Yard to the Post | Kensington
Race Day: Kensington on Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Warm conditions at Royal Randwick (Kensington) today following a couple of days of showers in Sydney. The track a drying SOFT 5 with the rail out five metres and it favoured horses in the inside few ‘lanes’.
One of the best performances of the day came in Race 2 when WATEGOS rolled in the lead throughout to post an emphatic 2.4 length win from the talented BON VIVANT closing late. The Bjorn Baker-trained WATEGOS looked sharp in the parade, and he could be one to watch back to Saturday grade soon.
With so many first-up horses on the card there were bound to be one or two surprise winners at odds. They came in the form of CUT ON A DIME ($17 into $10 in Race 3) and SANSTOC ($15 to $14 in Race 6), both flashing late up the inside to kick-start their campaigns in style.
A full review by Mike Wood is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +5 metres |
| Conditions | SOFT 5 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | NEAR RAILS (inside few lanes) |
Race 1 KIA ORA CAPTIVANT PLATE
strong tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Extreme Spirit | Gary Portelli | James McDonald | 4 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Mafia | Peter & Paul Snowden | Sam Clipperton | 6 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Waverley | John Sargent | Keagan Latham | 1 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
EXTREME SPIRIT a compact type that looked well-conditioned and fit in the yard on debut. LOS PADRES probably the most anxious despite having race experience. MISTY LEGEND quiet in the yard and he didn't seem to stride out on his way down to the start. MAFIA and TURBULENT had shining coats.
In The Running
MAFIA led from EXTREME SPIRIT (2nd 2W NC) and TURBULENT (3rd 3W NC). LOS PADRES was midfield 3W WC and Tim Clark experimented by coming wider on the track looking for better ground.
The Result
EXTREME SPIRIT (1st) too strong for MAFIA (2nd) over the final 200m.
The Interest
There were three horses in the market and with LOS PADRES (anxious in yard, poor ride, 1/5 lame) and MISTY LEGEND both not at their best it left EXTREME SPIRIT to get the win. He paraded well and James McDonald made no mistakes on-pace to get the promising son of Extreme Choice home.
Race 2 RANVET HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wategos | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Bon Vivant | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 8 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Journalism | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Brett Prebble | 3 | 59.5 |
In The Yard
WATEGOS (nicely proportioned, very fit, looking well) and ATLANTIC OCEAN paraded in good shape. HIGHLY DESIRED a touch warm and BON VIVANT perhaps half a run short, a horse with more scope to his frame than most of these.
In The Running
WATEGOS took up the running and set an honest rolling FAIR to STRONG tempo from HIGHLY DESIRED working up to his outside. JOURNALISM slow to begin and settled 4th on the inside instead of on-pace as expected.
The Result
WATEGOS (1st) kept rolling for a strong win. BON VIVANT (2nd) ran home late to narrowly run down JOURNALISM (3rd) and ATLANTIC OCEAN (4th).
The Interest
WATEGOS presented very fit in the yard and came off a bold on-pace run in Saturday grade last start. He repeated the dose and was too good for these. BON VIVANT ready to do something third-up now up to around 1800m.
Race 3 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
steady tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cut On A Dime | Bryce Heys | Nash Rawiller | 11 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Hollywood Hero | Bjorn Baker | James McDonald | 1 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Outsider | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 3 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
Most fine in the yard, the colt CUT ON A DIME fit enough first-up and just a touch fizzy in the yard. COMMANDO JACK with two handlers looking very warm/anxious in the yard. WHISKER TO WHISKER seemed to have some fitness improvement to come.
In The Running
LALAGUNA had to work across to lead and then slowed the tempo once in-front from OUTSIDER outside the lead. HIMALAISM keen mid-race so moved up 3W NC near the lead. COMMANDO JACK kept misbehaving in the run, very keen and pulling Jason Collett around the Kensington track.
The Result
CUT ON A DIME (1st) threaded through up the inside late to run down HOLLWOOD HERO (2nd), OUTSIDER (3rd) and LALAGUNA (4th).
The Interest
The money came for CUT ON A DIME and he produced a big finishing effort to win first-up after taking on the older horses last campaign. All three favourites performed honestly. Nice returns from COMMANDO JACK, MAGADAN, WHISKER TO WHISKER and MOUNTAIN GUEST.
Race 4 VINERY YEARLINGS HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Distillate | Matthew Dale | Ms Amy McLucas | 6 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Headwall | Matthew Smith | Blake Spriggs | 4 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Allusionist | Richard & Will Freedman | Ashley Morgan | 7 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
Most sprinters looking OK. LASCARS a muscular type that seemed to have some fitness improvement to come. HEADWALL smaller, fit and bouncing around the yard.
In The Running
DISTILLATE jumped best to take up her favoured position in the lead with ALLUSIONIST outside the leader and LATENIGHTTOUGHGUY out 3W NC on-pace. HEADWALL a touch keen back in the pack.
The Result
DISTILLATE (1st) gave a strong kick and was too good for HEADWALL (2nd) running on well late.
The Interest
Once DISTILLATE found her favoured position on a suitable track it was always going to be hard to run her down over the 1000m with Amy McLucas claiming an important 3kg. HEADWALL was very fit in the yard and ran well. The other favourite LASCARS (4th) found some trouble in the run and might have had fitness improvement to come.
Race 5 THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkeby | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | The Guru | Theresa Bateup | Brock Ryan | 6 | 59.0 | |
| 3 | Real Peace | Clarry Conners | Tom Sherry | 15 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
Most looking well including the topweight CAESARS PALACE and KIRKEBY. UNAMERICAN was a bit edgy in the yard, walking very quickly until Rachel King hopped on. FATHER'S DAY perhaps a touch short of full fitness with improvement in the coat to come. READY BY DESIGN a scopey type that looks like he will enjoy the longer distances.
In The Running
UNAMERICAN led from FATHER'S DAY on his outside and CHATEAUX PARK out the back. KIRKEBY settled nicely midfield (5th rails WC).
The Result
KIRKEBY (1st) got the run through and chased hard under Nash Rawiller's vigorous riding for a narrow win over THE GURU (2nd) and REAL PEACE (3rd) running on out wider with CEASARS PALACE (4th) up the inside.
The Interest
A perfect ride from Nash Rawiller made the difference here. THE GURU rock solid, while REAL PEACE and CAESARS PALACE were right there 100m out and just didn't quite have the fight late. READY BY DESIGN looks a horse to follow into the campaign after he warmed up nicely late again.
Race 6 TAB HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanstoc | John O'Shea | Tom Sherry | 8 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Powerful Peg | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 9 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Zelady Luck | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Ms Amy McLucas | 5 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
FLOWER MOON (improving into prep) and ZELADY LUCK both well in the yard. SANSTOC seemed close to full fitness and had good condition fresh. POWERFUL PEG fit and a touch edgy in the yard, but much better than she was at Canterbury last start. SO DAZZLING with some improvement to come in the coat and KENEALLY seemed to have some fitness improvement too, a solid type.
In The Running
FLOWER MOON pushed up to hold out ZELADY LUCK for the lead. That left ICONIC DAME out 3W NC on the pace. SANSTOC covered up in midfield (7th rails WC).
The Result
SANSTOC (1st) worked clear up the inside and burst to the lead for a dominant win. POWERFUL PEG (2nd) ran on out wider. The on-pacers ZELADY LUCK (3rd) and FLOWER MOON (4th) next.
The Interest
A nice return from a progressive mare. She looked good in the yard following two sharp trials and Tom Sherry guided her home from a tricky spot. FLOWER MOON one to follow into the campaign if she can find a wet track. ARRANMORE very disappointing away from Warwick Farm.
Race 7 BLUE POINT FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
rails-6w
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jupitus | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 9 | 58.5 | |
| 2 | Ka Bling | Peter & Paul Snowden | Chad Schofield | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | The Denzel | Les Bridge | Andrew Adkins | 6 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
JUPITUS nicely proportioned and fit enough first-up, just a touch edgy in the yard. The stayer BOYSZEE looked plain and seemed to have more fitness to come. THE BIG EASY very fit and not carrying much muscle deeper in the prep, a horse suited to wet tracks usually. MY TRUTH playing up and probably had fitness improvement to come.
In The Running
THE DENZEL took up the running with HE’S SUPER LUCKY putting the pressure on out 3W NC ensuring a very STRONG tempo. JUPITUS restrained to the back of the field (9th 3W WC).
The Result
JUPITUS (1st) ran on best with KA BLING (2nd), both of them getting the better of a brave THE DENZEL (3rd) late.
The Interest
THE DENZEL put in an almighty effort here to hold on for 3rd after HE'S SUPER LUCKY (pulled up 3/5 lame and 10.7L last) had poured the pressure on throughout. JUPITUS getting the win against the pattern on the day and KA BLING with another solid effort. Not a lot of depth to this race so treat the form with caution.