23/5/2026 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Sandown

Sandown Hillside will play host to a nine race card on Saturday. The weather is fine, the track is soft (6) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

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I’m very keen on 11 Semantics (Bet Now: $2.90). We saw a sharp debut 2YO winner recently in Natural Fling. I think Semantics could be better. Was very keen on her in the Spring for the Gimcrack but didn’t accept. Spelled, trialled super in Sydney, but is now in Melbourne and her trial last week…she smoked. I think she has a bit on these.

1 Divine Dot (Bet Now: $5.50) had the pattern in her corner when a first up winner at Warrnambool but even allowing for that, she was impressive from the front and giving nothing else a look in. Looks suited at the short course, good racing style, she takes beating.

10 Oman (Bet Now: $13.00) is a Grahame Begg trained filly that resumes. She was aimed at the Magic Millions but couldn’t quite finish the job in a couple of runs and was spelled. Given a good break and looks to have jumped out very well so watch betting.

8 Kurakka (Bet Now: $4.40) is several weeks between runs since racing over 2500m at Flemington. He got into a decent spot in transit just off speed and did try hard but just couldn’t quite get the job done when third to The Western Front. Tick over trial was strong and he brings solid form lines into this.

2 Mission Of Love (Bet Now: $31.00) steps up to 2400m after racing over 2000m at Morphettville in the Centaurea when off speed and kept chasing behind Private Legacy. She should love the rise to 2400m and be strong at the end.

4 Khor (Bet Now: $17.00) tried his guts out in the Warrnambool Cup when off speed and kept chasing in a pretty good effort in defeat behind Any Luck. Maps to get a sweet sit in transit and the trip is no issue. Knockout hope.

9 Yellowjacket (Bet Now: $8.50) is racing really well for Phillip Stokes and should take beating after a last start placing in the Adelaide Guineas when off speed and worked home strongly when third. She’ll be strong late. Just depends what sort of start she concedes.

13 Two To Tango (Bet Now: $14.00) was okay in defeat at Caulfield last time. Just think she took forever to get going and ground to the line when fourth. Gets really good weight relief this time around and maps to get a sweet sit in transit.

10 Hey Jessie (Bet Now: $101.00) should be better for the first up run at Geelong where she had the sweet sit in behind the speed and tried hard but first up, condition gave out. Fitter and up in trip, she’s an improver at odds.

Ciaron Maher usually has a stayer that goes through the Winter months, builds up fitness and then tries to get into the Melbourne Cup via a golden ticket race and I think 3 Gilded Water (Bet Now: $2.70) is that stayer for 2026. He was so close to doing that last year but things didn’t go his way, some of which was his own doing. Jumped out like a rocket and I think he’s just got too much class for these.

Was hard to miss the first up run of 7 Shockletz (Bet Now: $3.00) in the Golden Mile at Bendigo, working home with real purpose from off speed. Could be similar to Gilded Water re a Melbourne Cup path, so rising to 1800m, she clearly appeals as a threat.

5 Virtuous Circle (Bet Now: $67.00) looks to be sneaky flying for Liam Howley. He resumed over 2000m at Caulfield when back near last and while he was never a winning threat, I liked the way he kept chasing and finding the line behind Plymouth. Fitter, he’ll be strong late and has class.

15 Actuality (Bet Now: $3.70) is bursting to win and I think she gets a great chance here. She ran second at Caulfield two weeks ago, sitting on speed and did try hard but had no answers late for Tassie raider Swift Force. Back to 1000m, hard fit, she clearly appeals for mine.

2 Winnasedge (Bet Now: $6.00) is a quality sprinter that resumes for Nick Ryan. He has had an extended layoff, his last run being June 7 last year. But, he’s had three jumpouts under the belt, so the grounding is there. Watch betting

3 Harry Got Styles (Bet Now: $12.00) is a Matt Laurie trained gelding that resumes. He is first up, having not raced since Dec 31 down the straight at Flemington when far from disgraced in defeat behind Celerity. Jumped out well, he’s in the mix.

5 Kaleo (Bet Now: $14.00) should have won I thought when resuming over 1300m at Geelong but just got badly held up at the wrong time, driving hard late when eventually clear to just miss. He’s come back super it appears and fitter, up in trip onto the bigger track, he clearly appeals.

9 Bella Verona (Bet Now: $2.25) is a filly of some promise for Matt Laurie. Debut win was impressive before going to Caulfield when off speed and held up but charged late when second. Looks a nice filly and has done little wrong in two starts. Rates highly.

11 Gold Topaz (Bet Now: $26.00) wasn’t too bad behind Highvol at Caulfield, He got back to near last in the run but wasn’t too bad late in the piece I thought. Tricky draw, but good upside, I am not dismissing him.

2 Farhh Flung (Bet Now: $10.00) is the each way gamble for me here. Thought there was plenty of merit in his run at Caulfield. He was tardy away and forced back to stay inside in the worst ground. He did a really good job to get as close as he did. Clean jump, can settle much closer and be hard to get past.

6 Narbold (Bet Now: $4.40) is hit and miss but in more recent times has become a bit more reliable. He resumed over the mile at Caulfield and drove hard late from off speed but just missed when second to Makdane. Off that effort, he’ll be hard to beat in a race like this.

9 Prince Eric (Bet Now: $23.00) is first up for Archie Alexander and bears watching. His last run was Jan 10 over 2000m at Flemington when off speed and was solid late without threatening behind Sun Gift. Fresh at the mile signals intent and looks to have jumped out well.

13 King Zephyr (Bet Now: $3.40) has to be winning this if he’s going to be a Stradbroke horse. He ran second at Flemington last start, spotting those in front a big start and charged late when second to Big Swinger. D Day for him and confident he can win before heading to Brisbane.

5 Recon (Bet Now: $8.00) is having a look at 1400m, I dare say, with eyes towards a race like the Rupert Clarke in the Spring, to see if he can run 1400m. The more I watch the replay of the Goodwood…gee I think he goes close with clear air. If he runs 1400m, he can win.

7 El Rocko (Bet Now: $15.00) was nabbed at Caulfield last time. He led, went hard in front, and was hailed as the winner, but he was taking tiny steps late and was nabbed on the peg. Good racing style, he’ll roll in front and take running down.

15 Duchess Zou (Bet Now: $3.10) is at last chance territory. Been so frustrating to follow for punters throughout her career but me personally, I haven’t been on her so she hasn’t exactly let me down. Gets serious weight relief and we know this time of year, below the minimum after a claim is just gold. She gets her chance, but it’s her last chance.

5 Roadcone (Bet Now: $7.50) should be better for the first up run, which came over this trip at Flemington behind Big Swinger. He got into a decent spot in transit and tried hard but condition gave out. Fitter, claim, in the mix.

6 A Samurai Mind (Bet Now: $23.00) is a very interesting runner. He is a handy galloper from Adelaide who goes close with his best. He hasn’t shown it in a little while but has had genuine excuses. Maps to do no work, not dismissing.

BEST BET: Race One Number 11 Semantics

NEXT BEST: Race Eight Number 13 King Zephyr

LONG SHOT: Race Six Number 5 Kaleo

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 5, 9

Leg Two: 2, 3, 6, 9

Leg Three: 13

Leg Four: 5, 6, 8, 10, 15

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