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By Ray Hickson

Not everything has gone Kenmare Bay’s way since he notched his maiden win in the first few weeks of the season but co-trainer Tom Charlton hopes things finally fall into place at Canterbury on Wednesday.

A common theme among the horses Charlton and co-trainer John O’Shea have engaged at the meeting is that they are looking for that second breakthrough and Kenmare Bay goes into the TAB Handicap (1900m) with six placings from eight starts since his lone win.

The gelding, $3.60 with TAB on Tuesday, was runner-up in his first three runs this time in before a shock failure at Gosford on Anzac Day but he bounced back with a run Charlton said had plenty of merit when third behind Ella Hazel at Kensington two weeks ago.

“One just crossed him early and lit him up a bit and he over raced through the mid stages, and probably got to a part of the track that wasn’t favourable,’’ Charlton said.

“It was a pretty creditable effort and from a soft draw if things can unfold for him and he can get things to go his way there’s no reason why he can’t win.”

Stablemate Natural Deduction, who has two wins to his name, has his second run from a year’s absence in the same race with apprentice Jace McMurray taking 3kg off his top weight of 62kg.

He made ground late when resuming over a mile at Warwick Farm and Charlton said he can be a big improver.

“He’s coming off a lengthy lay off and his run was excellent the other day over an inferior trip,’’ he said.

“He gets to a nice distance for him and he can be competitive absolutely.”

Hell To Pay has one win and seven placings from nine starts and Charlton said if he lines up from an awkward draw in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1550m) the expectation is he’ll go close.

The three-year-old bumped into Engine Room first-up then just failed to run down Maori Chief over 1300m at Kensington two weeks ago.

“He’s racing really well, his first-up he bumped into what looked like a handy one then the other day sat deep but comfortably,’’ he said.

“He’s very much closing in on a win. He hasn’t drawn that well, we do have him in on Saturday as well, so we’ll assess things as we get a bit closer.”

Maximum Dividend, with one win from five starts, is also engaged in that race and Charlton said he may run at Gosford on Thursday but is adamant he’s in for a big preparation.

“He’ll get started somewhere this week,’’ he said.

“He’s a talented horse, he won very well first-up last time and then ran well at Canterbury when he had a bleed. It was still a good effort and he’s come back a stronger and more mature horse, which is something we were looking for him to do.”

Straand Beauty, who has one win from eight starts, and True Amor, one from six, tackle the Vandeek at Arrowfield Handicap (1250m) and Charlton said the former is very much a winner in waiting.

At his first run for the stable he led and was run down by Dashing Rupert on a heavy track at Kembla Grange earlier this month.

Kenmare Bay runs third at Kensington on May 14

“He missed the start slightly which probably cost him, I think he felt the pinch late on,’’ he said.

“He’s another that looks like he will be winning races sooner rather than later. He just needs a few things to go his way from that barrier.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Canterbury meeting