A hit and run trip to Queensland didn’t yield the desired result for Sandpaper, but Bjorn Baker can make a case for the gelding bouncing back to winning form at Randwick.
Runner-up to the classy Know Thyself two starts ago, Sandpaper battled on stoutly to finish sixth behind Needs Some Luck in The Buffering (1400m) at Eagle Farm on January 3 after being pressured in the lead.
While he strikes another competitive field in Saturday’s Carrington Stakes (1400m), Baker expects the six-year-old’s fitness to take him a long way.
“His run was better than it looked last time,” Baker said.
“It’s a tough race but he’s going well. He looks great and he’s rock-hard fit.”
Sandpaper will be one of a trio of Carrington Stakes runners for Baker, along with the resuming War Eternal and Thunderlips.
The drying track isn’t ideal for the latter pair, who both relish rain-affected ground, but Thunderlips will have the advantage of a three-kilo weight turnaround on last start conqueror Whinchat.
“He will probably need it, but he can show up once he gets fit and he looks well at the moment,” Baker said of Thunderlips.
“War Eternal, he often takes a run or two and if there is any cut, it will help him. Same with Thunderlips.
“Thunderlips has just got an awkward gate, so we’ll see how we go there, but we’re in there with a show.”
Whinchat is a clear-cut favourite for the Listed sprint at $3.30, while Sandpaper and War Eternal are $10 apeice, Thunderlips an $18 chance..
