Kensington preview: Midnight Dynamite will appreciate a return to Sydney after a failed Flemington bid and is ready to fire

The Bjorn Baker team haven’t lost faith in Midnight Dynamite despite a first-up failure and feel he can bounce back when he steps at Randwick-Kensington.

Midnight Dynamite can bounce back when he heads to Randwick-Kensington. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Flemington 1200m down the straight has proven a tricky obstacle for many horses in their first time there, and Luke Hilton feels that may have been the case for Midnight Dynamite.

Hilton, the racing manager for Bjorn Baker, said Midnight Dynamite had pleased the team in his trackwork and trial to target the Inglis Sprint first-up earlier this month and should be forgiven for the failure.

“He was disappointing first-up because he was going really well leading into it and his trials was good,” said Hilton.

“Maybe he just didn’t handle the straight track. Ben (Melham) said he was a bit lost. It’s worth forgiving him.

🏇 @SchofieldChad is riding the lights out at Canterbury! He gives Midnight Dynamite a peach to win Race 6.

That's a treble for jockey and trainer @BBakerRacing 👏 pic.twitter.com/Xw98dKcfby

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 20, 2024

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“We brought him back to Sydney and he has pleased us. His gallops have been good and we couldn’t be happier.”

Last campaign, Midnight Dynamite finished a length-and-a-quarter third behind Private Harry at Rosehill and second to Arriving Home at Randwick.

He was entered for the Darby Munro last Saturday but was scratched because of a wide draw.

The son of Pierata can get his campaign back on track when he lines up in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1150m) with Josh Parr on board.

“It looks a nice race for him,” he said.

“It is a decent race but we are confident he is very well and should give himself every chance from a nice gate.”

Don Pedro scored back-to-back wins over 1400m at Warwick Farm before a fourth behind Wrathful on the Kensington over 1550m.

A trend the gelding developed at his last two starts has led Baker to step him up in trip in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m).

“He has just been a bit tardy early and just seems like he maybe looking for a bit of ground now,” Hilton said.

“He’s always been a little bit one dimensional and liked to roll forward but his second 1400m, he came from of speed then he wanted to drop out the other day and he hit the line strong.

“We will give him his opportunity over further and from a good gate, where there doesn’t look to be a lot of speed, he will probably land a bit closer.

“We will give him a reprieve for last run and hopefully he gets a bit of luck from the good draw.”

Is Don, Is good! 🌟

Don Pedro wins again proving to be a handy galloper for the @BBakerRacing stable! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/99yrr5U53h

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 19, 2025

Time Bandit has been unplaced in both runs back from a spell but Hilton feels she can run a better race in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1150m).

“First-up she had no luck and last start had a tricky gate and had to go back but hit the line really well,” he said.

“She is looking for the 1150m and gets a good gate.

“She is third-up now, rock hard fit. There will be no excuses and I think she will continue to improve.

She will be joined by Soho Artist who is coming off a big win by nearly four lengths at Goulburn.

“She is improving all the time,” Hilton said.

“Even though she was beaten at Nowra two starts back, it was still a good run after setting up a hot tempo but stuck on gamely.

“With a touch quieter ride at Goulburn and appreciating getting a tow into the race, she was electric late.

“She has to take a few more steps up in grade but she is progressing the right way.”

Hilton said he team will monitor the weather and track condition before deciding if Viktor runs in the Maiden Plate (1300m).

“Kerrin (McEvoy) didn’t think he handled the going, he had a big weight and was first-up. There was a lot of improvement to come out of it,” he said.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Barrier 1 is normally the perfect draw for a young horse on debut but trainer Peter Snowden feels it may have just been the undoing of both Grand Prairie and Spice Prawn.

After racing back on the rails, Grand Prairie was caught in a pocket before getting clear room at the 250m and charging home for a long neck second to Stormland over 1000m on the Kensington on March 13.

“He’s a lovely big horse with a good pedigree out of a very good mare,” said Snowden.

“He was a bit slow to get going early days but last preparation he started to put it together.

“I thought his first-up run was very good. He only needed one more stride and he would have won.”

Snowden gives the son of Written Tycoon and Group 1 winner Viddora a great chance to go one better in the CHC Powering The Chase Handicap (1100m) where he has drawn barrier 6.

Stormland chases down Invincible Phantom and breaks through at Randwick for @cmaherracing! 👏 pic.twitter.com/CLc6WPJMke

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 13, 2025

“To be fair, I think he has drawn a better gate,” he said.

“I know he drew gate one the other day and that’s usually a good gate but he got a bit cluttered up and didn’t know how to push his way out.

“The run came late and he charged home.

“You would think, getting out to the middle of the track, we will see a more focused horse and he can put them away.”

It was similar situation for Spice Prawn who settled three back on the fence and was held up at a vital stage in the straight before getting room at the 200m and hitting the line well to finish a two length fourth behind Pleasure Queen.

“She was a bit the same. It’s nice to have a good spot but sometimes it too good of a spot,” said Snowden.

“She was just buried away for quite a while but when the run did come, she hit the line really well.”

The Too Darn Hot filly runs in the Victor Ludorum First Yearlings Handicap (1100m).

“The 1100m will suit her as well,” he said.

“Her trials were good but I though her run the other day was very good.

“We will look for the same thing with her and try and get around them with clear air.

“If she can improve a touch more off that, it’s going to give her a great chance towards winning this race.”