Sandown Racing Tips
Track: Good 4. Rail: True.
Best Bet: Race 7 – RINGERDINGDING
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Race 1: Merson Cooper Stakes 2YO 1000m
Hard to know? SALOME (9) looks the best of the raced brigade after running on well on debut, FIRST DAWN (10) chased hard up the straight at her first start. Of the unraced lot, look for any smart money for TORCHED (7) and OH SO REWARDING (4). Obviously, no confidence with so many of the babies stepping out for the first time.
Race 2: Sandown Cup 3200m
The Weir team looks to hold the key runners here, YOGI (3) doesn’t win out of turn but you know what you will get with him. He will drop out and be hard ridden a long way out, but that’s his style, he will keep coming in the straight.
Dangers:
AZURO (6) is the stablemate and looks the main danger, he rarely runs a bad race, the query will be the two miles with him though. He will need to be saved for one run at them. ORMITO (5) rounds out the possible trifecta for Weir, he is on the quick back-up from last week where we saw a couple of nice stayers up in the money. He wasn’t brilliant but worked to the line ok. VENGEUR MASQUE (1) is on the back-up from the Melbourne Cup, they went too hard for him up on the speed in that. He will go forward again but needs it to be an even tempo throughout.
Race 3: Twilight Glow Stakes 3YO Fillies 1400m
This looks a dart job as I will be looking to take on the favourite, a lot of these have come through the same formline as you would expect. One that has been off the scene is SWEET ROCKETTE (4), she was super at the Valley 7 weeks ago at her last run when wide throughout. She has since trialed well, if she gets cover from the side barrier, she represents enormous value.
Dangers:
TAHITIAN DANCER (5) was good on Cup Day, she had to sit wide that day and still didn’t shirk the task, the 1400m there is deadly if you have to cover extra ground. INTO THE ABYSS (7) also comes through that race at Flemington, she charged through the line but the race was run to suit. ARISTOCRATIC MISS (6) also comes through that race and was ok late after being held-up for a long section of the straight.
Race 4: Eclipse Stakes 1800m
BRING ME ROSES (6) is still yet to win out of maiden grade but she has run some big races, especially at this time of the year. She showed she is going as good as ever last time when running on hard to place on the first day of the carnival.
Dangers:
MASK OF TIME (4) was a good winner at Caulfield two starts back then got away from the carnival and headed north last start where he chased hard but couldn’t reel in the winner. That may be his role here, out in front giving them something to catch. KIWIA (3) hasn’t really lived up to his expectations the last couple of preps after looking like a world beater early in his career. He has the ability, he just has to put it all together. TALLY (1) will find this easier than his last couple, he drops back in trip which should suit and his run in the Lexus was better than what it reads in the formguide.
Race 5: Kevin Heffernan Stakes WFA 1300m
RICH CHARM (2) has been off the scene since a poor run when found to be lame up the straight at Flemington 9 weeks ago. He has unbelievable closing speed, he may not be the best off at the weights under the WAF conditions, but let’s face it, we all want to see the trainer on TV again showing her passion and enthusiasm!
Dangers:
Most of the field. SAVANNA ARMOUR (8) was good at Flemington behind the impressive Osborne Bulls, she got squeezed up at a vital time but was ok late. MISSROCK (6) has been good at her two runs back from a spell, a little concerning that all her wins have been when resuming but if she gets the right cart into it, she will finish hard. QUILISTA (9) wasn’t really suited the way the race was run on Derby Day, she stuck on ok and should be on the speed for a long way here. Tough race.
Race 6: Sandown Stakes 1500m
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR (1) was good a week at Flemington, he sat up on the speed after working hard from a wide gate to get the spot facing the breeze. HE does have the 59kg to carry here, but from the better draw he should be handy with cover and finishing hard.
Dangers:
FIFTY STARS (8) has an impressive overall record, he was unwanted until very late in the betting on Cup Day and was simply too good for them after rounding them up out wide. This is harder again but he keeps rising to the next level with authority. LIAPARI (5) was good in the Sale Cup where he chased hard making ground late, he was found to be lame so the run has even more credit. He should get a soft run along the inside. HOLY SNOW (4) has his chance in the Bainrsdale Cup, not bad the previous start to that in a much harder race than this.
Race 7: Sandown Guineas 3YO 1600m
It was hard not to be impressed with the win of RINGERDINGDING (3) last week. He put the writing on the wall at the Valley at a meeting where nothing was making ground, then was held-up at a vital stage last week before storming home to win comfortably in the end. Sandown should suit and he seems to be going from strength to strength, he looks to have a huge future.
Dangers:
If the speed is genuine or better it is hard to see him not saluting? LONG LEAF (1) drops back in grade here, he was ok in the big Group One up the straight on the first day of the carnival. GOOD ‘N’ FAST (2) didn’t shirk the task after a very tough run last time, his run in the Caulfield Guineas, although well beaten by the star Autumn Sun, was full of merit. SCOTTISH ROGUE (4) was swallowed up late by the top selection last week, he will roll forward again but will need to get some easy sectionals to hold him off this time.
Race 8: Zipping Classic WFA 2400m
OUR LIBRETTO (8) had won four in a row before going to Flemington last week, he was running on well at the back-end of that before running out of room late. She is going through the grades well and looks perfectly suited at the track where she is a winner at her only start.
Dangers:
DAL HARRAILD (7) was very good when narrowly missing in the Bendigo Cup, he will be strong at the end of the mile and a half. His run behind Yucatan was ok previously where he was left flat footed. LORD FANDANGO (6) also comes through that Bendigo Cup, he ran on hard late after giving them a start, as he will here. THE TAJ MAHAL (4) was good in the Caulfield Cup, but although he was wide throughout at the Valley, he was entitled to not drop off so alarmingly. He looks a good lay here if he starts under each-way odds.
Race 9: Doveton Stakes Handicap 1000m
The toughest race of the day, absolute lottery and if playing the Quaddie, it may decrease your percentage, but the field looks a great way to play. BONS AWAY (3) has been good without winning at all four starts this prep, he will be giving them a start but looks suited by the long straight here and will be flashing late.
Dangers:
The lot of them. I’LL HAVE A BIT (5) charged home up the straight last week at HQ, he went into everyone’s blackbook that day but the SP profile is worrying, he was a huge price. MALIBU STYLE (4) was also good in that same race, which was certainly harder than this. He will get back and run on. SPENDING TO WIN (6) has had 2 months off, the race he won before going for a break has been a good form reference since. He will be up on the speed.
Race 10: Summoned Staked Mares 1500m
OUR CROWN MISTRESS (2) won four of her first five and was a star at her 3YO season, she has had her chances at her last couple when taking up an on-pace role. She will look to lead all the way again here, if she can hold out Shoko early or get the soft sit, she looks the winner.
Dangers:
SPANNER HEAD (7) looked to have his chance in the race most of these came through but he does map well again and will be in the finish. SEDUCTIVE MISS (8) was good on the heavy track on Cup day but got run down late, she looks better suited here on top of the ground. SNOGGING (10) will be going around at big odds and will get a soft-rails run, she was doing her best work late in a race won by the leader last time, she could have finished closer to with any luck late. In play may be an option here, if the top selection gets the comfortable lead then load up.