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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for the public holiday meeting on the Kensington track at Randwick on Monday. The track is rated Soft 7 and selections are based on a soft to heavy surface.

Without a great deal of confidence to kick off the day, 1. Time Of Glory should be hard to hold out if he can repeat his promising debut effort from Kembla Grange last weekend. He conceded a big start, they were coming down the outside fence at this meeting and he chased very hard to go down in a close finish covering an extra 13.3m and running the fastest last 600m of 34.34 (Punters Intel). He was a $21 chance there so I’m a bit wary and we’re on a soft track so there are question marks but if you believe what you see he has to be a good chance.

Danger: 3. Foreign Territory was an odds-on favourite in a small field at Gosford on debut and was beaten under a length. He did lead there and was kept a bit busy but he was under pressure on the turn. Perhaps the extra distance might allow him to be more comfortable in front but I’m not keen to rush in at a short price. 2. Baanone had some specking at big odds at his debut at Warwick Farm where he was a safely held third behind the promising Seasons. He ran on without threatening there but ticks the wet track box and you’d think the trip will suit. Must consider. 4. Schoolmates has been fair at best in three starts since a very handy debut back in February. Freshened up since his last run and been back to the trials. I can’t see him winning but it is a six horse field and anything can happen.

How to play it: Time Of Glory WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds).

Time Of Glory finishes off strongly on debut at Kembla Grange on June 2

1. Wide Spread Panic went under as a $1.55 favourite at Gosford first-up but I think she can atone for that with a step up in trip and the blinkers on. She couldn’t get into the race early from the wide gate and was stuck three wide in midfield, she worked home strongly under pressure in 11.38 for the last 200m (Punters Intel) but never looked comfortable. I’d say she controls things from the front and will take plenty of running down.

Dangers: 3. Scratches kicked off her career with a handy second at Kembla but was only fair in two subsequent starts at Newcastle before a spell. She’s had the two trials and she ran on well behind the runaway winner at Warwick Farm on June 4. Expect she’ll show something. 2. Stage Pass would need to find a couple of lengths at least on her last few efforts but in a race that appears to lack a bit of depth she’s at least been consistent. Every chance in her two thirds at Kembla and is a minor player for mine. 7. Settle Then Lift chased home a red hot Metamorphic at Scone over the carnival then disappointed when favourite at Gunnedah. Again, probably needs to lift a bit but a place wouldn’t surprise.

How to play it: Wide Spread Panic WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Wide Spread Panic’s first-up second placing at Gosford on May 26

Aside from the logical query on a wet track I’m pretty keen on the chances of 4. Dealmaker despite his defeat in a five horse field at Gosford last starts. He was a drifter in betting and dropped the bit before the turn but he responded when the race was all over and finished off full of running in third, 1.5 lengths from the winner. He clocked the fastest last 600m of 35.80 and last 200m in 11.77 (Punters Intel). Bigger track, blinkers and Kerrin McEvoy on board are all positives and I’ll be surprised if he’s not in the finish.

Dangers: 1. Morpheus has a win on the board and it was a dominant one at Goulburn a couple of weeks ago. The third horse has since won at Canterbury and assuming the handles the track he has to be considered a threat. 3. Picaro bumped into a smart one first-up then tried very hard at Kembla last week on that track favouring those coming down the outside. He was on the speed and looked a bit at sea but when challenged he didn’t give it up easily. Not out of this. 8. Battle Plane comes through the same race as Picaro where he ran third and he could get into a place but I think the winner is in the top few.

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

Dealmaker hits the line late at Gosford on May 31 with Tactical Formation runner-up

I have a small soft spot for 1. Canyonero but that said if I knew for sure he’ll handle the conditions I’d be declaring this is his race. He’s still the one to beat for mine, all three starts have been in solid Saturday company and he’s performed well in two of those three and probably had excuses in the other. First-up I thought he was going to burst through from behind the leader but whether he was field shy or took winding up I’m not sure. He eventually wound up and was strong on the line. Has the blinkers first time here and that might sort him out.

Dangers: 5. Kashiwa was a horse I wanted to keep safe on Wednesday at Canterbury but he came out and lands in this race. Well bred youngster and his only trial was a close up sixth to Diplomatico. Bears very close watching. 4. It’s Too Hard has trialled particularly well on wet tracks of late over the short 735m trips. Has an inside alley and if there’s some support for him he could give a sight. 6. King's Trust appeared to have his chance on debut at Gosford but he wasn't beaten far and some form has come out of the race. Each-way.

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

Watch Canyonero late in his first-up third at Rosehill on May 19

I thought this race was ripe for an upset as I couldn’t convince myself about the first two in the market. Whenever 2. Reneged has struck a wet track he’s found an extra gear and given he’s only been beaten three lengths or thereabouts in his two runs back he’s not going terribly despite the ‘08’ in his form. All four wins have been around this trip and he’s back from Saturday company. If he can’t produce something here he’ll be hard to back going forward.

Dangers: 3. Penske has been a bit in and out though he hasn’t been far away when he’s been defeated this time in. Stuck on fairly behind Braces at Warwick Farm last time and he has a significant jockey change here. Could be a bit harder to run down. 6. Revolver shortened sharply in the market on Friday to assume clear favouritism. He did bump into Gresham at Canterbury last time and held the third horse comfortably despite being no match for the winner. Again no match at the Farm prior to that but boxed on well. He’ll run well but I can’t match the confidence of the early support. 1. Just Shine was scratched from Saturday to run here. Came of age last prep with three straight wins including one on a soft 6 so the ground may not be a concern for him. Whatever he does he'll improve on but not to be left out.

How to play it: Reneged E/W ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds).

Reneged runs on late second-up at Randwick on May 26

Aside from having to tick the wet track box this race appears at the mercy of the filly 5. Medovina despite going under as favourite second-up a month ago at the Farm. She settled well off them on that occasion but took a shade too long to wind up and failed narrowly, running easily the best last 600m of 34.08 (Punters Intel). She’s been back to the trials since then and while she’s probably not well suited with 59kg against older horses she’s the one with all the upside and is entitled to win with even luck in a race that's fallen apart for her.

Dangers: 6. Dawn Raid was probably outpaced a bit when she resumed at Kembla Grange and the step to 1400m will be a plus for him. He won at 1400m second-up last time in (off a fresh win) then again at 1500m next start. He can feature in this. 1. The Gavel is better known over more ground but he does get through the wet ground and is generally not too far away. A first-up win would be an upset but I can see him running well. 3. High Mist was never a factor fresh at Canterbury but he also has a liking for a wet track. The bigger concern is his strike rate.

How to play it: Medovina WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds).

Medovina runs on strongly out wide at Warwick Farm on May 16

1. Easy Eddie hasn’t been exposed to a rain affected track but he looks well placed class wise on his recent form. Game behind subsequent stakes winner Epidemic two starts back then again gave a sight at Rosehill behind Dawn Dawn last Saturday week. Back 100m and has the blinkers on here. He should roll to the lead and if allowed to get into a rhythm he’ll take plenty of catching.

Dangers: 7. Wander has won two of his three starts and found the progressive Prime Candidate a bit too good in his only defeat. Didn’t beat anything of note at Hawkesbury last start but beat them into the ground and he has the ability to race handy. On the way up and he’s a logical danger. 8. Cordoned has a bit of wet track form to his name and he finished hard when resuming at Taree on a soft 7 to score nicely. Canterbury winner before a spell and he’s down 5kg on his fresh win. Wouldn’t be underselling him. 11. Falcon Island is hard to line up. His three starts have been at 1200m, 1600m and 1800m but he’s been slick in his two trials since a spell. If he has the speed under race conditions to be up there he could measure up. Be guided by the market.

How to play it: Easy Eddie E/W ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds).

Easy Eddie tries hard in running second at Rosehill on June 2

Scratchings have changed this race significantly. Left with 15. Alassio who faces her biggest test but it’s fair to say she’s impressed with dominant wins at both starts to date. Sent back to the trials after winning fresh and she wasn’t asked to compete seriously which is unlike every other trial she’s had. Not sure if that’s a worry or not but it stood out. The one to beat.

Dangers: 14. Seventhchic only had the one run last time in and was a game second at Canterbury over 1100m. She beat Once More A Lady in her second trial and was pushed out a little late in doing it. Handles all conditions and tends to be competitive first-up so keep in mind. 10. Wooshka was scratched from Randwick on Saturday to run here and aside from a failure at Group 3 level in Melbourne before a break she hasn’t done a lot wrong. Unproven in the wet but in the right class and can feature. Also considering 16. Empress Matilda and 17. Bella Success who are both resuming and you probably should throw in 9. Vienna Romance as at least an each-way chance.

How to play it: Alassio WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds), save Seventhchic E/W ($13).

Alassio makes it two from two scoring at Wyong on May 3

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