Sandown is where Melbourne racing takes place this Easter Monday. The weather is fine, the track is good (3) and the rail is out four metres for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:40) Ladbrokes Handicap 1000m
1 The Executioner (Bet Now: $3.70) has been really good in three career runs for the Busuttin/Young team. Debuted on the Parks track and was such an impressive winner before going to the Adelaide Magic Millions where he was good without luck. Then went to the 2YO race at Bendigo where he was back to being ridden cold and launched late when second to impressive winner Prince Of Sussex. Off that, hard to beat.
Of the first starters, I think 5 Katona (Bet Now: $7.00) is the number one seed. Really well bred colt for the James Cummings stable on debut off the back of some impressive work at the jumpouts, the latest coming at Werribee when leading all the way under Willow and doing it quite nicely I thought, beating a rival here in Absolute Flirt comfortably. Tricky draw, but at this start, not necessarily a bad thing.
10 Flirting (Bet Now: $7.50) is an Anthony Freedman trained filly who had trialled up well prior to debuting over this track/distance at the midweeks when on speed and looking to be going easily under Lane. Gave a kick when asked and looked home for the most part but the above average Kooweerup sprouted wings late to blouse her on the line. That form looks alright for this and the claim for Lachie King helps.
Race 2. (13:15) Blue Star Print Handicap (64) 1000m
4 Delvecchio (Bet Now: $3.30) on top in a tricky race. Lloyd Kennewell trains this unbeaten three year old, who won 2/2 in the Summer in pretty impressive fashion, with the form out of both races being good. Looked really good in a recent Cranbourne trial and with the gates, I think Dunn can get the cart over via Not Enough Effort and despite lacking race fitness, I think class might get him home.
That’s not to say that 11 Not Enough Effort (Bet Now: $11.00) can’t win because he most certainly can. Debuted at Sale where the market liked him a lot and he delivered with a commanding all the way win despite wanting to lay in at various stages. Has the speed to overcome the draw and will look the winner for the most part I’m sure. Just depends if he can hold off Delvecchio.
3 McGarrett (Bet Now: $9.00) is a Tom Hughes trained son of Magnus who has been kept on ice since contesting a few of the 955m races at the Valley where he was thereabouts each time he was at the track/distance, the latest when narrowly beaten by the talented filly Tell Me. He draws an inside and can sit handy, but personally, I think ridden cold and having last look is the way to ride him, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens there, but clearly a threat.
Race 3. (13:50) Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (64) 1300m
Landed with the Team Hawkes trained 13 Feather (Bet Now: $4.40) but with not a great deal of confidence in a tough race. This mare is under three weeks between runs since racing under the lights at Pakenham where I thought Dunn gave her every chance in the run but was just no match on the night for a very impressive Persian Empire. She gets the run of the race, depth not strong…looks the winner, but not sure I could back her with confidence.
6 Lecture (Bet Now: $3.60) is a daughter of Fastnet Rock for the Maher/Eustace stable that has done a good job this time in. Toughed it out strongly two back when beaten narrowly by Search Squad before being on speed last time out and giving a good kick but had no answers for the lovely finale produced by the Stokes galloper Music Bay. That form reads alright for this, she lands near the front and gives her all…last 50-100m the test.
Was quite keen on 3 The Card Players (Bet Now: $12.00) when he resumed under the lights at Pakenham but unfortunately got stuck wide no cover under Alana Kelly and couldn’t quite finish it off when sixth to Born Bad, beaten over a length. Michael Poy takes over and the blinkers are on first time. Tricky gate, but has early pace and if he can get over, he could well be dangerous.
Race 4. (14:30) Walk For Phil Handicap (64) 1800m
Think this is a race in two but just leaning the way of the Bevan Laming trained 8 Suretoshine (Bet Now: $5.50). This bloke has had two runs in Australia, bolting up to win the maiden two back at Cranbourne against a moderate tempo. Then raced over the mile here where she got too far back but loved the way she found the line behind Sentamentalist. Williams sticks and up to 1800m a big tick.
16 Skyway Star (Bet Now: $4.40) looks the other winning chance. Symon Wilde trains this filly, who is potentially on the Oaks path and comes to town off the back of a pretty sharp win to break the maiden status at Ballarat, ridden arrogantly on speed before being clicked up by Williams and pulling clear late, with class coming to the fore. Interesting that Williams rides the mare, but doesn’t lose much with Mallyon steering.
4 Express Raider (Bet Now: $10.00) is a Henry Dwyer trained filly who is another on the Oaks path maybe. Ran over 2000m at Benalla last time out when given a sweet steer in front from Thornton, dictating and sprinting hard when asked, then fending off the well supported Great Alpine Road. Think her best chance of winning will be if going forward and making this a true 1800m.
Race 5. (15:10) Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap (64) 1300m
Looks an ideal step up for 12 Fabric (Bet Now: $11.00), a Danny O’Brien trained filly who looked a good thing when resuming in a Geelong maiden and despite giving away a start on the turn, Williams brought her to the outside and she produced a brilliant finale to win impressively, and that form has been franked with already two winners to come from the race. Finds a very winnable 64 against her own age/sex.
5 Vivi Valentina (Bet Now: $14.00) is an Anthony Freedman trained filly who has teased for a fair while to get another win on the board but she got it done last time out at Mornington, sitting back off the speed before Ethan Brown sliced his way through the field and the filly dashed hard late to blouse them. Has run well in town before so a win here certainly wouldn’t shock, especially given how well the stable is going.
I think back in trip will suit the Phillip Stokes trained 3 Gennikay (Bet Now: $12.00). Ran over the mile at Pakenham last time out where she just got too far out of her ground and pulled a bit, which left her with nothing left for the run home behind Zargos. Back to 1300m, blinkers are on, so it’ll be interesting to see what they do from the gate and can definitely take this out with her A game.
Race 6. (15:50) The Big Screen Company Handicap (70) 1400m
Happy to be with the Busuttin/Young trained 12 Montaser (Bet Now: $8.50). Was really keen on him when he resumed under the lights at Pakenham but the market said he had three legs or a gut as big as mine. That’s how it panned out because he couldn’t quite sprint with impressive winner Zoutori but stuck to the task well in defeat. Think he’ll take improvement from that and should do no work from the gate.
11 Andaz (Bet Now: $6.00) looks a definite threat here in this kind of race. Was good first up behind Won Ball before contesting a race for apprentice riders only and just not sure an apprentice can handle this quirky animal so want to forgive him for that. John Allen is taking over now, third up, so should be hard fit, ready to go, and at his best, he can beat these for sure.
7 Trogir (Bet Now: $19.00) is a son of Exceed And Excel for Phillip Stokes who was relatively unwanted in betting when resuming under the lights at Pakenham but I thought his effort behind Akkadian was good. Got back off the pace and was never really likely but was sound to the line and through it. Might want one more, but is a second up winner and up to 1400m a big tick.
Race 7. (16:30) Ladbrokes Cash In Handicap (78) 2400m
Back Me: I think a horse at value that could be backed 1×3 is 10 Earth Angel (Bet Now: $11.00) for the Hayes/Dabernig team. Her overall record isn’t great but she has contested some decent races since day one. Liked her resumption at Flemington behind Prometheus before racing a touch flat here second up behind All To Huiyung. She’ll lap up the 2400m, does no work from the draw, and at near $20, she’s worth a throw at the stumps.
11 El Don (Bet Now: $4.80) looks one of the hardest to beat. This Peter Gelagotis trained stayer ran over this track/distance last time where he was a little unlucky not to win. Got slightly hampered when building momentum but picked up and was good late when beaten narrowly by Future Score. Does no work from the inside gate and gets really good weight relief from last time.
9 Battlecamp (Bet Now: $10.00) is a horse who is clearly wanting more ground and he gets it, and is another that I feel is at value. He comes through the same race mentioned above when a mile off the speed but worked home quite nicely at the end. Unknown at the trip, but is racing like he wants it, and I like the booking of Brett Prebble, an aggressive rider who can sit over this horse and get everything out of him.
Race 8. (17:10) Le Pine Funerals Handicap (70) 1800m
4 Heir To The Throne (Bet Now: $3.20) looks one of the hardest to beat. Loved the way he let down to win over 1300m here four back and he has been very good in three subsequent runs, placing each time, the latest at this trip when back and making ground behind Sentimentalist. Can sit closer in the run from the draw I suspect and if so, he’ll take some beating.
I think fresh and back on firmer footing will suit 1 Grand Crown (Bet Now: $7.50), who hasn’t raced for a few weeks since racing over the mile at Warwick Farm on a bog when not really handling the surface behind Gold Mag. He does seem to be quite a good horse with fresh legs, John Allen riding in super form at the moment and up in trip on the bigger track are ticks.
Great to see 3 Sir Lopez (Bet Now: $67.00) back at the races. Been a grand campaigner for Patrick Payne for a number of years, predominantly over the jumps but can produce a decent run on the flat. His best form will come when he gets over the hurdles/steeples, but has had five trials in readiness for his return, going back to January, so the grounding is there to run a cheeky race at massive odds.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Four Number 8 Suretoshine
NEXT BEST: Race Five Number 12 Fabric
LONG SHOT: Race Seven Number 10 Earth Angel
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 3, 5, 11, 12
Leg Two: 7, 10, 11, 12
Leg Three: 9, 10, 11, 12, 16
Leg Four: 1, 3, 4, 13, 14
$50 Investment = 12.50% of the dividend if successful
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