Sandown will host Group l racing for the first time in around 25 years on Saturday with the Hillside track playing host to Underwood Stakes Day. The weather forecast is for showers, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Underwood Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Underwood Stakes
Race 1. (12:10) Tobin Bros Celebrating (bm90) 1000m
5 Twist Of Fury (Bet Now: $6.00 TOP ODDS) can produce sustained speed from the front and that is an ideal recipe to have for this Sandown track. That sustained speed saw her win at this track/distance at the midweeks, just holding on and beating Snapper. Rises in grade/depth, but she has hard fitness under the belt and a good racing pattern.
4 Esta La Roca (Bet Now: $2.70 TOP ODDS) is a talented mare for Lloyd Kennewell that will put herself on speed and give her all. That was the case a few weeks back in the McEwen at the Valley and she tried hard. Just couldn’t quite finish it off when fourth to The Inferno. Back to Mares grade, she’ll run her usual honest race.
3 How Womantic (Bet Now: $5.00 TOP ODDS) is a Maher/Eustace trained mare that resumes. This girl hasn’t raced since April 17 in the VOBIS Sprint at Caulfield when close up and far from disgraced in defeat behind Laverrod, a horse likely to be a key contender for the Winterbottom later this year. Good fresh record, jumped out well, hard to beat.
Race 2. (12:45) Ive Print (bm78) 1400m
12 Sirileo Miss (Bet Now: $2.45 TOP ODDS) is a pretty sharp mare for Symon Wilde and confident she can make it 2/2 this prep. Backed with confidence when resuming over 1300m here where she was given a suck run behind the speed under Williams and once the split came, away she went and she was dominant. Only got upside to come and looks extremely hard to beat here.
6 Milton Park (Bet Now: $9.50 TOP ODDS) had been knocking on the door to win one this prep but couldn’t quite put it all together. That all changed at Cranbourne last time when given a lovely ride by Jye McNeil and finishing best to score a good win. His confidence is up, he can go on with it.
7 Do You Reckon (Bet Now: $34.00 TOP ODDS) will put himself on speed and try hard. That was the case two back on the Lakeside track here when fourth ti Wicklow Town (won since). Then went to Cranbourne and tried hard, but couldn’t finish it off, but stayed on when fourth to Milton Park. That form reads well for this.
Race 3. (13:20) Tile Importer Hcp 1400m
3 Linas Legend (Bet Now: $2.25 TOP ODDS) looks a smart three year old and is hard to beat here. Dominant win over 1300m at Sandown last time out and was strong to the line and through it in winning. He’s got more to come and his racing pattern suits this track. He’ll take some running down.
Fitter and up to 1400m are two big ticks for 1 Three Kings (Bet Now: $26.00 TOP ODDS). Team McEvoy three year old that resumed over 1200m at the Valley three weeks ago. Never really a winning factor given where he was in the run but liked the way he finished his race off behind Mynumerouno. An improved showing is on the cards.
5 Knightstown (Bet Now: $31.00 TOP ODDS) should be suited up in trip. As a two year old, he had raced like he would appreciate further. Resumed with a win over 1000m before stepping up to 1200m when wide, doing work, and just tiring late. Think with a more conservative steer, 1400m is fine.
Race 4. (13:55) Jim Moloney Stakes 1400m
3 Mac N Cheese (Bet Now: $6.50 TOP ODDS) looks hard to beat for Team McEvoy. Resumed in the Atlantic Jewel when snagged back to last but she worked to the line with real purpose and was one of the better runs of the meeting I thought in defeat. Eats up 1400m here, can sit closer in the run and prove hard to beat.
5 Literary Magnate (Bet Now: $6.50 TOP ODDS) should appreciate the bigger track and getting out in trip for Matty Williams. Looked drunk around the Valley in the Atlantic Jewel but picked up and was pretty good late behind Zouzarella. Like her up to 1400m and I think she rates as a knockout hope.
1 Biscayne Bay (Bet Now: $17.00 TOP ODDS) has quality about her to give this a shake. Just looked like she needed the run when resuming in the Atlantic Jewel but her finale was more than sound I thought behind impressive winner Zouzarella. Like her up to 1400m on the bigger track and has the runs on the board from last prep.
Race 5. (14:30) Sandown Stakes 1500m
6 Cherry Tortoni (Bet Now: $3.50) is the pony I like for the Golden Eagle and he looks to be ticking along beautifully towards that race. He’s been trained as a miler and his best figures have come when at this distance range. Looked home when resuming at Flemington but was nabbed on the peg by a peach from Lane aboard Harbour Views. Fitter, he’ll take beating.
2 Elephant (Bet Now: $2.25) can well and truly confirm himself a Toorak horse with a win here. Unbeaten record went on the line in the Feehan in the hope of getting a Cox Plate berth and he nearly got the win, just pipped on the peg by Superstorm. That form has been franked via Sierra Sue so he has to be respected.
Hard to knock the win of 3 Harbour Views (Bet Now: $6.00) at Flemington given that was his first run since Cup Day last year. Sweet steer by Lane, finding three wide cover, and just waiting to push the button to expose him late and blouse them, which is exactly what happened. Second up syndrome is the only knock.
Race 6. (15:05) The Big Screen Company Hcp 1800m
5 Floating Artist (Bet Now: $2.80) is heading in the right direction for the Maher/Eustace camp. Good ticker shown by the horse to win two back at the Valley before proving that was no fluke at Flemington two weeks ago when down in the weights and fighting on strongly to get the job done. He’ll only run well I suggest.
7 Skyman (Bet Now: $4.20) is third up from a break and should be hard fit. Narrow second first up at the Valley before going to Flemington where he was smashed late in betting and while held up for a stride or two, he had his chance when fourth to Floating Artist. Third up now, no excuses.
2 Cormorant (Bet Now: $23.00) came here with a Melbourne Cup potentially on the agenda. If that is the case, he has to be going close here. He was specked at odds first up at the Valley but didn’t fire a shot behind Don’t Doubt Dory and was plain. Bigger track, fitter, firmer deck, his best is certainly good enough.
Race 7. (15:45) Underwood Stakes 1800m
It’s hard seeing anything other than a win for 2 Zaaki (Bet Now: $1.28). The only query is will he be as dynamic racing anti clockwise like he is racing clockwise. If he is, then it’s race over. Breathtaking win first up in the Tramway with the big weight at Randwick and as it stands right now, he’s the best horse in Australia and should confirm that here.
5 Probabeel (Bet Now: $5.50) is on the quick back up for Jamie Richards after racing last Saturday in the Sir Rupert Clarke. Didn’t have the best of luck in the straight, but overall, thought she had her chance behind Sierra Sue. Backing up and going to 1800m I find interesting. But hard fit and potentially gets a soft lead.
4 Superstorm (Bet Now: $12.00) looks to be ticking along beautifully towards the Cox Plate. Good return in the PB Lawrence before going to the Feehan when given a rail hugging steer by Olly, driving hard and nailing Elephant, securing his Cox Plate start. He’ll run well here, albeit needs to improve big time to trouble Zaaki.
Race 8. (16:25) Testa Rossa Stakes 1300m
6 Chaillot (Bet Now: $3.30) is an absolute bomb when produced first up, winning 3/3, so going with her in the hope of making it 4/4. She showed in the Autumn how dynamic she can be fresh when winning the Tressady at Flemington. Couple of strong trials to get ready, I think she’ll run a beauty in what looks a winnable race.
3 Ironclad (Bet Now: $5.50) is one of the more fascinating runners on the program. Is he the forgotten horse from a Toorak perspective? I was/am hot on him being a Toorak horse but he needs to show something here because he was terrible first up on the Parks track in the Leon Macdonald behind stablemate Second Slip, even allowing for the fact he was wide no cover. If he’s going to be a Toorak horse, has to be going close to be winning this.
1 So Si Bon (Bet Now: $7.50) is the class runner of the field and that will carry him a long way here. Resumes for Team Hayes after a mixed Autumn/Winter, winning a couple of races but when it came to the big races, he didn’t quite measure up. This looks more his level and can sprint well fresh.
Race 9. (17:05) Evergreen Turf (bm84) 1800m
11 Flexible (Bet Now: $5.00) is a quality mare for James Cummings that should prove hard to beat in the get out. Resumed over the mile here where she had a suck run behind the speed before getting a split late and Olly lifted her when it counted to get up and win. Fitter and up to 1800m, she appeals.
3 Aussie Nugget (Bet Now: $6.00) looks to have returned very well. Jumped out well prior to his resumption at Caulfield when good late behind Elephant in a good rating race. Then went to the Valley and drove hard late, just missing out on picking up Don’t Doubt Dory. Fitter, up to 1800m, he’s likeable.
16 Horrifying (Bet Now: $12.00) is capable if he produces something near his best. Caught the eye first up behind Wicklow Town before racing here again and gee he was awful, seemingly without many excuses. Getting towards peak fitness and up in trip from a soft draw, he can bounce back.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Five Number 6 Cherry Tortoni
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 12 Sirileo Miss
LONG SHOT: Race One Number 5 Twist Of Fury
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 2, 5, 7, 10
Leg Two: 2
Leg Three: 1, 3, 6, 8
Leg Four: 3, 9, 11, 15, 16
$50 Investment = 62.50% of the dividend if successful
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