Yard to the Post | Kensington
Race Day: Kensington on Wednesday, 22 March 2023
The small crowd at Royal Randwick enjoyed an afternoon of good quality racing around the Kensington inner track today. Temperatures had dropped in the days leading up to Wednesday and the horses were noticeably cooler in the yard than recent meetings as a result.
Race 6 over 1,550 metres was one of the most exciting as Zac Lloyd let LUVOIR 'off the leash' again. He strode five lengths clear of his nearest chaser mid-race before starting to tire over the final furlong as well-backed import UNSPOKEN (IRE) charged from the pack. The plunge didn't come off though as LUVOIR made it back-to-back wins with almost half a length to spare.
And in the final race of the day the Waterhouse Bott stable managed to get AIR TO AIR out of the barriers with the pack, ending her bad habit of missing the start for now. Jockey Tim Clark guided her home out wide for an impressive first-up win for her new trainers.
A complete review by Mike Wood is provided below.
Track Info
| Rail | +4 metres |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | OVERCAST |
| Bias | slightly OFF RAILS (2W+) |
Race 1 CHC POWERING THE CHASE HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimochi | Gary Portelli | Zac Lloyd | 3 | 58.0 | |
| 2 | Kristilli | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Tom Marquand | 7 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Dipsy Doodle | James Cummings | Nash Rawiller | 9 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
A quiet midweek yard and a nice temperature for the horses, around 25 degrees and a touch humid. KIMOCHI was on her toes and the market responded by pushing her price out. She's a nice solid robust type though and her strength would carry her through. PIER PRESSURE a bit fizzy the yard too.
In The Running
DIPSY DOODLE rolled in the lead from KIMOCHI in a nice trailing spot (4th 2W WC). CAPTAIN AMELIA wide no cover in midfield.
The Result
KIMOCHI (1st) moved up and was much too strong. KRISTILLI (2nd) ran down the outside to grab DIPSY DOODLE (3rd) late for a place.
The Interest
This was all about the winner, a nice type of filly that should measure up in better grade now, especially when she settles down a touch more in the yard. DIPSY DOODLE was confidently backed before the race and should improve as she matures and learns to conserve more energy in her races.
Race 2 YES YES YES FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libertad | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Chad Schofield | 8 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | The King | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brett Prebble | 12 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Capital Heart | Matthew Dale | Tom Marquand | 5 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
LIBERTAD presented as a nicely proportioned type with dapples in his coat on debut. THE KING a very classy looking colt too, parading with his head on his chest. GREYT THINKER perhaps not quite fit and he was fizzy in the yard.
In The Running
CRITIQUE led from CAPITAL HEART. LIBERTAD in a nice midfield spot (7th 2W WC) blending in wider as they turned. LOS PADRES wide no cover in midfield.
The Result
LIBERTAD (1st) quickened and went clear for a big win from THE KING (2nd) running on late. CAPITAL HEART (3rd) fought on for a place.
The Interest
Two Russian Revolution colts from the same ownership produced two very nice debuts here. LIBERTAD was supported in betting and proved to be much too good, while the stunning THE KING looks to have upside over a touch more distance. CAPITAL HEART the best of the on-pacers, a horse that deserves a win soon.
Race 3 RANVET PLATE
slow tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queen Yuna | Anthony Cummings | Joshua Parr | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Himalaism | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 58.5 | |
| 3 | Allasandra | David Payne | Brett Prebble | 12 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
QUEEN YUNA had some solid form, but she didn't look an obvious winner from the yard. A lighter-framed mare that was anxious as she did laps of the Royal Randwick parade. OCEAN HONOUR a touch anxious too, walking around very quickly first-up.
In The Running
QUEEN YUNA jumped to the lead and dropped anchor, racing keenly under a hold with LALAGUNA to her outside and BESPANGLED very keen out 3W NC on-pace. HIMALAISM in the box seat behind the eventual winner.
The Result
QUEEN YUNA (1st) kicked strongly and held off HIMALAISM (2nd) running on nearer the inside. A gap back to ALLASANDRA (3rd) warming up late.
The Interest
She had done a few things wrong in her two starts to date, but QUEEN YUNA clearly has talent and she enjoyed the step up to 1300m with a very easy lead. HIMALAISM continues to be a horse that quickens and doesn't fight hard enough to win. ALLASANDRA a nice return off a tempo that didn't suit.
Race 4 EXCEEDANCE'S FIRST YEARLINGS HANDICAP
steady tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airman | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | Zac Lloyd | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Crosswinds | Peter & Paul Snowden | Brett Prebble | 7 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Headwall | Matthew Smith | Blake Spriggs | 4 | 59.0 |
In The Yard
AIRMAN a strong well-balanced type that had a shining coat in the yard and looked close enough to full fitness first-up. Most looked like sprinters apart from SAQUON, who lacks the power of the others.
In The Running
CROSSWINDS got control in the lead with AIRMAN (3rd rails WC) in the box seat and HEADWALL restrained to be last on the rails (5th rails WC). HEADWALL taken wider around the heels of SAQUON to be a clear last early in the straight.
The Result
AIRMAN (1st) ran down CROSSWINDS (2nd) who gave a kick. HEADWALL (3rd) stormed home down the outside late.
The Interest
AIRMAN with a nice return and can improve again to 1200m, but the best run came from HEADWALL. Spriggs veered wider as the top two kicked and gave himself far too much work to do.
Race 5 FURPHY HANDICAP
fair tempo
: long sprint
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silent Agenda | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 5 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Biscayne Bay | Ciaron Maher | James McDonald | 11 | 61.0 | |
| 3 | Decadent Tale | Jason Deamer | Tim Clark | 3 | 55.0 |
In The Yard
SILENT AGENDA one of the most "nuggetty" horses in racing, a very robust type that paraded in good shape deep into this campaign following a freshen and trial. BISCAYNE BAY a classy-looking mare on the improve second-up. BON VIVANT a big solid type that was walking around timidly.
In The Running
GOOD OMENS led from MAYFAIR SPIRIT on her outside. SILENT AGENDA (5th 2W WC) in a nice rhythm midfield.
The Result
SILENT AGENDA (1st) ran on best from BISCAYNE BAY (2nd) running on down the outside. A clump in the finish with only 2.5L between 1st and 9th.
The Interest
SILENT AGENDA is a reliable type and he got the nice ride to win. BISCAYNE BAY looks like the best horse in the race though and she might have won if not for losing some momentum around the turn and laying in slightly down the straight. BON VIVANT warmed up OK and may have benefited from more room outside horses.
Race 6 YARRAMAN PARK HANDICAP
strong tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luvoir | Jason Attard & Lucy Keegan-Attard | Zac Lloyd | 1 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Unspoken | Peter Snowden | Joshua Parr | 8 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Pretty Amazing | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
LUVOIR a neat type that looked well deeper into the campaign. The import UNSPOKEN (IRE) first in the yard and looked very well first-up.
In The Running
LUVOIR jumped to the lead and rolled along clear of the field.
The Result
LUVOIR held on from UNSPOKEN (2nd) and PRETTY AMAZING (3rd) running on late together.
The Interest
The Richard Freedman stable tried to train LUVOIR to settle, but new trainers Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard have taken a different approach with good effect. LUVOIR with back-to-back wins when allowed to stride along in the lead. UNSPOKEN and PRETTY AMAZING have clearly come back in good shape and should be winning soon.
Race 7 ARROWFIELD - A TRADITION OF GREATNESS HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watch The Clock | Ron Quinton | Sam Clipperton | 7 | 57.0 | |
| 2 | Hawaii Five Oh | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Nash Rawiller | 9 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Cool Jakey | Joseph Pride | Tyler Schiller | 16 | 59.5 |
In The Yard
WATCH THE CLOCK was shining in the yard first-up, a mid-strength type with a solid hindquarter. Both favourites HAWAII FIVE OH (powerful) and COOL JAKEY (strong balanced) in great shape too. ATMOSPHERE lightly-framed and seemed to be fitter than his stablemate SANDPAPER, who had more condition and was warm in places.
In The Running
COOL JAKEY urged to lead after a slow jump with MASTER SHOWMAN on his outside. HAWAII FIVE OH stalked in midfield (5th 2W WC) with WATCH THE CLOCK on his back (7th 2W WC).
The Result
WATCH THE CLOCK (1st) and HAWAII FIVE OH (2nd) swept home together in a close finish.
The Interest
Strong runs from the top three, all horses that are worth following into their campaigns. WATCH THE CLOCK off a nice recent trial and was shining in the yard. COOL JAKEY just as good as the top two after having to work around the pack to lead early. You can see why HAWAII FIVE OH prefers dry tracks, a big powerful type in the yard.
Race 8 TAB HANDICAP
fair tempo
Bias:
2w+
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air To Air | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 13 | 59.0 | |
| 2 | Miss Hellfire | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Chad Schofield | 10 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | Eye See Things | John Thompson | Kerrin McEvoy | 12 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
AIR TO AIR paraded in good shape a nicely proportioned mare with enough strength and condition. HIGHLY AMBITIOUS and MISS HELLFIRE both fit and well.
In The Running
MORE THE MERRIER took up the running a touch keenly on the inside. AIR TO AIR out very wide midfield (6th 4W NC) after jumping with them this time.
The Result
AIR TO AIR (1st) ran on best from MISS HELLFIRE (2nd) following her home and EYE SEE THINGS (3rd) flashing late after being held up
The Interest
AIR TO AIR has been an enigmatic mare that often misses the start, which new stable Waterhouse and Bott have clearly been working on. She jumped better in the trial and stayed in touch out wide today before running on best. MISS HELLFIRE followed the winner home and EYE SEE THINGS came from an almost impossible position at the back after being held up.