid second to Miss Canada. She was at her quarters basically the whole trial and wasn’t asked to move. Well bred, drawn to be handy and take stopping if she runs up to the trial. Read co-trainer Peter Snowden's comments on her and all the stable's runners here.

Dangers: 5. Parakeet is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Holler and she’s trialled without blinkers but wears them here. Looked to lope a bit in her latest trial but the shades could be crucial and she’s a major danger. 2. Ashra Jahre didn’t have any luck on debut in the Gimcrack sitting wide on a wet track and dropping off. Beaten by what looks a smart one in her latest trial and if she has some early luck in running could surprise. 4. Jemss comes back in class on what was a very nice debut behind the unbeaten Aim on the course proper. Negatives here are the outside alley which will see her go back and the drop of 100m. But she should be running on strongly.

How to play it: Yumi WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Yumi runs second in a Rosehill trial on December 17

No excuses, this is the chance for 6. Austria to step up to the plate and play the game. She’s been a mix of unlucky and eye-catching in all her Australian starts to date and she went to the line untested first-up at Rosehill. Smaller field with at worst a genuine tempo on paper is the set up she needs. D-Day.

Dangers: 4. Celtic Love might have run last when resuming but as far as last places go it wasn’t a bad one behind Seasons beaten three lengths. Much better suited this trip and if Austria is running on she’s entitled to be chasing her from the back. 3. Invinciano reacted well to leading when up to this track and distance two weeks ago, showing very good fight when challenged. Form is okay so far out of the race and if she doesn’t have too much company in front could take catching. 1. Stock Up won well fresh then disappointed a bit second-up before an even effort behind Rocha Clock here. Wouldn’t shock to see her improve sharply.

How to play it: Austria WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds); Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Austria is unlucky first-up at Rosehill on December 11

Have to go with the eye and the effort of 2. Mars in a similar race here at his second start. Sure he was 100/1 but he went back then circled to be just off them and kept finding to run the winner to a length. First time he’s drawn well here and if he repeats the effort he goes close.

Dangers: 7. Indigenous comes through the same race as Mars and she didn’t get any peace in front in that race when a short-priced favourite. If she’s allowed to dictate a bit more she’s shown enough in her previous starts to say she can lift. 5. Chenin Blanc has improved sharply in her two trials this preparation suggesting she has taken some time to work things out. Drawn nicely and one to keep an eye on first-up. 9. Tracy May did the attacking outside Indigenous here last start, she then hit the front but was easily reeled in. She’s had a few chances but been competitive in each start so far. Can’t leave her out.

How to play it: Mars E/W ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Mars runs second at Kensington on December 18

7. Feather made up plenty of ground first-up in a race dominated on the speed and a track favouring that pattern. She did a great job to run fourth there and was solid in the market in a similar class race. Fitter here and if it’s a fair deck she will be hard to hold out this time.

Dangers: 8. Watching should have finished a lot closer when beaten under three lengths by Inanup over 1150m on this track two weeks ago. Certainly no harder this time, one win from 16 is a small concern but would be keeping him safe. 3. Knowitall Jack generally likes to be right on the pace in his races and resumes with two trials that can only be described as quiet. Support for him in the last 10 minutes vital, but more than capable of winning. 1. Mansa Musa won easily at 1100m on this track first-up but hasn’t quite been up to it with the class rise since. Query at the 1250m but if he gets a soft lead he can take a bit of catching.

How to play it: Feather WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Feather runs fourth at Canterbury on December 13

5. Killer Instinct has this race at her mercy and barrier one might be her main enemy here. Sprinted well to win first-up then went back and struck traffic at 1550m here two weeks ago but still ran a race best last 600m of 33.60 (Punter's Intelligence). Trip ideal now, down 2kg and clearly the horse to beat.

Dangers: 4. Gunga Din comes off an impressive Highway win over this trip and gets the chance to measure up to city company. Had the race run to suit last time but is versatile and appeals as a threat. 1. King Tomlola can take a while to hit his straps and perhaps there was a sign third-up when he dashed away on the turn and battled on behind Matowi, Berdibek and co. Lesser company here and he’s worth respect. 7. Newtown Bluebag faces a tricky draw but hard to fault the way he’s going of late narrowly missing successive Canterbury wins a couple of weeks ago. Inside gates have aided him but chance with even luck this time.

How to play it: Killer Instinct WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Killer Instinct runs fourth at Kensington on December 18

Happy to stay with 5. North with the blinkers going on after he was beaten favourite first-up at Wyong by an in-form mare. Has early speed to be in a striking position and if the shades help him focus he is capable of atoning.

Dangers: 11. Sulking might find the front from the inside but there is a bit of pressure on paper so perhaps she takes the trail. Bumped into a handy one in Fiteuse last time out and will be fitter for that run. Five weeks between runs, no trial, a query but must be respected. 6. L’Cosmo finally cracked it for a win at her ninth start with a fighting effort over 1150m on this track. Will appreciate a fast run race and coming back in distance isn’t an issue. Doesn’t run bad races so an each-way chance at least. 1. Liberty Sun showed good speed to lead and plenty of fight to hold off the challengers at Canterbury second-up. Up 2.5kg and might have to work for the lead but has to have some upside. Keep in mind.

How to play it: North E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

North runs second at Wyong on December 19

4. Zoology really appeals each-way in a race that looks to have good speed which suits his backmarker style. No luck at his past two at Moonee Valley, like him drawn out a bit and is always strong late. Would be surprised if he doesn’t run well.

Dangers: 6. Arthur In Charge is an up and comer who beat an in-form horse leading all the way at Kembla over this trip. Led in both wins to date but effective off the speed as well. On the up and this is within reach. 10. Tombstone is a huge query. His maiden win at Newcastle had to be seen to be believed, he wasn’t entitled to win. That was two months ago, very quiet trial leading in and will likely get back a bit. Check betting for a pointer but has to go in quaddies. 3. Voila is a false favourite for mine. She’s had her chance in both runs this time in on this track and managed only third on both occasions. Yet to win past 1100m but does get a soft run from an inside gate so should get her chance again. Just doesn’t win often.

How to play it: Zoology E/W ($11 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

2. Snips is brilliantly placed here after a fast finishing third over 1400m in this class two weeks ago, his last 200m of 12.04 (Punter's Intelligence) just a touch slower than the winner. Suggested he’s looking for a bit more ground in that performance and drawn to get a nice soft run just off the speed here. If he runs up to that last effort he’ll go close.

Dangers: 4. Cisco Bay has been excellent in two runs for the new stable and he stuck on well behind Mr Dependable at Rosehill last time, that form has obviously held up well. Can’t see him missing a place and he’s a good winning chance. 7. Zouologist comes through the same race as Snips, he did race three wide for a fair part of the race but the winner did miss it by five lengths so no real excuse. Drawn to have his chance here. 3. Gitan found his best form at Hawkesbury at his fourth run back and while the stats say all six wins are at 1400m and he hasn’t fired here previously he’s coming off a win, drawn the inside and down 4kg. Each-way.

How to play it: Snips WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Snips runs third at Kensington on December 18

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