SANDOWN HILLSIDE Wednesday January 31.
Another Wednesday hillside off a hot week bit cooling for raceday with track going up a good 4 (remember it’s a late start – 4.30pm) after 38mm of irrigation for the week. Rail pushed out to 10m from 5m and as typical of Sandown, expecting wider and closers suited.
BEST BET: WON BALL Race 2#2
BEST VALUE: NO COMMITMENT race 8 #6
Race 1: 3-5-6-1
He’ll win one for sure. That’s Brazen beau’s bother HERMANITO – placed all four and costly for punters. He has opposition here for sure again and he’s no BB, but I’m sticking solid. GIANNARELLI ran well enough in a moderate Yarra Valley maiden debut. Better suited 1400m. JUNGLE FISH is respected on debut though not seen in official jumpouts or trials. Better has her safe and she’s in good hands. MISSILE STRIKE gets blinkers on again after resuming at the Gold Coast. Better suited back here.
SUGGESTED: Stick with HERMANITO at least one more time.
Race 2: 2-3-5-6
WON BALL won by a margin on debut at Geelong dominating from the front. Hard to ignore what we saw as he steps to a BM64. EXPLICITLY (gelded now) went back to maiden grade (albeit on heavy ground) when resuming after encouraging debut campaign in better company. MISS VIXEN also resumes and will be strong late. FALLING WATERS is fit and racing well enough to be competitive.
SUGGESTED: WON BALL to win again.
Race 3: 8-11-9-4
It’s Weir again – he has two chances – but think HOLY BLADE wins – just missed out in tight finish resuming at Ballarat. Form around HE’S THE SHERRIFF, SCOLIARO (Weir’s other runner) and DIVERTENTE (saved from Saturday) all ties in from similar recent race and not much between them.
SUGGESTED: Like HOLY BLADE.
Race 4: 1-3-8-2
Was tempted to go Weir again and SO YOU LEICA (excellent debut and 1600m will suit here) or the consistent PLEASURING – and they will both be hard to beat but leaning TAGREEDA who ran well behind Weir’s Twitchy Franky at Flemington who dominated from the front. Think the 1600m ideal especially in this grade. KAIMU gets the right run and good to see Lachie King claiming 3kg in town.
SUGGESTED: TAGREEDA to repel the Weir juggernaut.
Race 5: 9-8-3-4
Pretty even start for the main quaddie. EL CHORRILLO toughed out a Cranbourne 2025m maiden last time and have little doubt can run out a strong 2400m. CORRS was terrific at a similar trip to this at Geelong in a BM64 and has a good grounding to break through in town. PEDRO XIMENEZ won a BM58 last time on a softer Werribee track but again has solid base for this. SHANGHAI PATROL has been racing well and is another of many chances here.
SUGGESTED: Go wide in the quaddie.
Race 6: 11-5-7-4
Thought ISLE OF CAPRI was unlucky at Caulfield and can atone here. Through same race is winner CLASSIC DIVA (Watch runner-up there – Kaimu in r4) and she can run well again but think Isle of Capri has it covered. SO SPLENDID went too keenly at Flemington. Previous form sound so forgiving that. STORMY SHORE might be the overs. Ran well chasing at Flemington, think the Sandown pattern more advantageous.
SUGGESTED: Pretty keen ISLE OF CAPRI.
Race 7: 6-4-2-1
KRUSTY gets away from Flemington after two forgiveable runs where traffic and tempo haven’t suited. The blinkers come off and think Sandown will suit. DOWNHEARTED has raced well past two here without winning and like many needs to step up to 1600m but gets good chance to do so here. AURUM SPIRT has good 1600m credentials, albeit having had plenty of chances over a long career to do so. JEST FOR THE ROAD is racing well and should roll forward here.
SUGGESTED: Stick with KRUSTY
Race 8: 6-15-13-17
Good competitive race to end the day but Col Little scratched NO COMMITMENT Saturday for this – I liked it there, so have to follow up in this. It was $61 when resuming lakeside but caught the eye late and 1400m ideal. WEAPON always has promised much and only won a Ballarat 1200m maiden when resuming but it was only his 3rd start and he can graduate to better races. OUR CHIQUILLA was terrific Lakeside at 1200m and another suited at 1400m now. MUTIN doesn’t have a winning profile but rarely runs poorly. And there are other hopes.
SUGGESTED: Keen at the value NO COMMITMENT.
QUADDIE:
3-4-5-8-9-10
3-4-5-7-11
1-2-4-6-10
3-13-15
$225 for 50%