A ripping card of racing has been set down for Sandown this Sunday, with the feature clearly being the $150,000 Group lll Bletchingly Stakes (1200m). The weather forecast is for showers, the track is soft (5) and the rail is out six metres for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:00) Jim Conway Handicap (70) 1200m
2 Sanadaat (Bet Now: $2.30) on top in the opener. Smart filly that resumes for the Hayes/Dabernig team off a two run prep in the Autumn. Gave them a spanking on debut on the Parks track in SA before racing down the straight at Flemington and running a beauty behind Ducimus. Jump outs have been good and stable run here in the softer event despite being nominated for the two 3YO races at Flemington.
1 Onehundred Percent (Bet Now: $6.50) is a Hinchinbrook colt who debuted at Echuca over 1000m on July 10 where he was specked at double figure odds and the money landed with a gritty on speed win. I think on that effort, the 1200m will be no issue, been given a little break and strikes a winnable race.
3 Crystal Spirit (Bet Now: $6.00) is a neat style of colt for the Ellerton/Zahra team. Nothing much of him but he races well and tries hard, as he did last time out at Bairnsdale where Mallyon had him parked just off the pace and loomed to win but couldn’t quite finish it off. Not sure 1200m is his go, but I’ll include him.
Race 2. (12:30) Tile Importer Handicap (64) 2100m
14 Chez Dumonet (Bet Now: $7.50) gets the nod for me in a very tough staying contest. He comes through a 2100m maiden win at Echuca last time out where it did look his race on paper and the market support agreed. Aided by a sweet ride from Lane, the Kiwi bred galloper surged hard and drew clear. He will eat up the 2100m here on the big track and has enormous upside.
13 Blazers (Bet Now: $6.50) is a progressive mare for the Hayes/Dabernig stable who comes through a Highweight maiden triumph at Ballarat last start over 2200m…yep, a Highweight maiden. Fraught with danger, but her win was dominant. Dashed clear on the turn and set up the win, and was strong to the line. She can measure up here.
7 Jimmy Hoffa (Bet Now: $14.00) is on the quick back up for the Laming camp after racing over the mile on the Pakenham Synthetic last Sunday. It was a day where it was difficult to make ground and he was back last in the run, and was coming back in trip. He will be better suited up to 2100m, back on turf, with give in it and keep in mind he has been city placed multiple times in stronger races.
Race 3. (13:00) Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (64) 1400m
8 Best Hoffa (Bet Now: $16.00) deserves a crack in town, and he finds a very winnable race. Wendy Kelly trained gelding who has been doing his racing at Moe recently and got the win on the board last time out when ridden nicely by Brian Higgins, finding the best ground out wide and lunging hard to get the win. He can take the next step.
12 Special Diva (Bet Now: $5.50) finds a lovely race to return to some good form. She has been contesting some high quality races in town recently and has ran okay, but not quite measuring up. Oliver jumps back on and this girls two wet track runs have resulted in a second to the Group l performed Leotie and a closing fourth to Bella Ava.
5 Baykool (Bet Now: $23.00) is a talented stayer that resumes for the Pat Carey yard. I’m sure whatever he does here, he will improve on, but his recent jump outs back home have been quite encouraging and with these stayers, you always have to be wary of them fresh, and he is the new blood in this race.
Race 4. (13:40) Crisp Steeplechase 3900m
3 I’ll’ava’half (Bet Now: $3.80) is the proven big time peformer here. He ran a beauty in the Grand Annual at the Bool which was followed by a placing in the Mosstrooper behind Zed Em and then a fourth in the Thackery to Wells. Was an alarming betting drifter that day, so it will be interesting to see what the market does here.
9 Mannertone (Bet Now: $23.00) is a beauty for the Anne McGrath camp. Lacks the class/brilliance to probably win this on paper, but with jumps racing, anything is possible. He tried hard in the Mosstrooper but was no match when it mattered behind Wells. Looks the leader here, he’ll be out of trouble and the rise in trip does suit him.
Race 5. (14:20) Grand National Hurdle 3900m
He has to carry the weight, but I think 1 Sea King (Bet Now: $7.00) has the class to beat these. Star kiwi jumper who ran in the Drechsler at Bendigo and was fabulous there when winning and being dominant. Can only improve off that I feel and up the 3900m will suit him even more. Really keen.
8 Refectory (Bet Now: $6.50) made his jumps debut at Bendigo two weeks back and gee I liked the way he went about it. Settled well back in the run, but was always appearing to travel sweetly. Lynch gave him a flick and he went around them before taking the lead late and powering clear. Could well be a rising star of the jumps.
10 Who Says I’m Ready (Bet Now: $11.00) ran in a restricted hurdle race at Bendigo and he tried very hard throughout but just mucked up the last couple of jumps, which cost him momentum and I think the win. With better jumping, and perhaps settling a bit better in the run, he’ll be better off and is a knockout hope at odds.
Race 6. (15:00) Chandler Macleod Handicap (70) 1200m
5 If Not Now When (Bet Now: $4.80) is a talented filly for Henry Dwyer who looks a leading threat here. Could not have been ridden better when racing at Caulfield three weeks back. Given every chance off the pace and loomed large to win but just didn’t quite attack the line when third to Moonlites Choice. With a cold ride and having last say, she can attack the line.
2 Swiss Moments (Bet Now: $11.00) is the very interesting runner for mine. Five year old mare making her Australian debut for the Mick Kent after two runs back home to kick off her career in the Summer. Form from both races has been good and I’m sure she’s been given a good grounding for her debut down under.
7 Miss Countefeit (Bet Now: $23.00) is a nippy mare for the Wez Hunter who showed superb sustained speed to win fresh over the 1200m at Ballarat. Got tired late but held on. That hard run should top her off nicely for this assignment, she maps well and Creighton remains on which is a big tick.
Race 7. (15:30) thebigscreencompany.com.au Bletchingly Stakes 1200m
9 Chocolate Holic (Bet Now: $10.00) is the most interesting runner for me right across Australia. I said on Twitter that this horse could be the best WA horse Darren Weir will saddle up, and that is including Black Heart Bart. Before he left WA, he trialled brilliantly, better than Scales Of Justice, a high class WA horse himself. 1200m is short of his best, but he is a big watch.
8 Murt The Flirt (Bet Now: $17.00) is a quality galloper for the McCarthy camp who was specked at odds to win the Monash first up and closed off nicely from the back but just ran out of condition late when third to Supido. Goes really well second up and he does have some good stats at Sandown, which is a definite advantage.
Knockout chance here is 10 Santa Ana Lane (Bet Now: $8.50). He is a quality sprinter that resumes for Team Freedman after a very good Summer/Autumn campaign, which included an unlucky run in the Goodwood, a race that Supido ran so well in last year. Recent Flemington jump out was outstanding and he appears to have come back in super order.
Race 8. (16:00) Ladbrokes Cash In Handicap (78) 1200m
8 Handsome Thief (Bet Now: $2.25) clearly on top for me here. Very good five year old who resumes for the Weir stable after making a big impression in the Summer/Autumn, winning three of four and showing potential of being a blacktype performer. Spanked them fresh last time and though I can’t find a recent jump out, I’m sure he’s been given a good grounding to sprint well fresh.
11 Written Era (Bet Now: $4.60) is such an interesting runner here. Quality mare for the Aaron Purcell camp who really had no luck in three runs during the Summer/Autumn in quality races. Resumes with no trials, but she was well backed last Saturday at Caulfield prior to being a late scratching, so the market said she’d run well.
3 Streetwise Savoire (Bet Now: $67.00) was specked at odds when resuming over 1000m on the Hillside course but he didn’t appear to do a great deal in behind the speedy Gun Case. Up to 1200m will suit him better and this former Tassie galloper does have a really good second up record. Not sure he can win, but certainly one for exotics.
Race 9. (16:30) Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Handicap (64) 1600m
11 Pablo’s Express (Bet Now: $2.90) had been bursting to win his maiden for some time and it finally came on the Pakenham Synthetic last start where he sat on speed before Froggy pushed the button and away he went, going on to win by over five lengths and running good time. He can go right on with it now.
15 Tres (Bet Now: $5.00) isn’t the most reliable filly in racing but I think from a soft draw here she can figure. She ran over 1400m at Sandown a couple of Wednesdays back and made up nice ground late behind the tearaway leader/winner Miss Magda. As I said, not the most reliable, but this is a very winnable assignment.
If you are looking for a blast out, then perhaps 2 Commanding Time (Bet Now: $41.00) could be a play at massive odds. The veteran has been going okay in recent starts, in much stronger races. Forget last time at Flemington. They walked in front and he had no hope. The testing mile here will feel like 1800m-2000m, which is his forte, and he gets the claim for gun apprentice Zac Spain. Must for exotics I feel.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 8 Handsome Thief
NEXT BEST: Race One Number 2 Sanadaat
VALUE: Race Four Number 5 Lucky Tonight
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 5, 7, 8, 9, 14, 17
Leg Two: 1, 8, 9, 10
Leg Three: 8, 11
Leg Four: 2, 8, 11, 15
$50 Investment= 26.04% of the dividend if successful
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