Yard to the Post | Kensington
Race Day: Kensington on Saturday, 04 January 2020
Some high-quality horsemanship made the difference between winning and losing at the Kensington track today, or perhaps ‘horsewomanship’ is the more appropriate term.
Rachel King scored back-to-back winners later in the day, keeping the tricky galloper MUSHAIREB (picture) in a nice rhythm into the wind to score over 1,550 metres before repeating the dose on 50/1 roughie MERCURIAL LAD in the next race. The young English jockey is fast becoming one of the best in Sydney, known for her ability to settle her rides in the perfect position from the jump.
Earlier in the day Nash Rawiller read the steady tempo over 2,400 metres perfectly on DARK PEARL, stoking up the imported stayer early from the back and keeping his momentum going down the straight.
And it took all of James McDonald’s strength to lift the Waterhouse Bott galloper DISCHARGED over the line in Race 3 to win by the narrowest of margins from GEO.
The track played well and a headwind from Race 7 onwards didn’t help some of the gallopers, including the favourite WORD FOR WORD in Race 8, who had cruised into the race 150 metres from home before finding MERCURIAL LAD too tough.
A full review from the yard to the post is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE, headwind from R7 |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP
Smart debuts by two sharp two-year-olds
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philizzy | Anthony Cummings | Christian Reith | 8 | 53.5 | |
| 2 | Osamu | Tony Gollan | James McDonald | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 3 | Remorseless | Scott Singleton | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 55.5 |
In The Yard
Most looking fine in the yard apart from THE BIG EASY, who was hot and unsettled in the conditions. REMORSELESS a lighter type compared to most others.
In The Running
FORMENTERA led from THE BIG EASY at a STRONG tempo. OSAMU settled just behind the leaders with REMORSELESS behind him a touch wide and PHILIZZY tracking up near the back.
The Result
PHILIZZY (1st) ran on hard to just catch OSAMU (2nd 0.1L), who had loomed up and hit the lead. REMORSELESS (3rd 2.1L) chased solidly to catch the leader FORMENTERA (4th 2.5L).
The Interest
The top two trialled well and proved too good for raced horses, both PHILIZZY and OSAMU two youngsters that can be followed. Perhaps forgive THE BIG EASY (8th 7.6L) (poor recovery) after a hot/anxious parade and a tough run on a hot tempo. TUDOR MUSIC (9th 9.5L) was weak to the line from midfield and pulled up with a poor recovery too.
Race 2 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
strong tempo
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmiss | Wayne Hudd | Jay Ford | 3 | 53.0 | |
| 2 | Greenspan | Kerry Parker | Billy Owen | 1 | 60.5 | |
| 3 | Irish Songs | Louise White | Tommy Berry | 7 | 59.0 |
Race 3 SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP
James Mac takes control and gets the win
steady tempo
: early pressure
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discharged | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | James McDonald | 7 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Geo | Mark Mason | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Satin Socks | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 3 | 53.5 |
In The Yard
All looking quite well in the yard, all fit enough and no standouts.
In The Running
DISCHARGED worked up to take the lead and when he crossed HOWRA it resulted in COCK MATCH being tightened and dropping back to 5th 2W in the run. BELITSA moved up 3W NC on the pace. GEO in the box seat. After working early DISCHARGED managed to back it off mid-race and get the tempo into the STEADY range (with EARLY PRESSURE).
The Result
DISCHARGED (1st) kept lifting as GEO (2nd 0.1L) challenged from the box seat, both crossing the line together. SATIN SOCKS (3rd 1.4L) and AROUSAL (4th 1.5L) ran on out wider. THANKS TO YOU (5th 3.4L) ran on out of the pack late after getting held up and onto heels 250m out, only clear from the 150m mark.
The Interest
DISCHARGED came from strong form-lines and just got the job done over the progressive GEO, who did well at only his third start, a horse with good acceleration. James Mac's ride on DISCHARGED a gem, getting control and backing off the tempo mid-race. SATIN SOCKS and AROUSAL both solid out wider and THANKS TO YOU is one to follow up to 1400m next start.
Race 4 SCHWEPPES HANDICAP
Quiet in the yard, quiet in the run, explosive in the finish
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lashes | Matthew Smith | Jason Collett | 2 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Adelong | Brad Widdup | Christian Reith | 5 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | Enfleurage | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 3 | 53.0 |
In The Yard
ADELONG still strong and well in the parade. ENFLEURAGE looked good and LASHES just OK first-up, a touch quiet and warm in the parade, but fit enough.
In The Running
ADELONG jumped OK and moved up to lead with SPIRITUAL PURSUIT working forward on her outside putting pressure on. A very STRONG tempo set up and LASHES settled midfield on the inside with cover. JETGIRL wide no cover midfield.
The Result
LASHES (1st) got clear and ran on hard to win easily. ADELONG (2nd 2.8L) holding off the rest of the pack led by ENFLEURAGE (3rd 3L) and SPIRITUAL PURSUIT (4th 3.2L).
The Interest
Two quality sprinters here, LASHES strong first-up despite a quiet-looking parade and ADELONG losing no admirers after getting attacked in the lead. LASHES usually races on-pace and the decision to go back paid dividends with the hot tempo up-front. They are both worth following going forward. SPIRITUAL PURSUIT may need a wet track now in this grade, she isn't as big and strong as the other mares.
Race 5 TAB HANDICAP
An imported stayer relishes the distance rise
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dark Pearl | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 7 | 56.0 | |
| 2 | Quality Seeker | Ciaron Maher | Robbie Dolan | 4 | 57.0 | |
| 3 | House Of Cartier | John Sargent | Chris Williams | 8 | 61.0 |
In The Yard
All well in the yard. DARK PEARL hanging his head low early on in the heat with his ears back, but he perked up once Nash jumped on.
In The Running
DANCE AWAY moved up and took the lead at a STEADY tempo with ARTARMON moving up on his outside to give KISS THE BRIDE some cover. QUALITY SEEKER spent half the race out 3W NC and half the race in the 2W line, HOUSE OF CARTIER at the back 3W NC when he ducked in. DARK PEARL was jagged back to last and made an early move out 6W NC on the turn with HOUSE OF CARTIER and QUALITY SEEKER making their runs too underneath him.
The Result
DARK PEARL (1st) and QUALITY SEEKER (2nd 0.2L) came away from the pack in a fierce battle to the line. HOUSE OF CARTIER (3rd 2.5L) fought on solidly behind them for a clear 3rd.
The Interest
The top three got their momentum up and were too strong here, the robust DARK PEARL relishing the step to 2400m under a quiet ride and QUALITY SEEKER (unlucky, stuck wide) maintaining some great form this prep after winning last start. HOUSE OF CARTIER not too bad first try at 2400m. GUISE (6th 4.1L) was back on the inside and might be better with some more cut in the ground, she pulled up 2/5 lame in the Stewards' Report.
Race 6 RANVET HANDICAP
Back-to-back for an in-form mare
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jen Rules | Peter & Paul Snowden | Christian Reith | 6 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | He's a Hotshot | Bjorn Baker | Kerrin McEvoy | 5 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Celer | Kim Waugh | Tommy Berry | 2 | 56.0 |
In The Yard
BURRADOO, HE'S A HOTSHOT, CELER, JEN RULES and HE'S A HOTSHOT all looked well in the yard. It doesn't look as though they are working DRACHENFELS too much, still some condition and a dusty coat in the middle of his prep. COTERIE not too bad off a freshen-up, just a bit of condition and a tiny bit fresh perhaps.
In The Running
HE'S A HOTSHOT was urged forward to take up the running at a FAIR tempo with ISORICH moving up on his outside, BURRADOO in the box seat a JEN RULES keen at times behind ISORICH. THINK FREE was taken back to last. BURRADOO held up behind the leader early in the straight.
The Result
JEN RULES (1st) fought on best past HE'S A HOTSHOT (2nd 1L) and CELER (3rd 1.5L) running on OK.
The Interest
JEN RULES and HE'S A HOTSHOT had the best form on paper and they both produced strong efforts here, class rising to the top over the final 150m as JEN RULES produced another win. BURRADOO (6th 2.5L) a touch unlucky at massive odds and pulled up 3/5 lame with a poor recovery. Most others had their chance in a race that didn't have much depth.
Race 7 MAROUBRA HANDICAP
Rachel King keeps the winner rolling
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mushaireb | Michael Freedman | Ms Rachel King | 1 | 52.0 | |
| 2 | Reflectivity | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Brock Ryan | 7 | 52.0 | |
| 3 | Sir Plush | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
Most parading well, MUSHAIREB a bit more settled this week. NEW UNIVERSE just about there fitness-wise. ADMIRE ROBSON not bad first-up, but may need further. ROMAN SON a big lanky type that may not love sprinting around the cambered turn here.
In The Running
MUSHAIREB led from SIR PLUSH with REFLECTIVITY getting the nice position just behind them as they rolled at an honest FAIR to STRONG tempo (sectionals slowed down a touch, but there was a headwind now). ROMAN SON struggled around the turn at the back and got going late.
The Result
REFLECTIVITY (2nd 0.2L) loomed up strongly, but MUSHAIREB (1st) fought back on the inside to win with SIR PLUSH (3rd 0.4L) right in the finish too. A big gap back to GRESHAM (4th 4.9L) in-front of NEW UNIVERSE (5th 6.1L) who peaked on his run into the wind.
The Interest
MUSHAIREB got into a nice rhythm here and kept lifting, simply a tougher horse than REFLECTIVITY, who had every possible chance following another nice ride by Brock Ryan. SIR PLUSH solid and what can you say about NEW UNIVERSE, he didn't do much at all. Perhaps the form-line wasn't up to it given ROMAN SON (6th 7.3L) came from the same race and he was disappointing too.
Race 8 BISLEY WORKWEAR HANDICAP
Tougher conditions suit this Lad just fine
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercurial Lad | Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones | Ms Rachel King | 4 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Destiny's Hero | Jason Coyle | Ms Kathy O'Hara | 7 | 53.0 | |
| 3 | Word for Word | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 3 | 58.0 |
In The Yard
All looking well in the yard, WORD FOR WORD in good shape.
In The Running
MERCURIAL LAD took up the running at a STRONG tempo with ABOVE AND BEYOND moving up and WORD FOR WORD getting a trail on the outside of CINQUEDEA. Nash kept WORD FOR WORD in behind ABOVE AND BEYOND for cover until just after the 200m, trying to protect the favourite from the wind.
The Result
MERCURIAL LAD (1st) kept lifting to beat DESTINY’S HERO (2nd 0.2L) running on down the outside and WORD FOR WORD (3rd 0.4L) right in the finish too. A gap back to CINQUEDEA (4th 2.1L) and ABOVE AND BEYOND (5th 2.4L) peaking on their runs.
The Interest
The headwind made the conditions more challenging and there is no tougher horse than MERCURCIAL LAD. DESTINY'S HERO swept up to win and WORD FOR WORD was travelling strongly at the 200 metre mark, but they both couldn't match the winner late.
Race 9 HEINEKEN 3 HANDICAP
All class from Owen again in the get-out stakes
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rare Episode | Brad Widdup | Billy Owen | 1 | 59.5 | |
| 2 | Twirling Moss | Robert & Luke Price | Brock Ryan | 9 | 54.0 | |
| 3 | Clear the Beach | Gregory McFarlane | James McDonald | 5 | 58.5 |
In The Yard
RARE EPISODE looking well in the yard, a lovely shine to his coat. CLEAR THE BEACH, NOVEMBER MAN and SOPHIELLA looked well too. ROYAL WITNESS OK, just a touch of condition perhaps.
In The Running
CLEAR THE BEACH rolled at a STRONG tempo with RARE EPISODE tracking up a couple of lengths behind on the rails and ROYAL WITNESS chasing no cover into the headwind.
The Result
RARE EPISODE (1st) kept fighting on for a narrow win, beating home TWIRLING MOSS (2nd 0.2L) running on down the outside and CLEAR THE BEACH (3rd 0.4L) getting run down late. ROYAL WITNESS (4th 0.9L) not far away.
The Interest
RARE EPISODE had been parading well all prep and got a much better run today to score having been stuck wide in his last two runs. Billy Owen getting the win in the last race, just like he did on BERDIBEK the week before. TWIRLING MOSS and PATRIOT (5th 2.1L, ran on late) both nice efforts from country gallopers and ROYAL WITNESS might be better next time with a touch more fitness. NOVEMBER MAN (8th 7.4L) hopeless at the back and may have not enjoyed the stiff headwind.