Midweek racing tips and form at Sandown, Wednesday February 1
SANDOWN is the venue for our Wednesday racing preview this week which includes form for some top thoroughbred races.
The Le Pines Funeral Handicap is one of the best races on the card, which features five last-start winners. Among them is debut winner Bons Away and Last Request which will likely battle it out for favouritism with bookmakers.
The card opens with the Schweppes Plate which has attracted only a small field, but its full of maiden runners looking to progress through the grades.
Race 1 – Schweppes Plate (1400m)
The Darren Weir-trained Fast Plan has improved with every run to date and a good showing is on the cards here. The son of Strategic finished fifth at Kilmore before running fourth behind Tres which has subsequently run well at Moonee Valley. It was well-backed at Hamilton last start where it had every chance to win, but the run would have done it some good and another start at this distance looks ideal. The in-form Ben Allen takes the ride with his 2kg claim.
That Rings A Bell is having its second career start after impressing on debut. The So You Think filly from the Danny O’Brien stable wasn’t well-backed in the market, but it ran better than expected when finishing second behind the talented Summer Wind. The form out of that race has stacked up nicely and it has the breeding to suggest it will break maiden grades soon.
Race 1 tip: Fast Plan to win at Bet365.com
Race 2 – Yarramalong Racing Club Plate (1200m)
Redcore hasn’t been seen since running sixth in the Listed Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington in October. The Greg Eurell-trained colt has trialled twice since for one placing and it appears to be ticking over nicely. The two-year-old is bred to be good, being by Choisir, and the addition of Dwayne Dunn in the saddle is a good sign for punters.
Lindsay Park line up Eshtiraak which is a last start winner at Pakenham. The two-year-old colt by Street Cry finished third on debut at Geelong when running as the favourite, but punters got their money back last start when it won paying $1.40. It looks to have a bright future and the small field will certainly help, but we’re not expecting bookmakers to be offering a big price.
Race 2 tip: Eshtiraak to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – Thebigscreencompany.com.au Handicap (1500m)
Deal With It lines up for the Weir/Allen combination with two runs under its belt this campaign. The four-year-old mare by High Chaparral won its first two career starts on rain-affected tracks before running ninth in a tough race won by Stylemaker three starts back. It has resumed with two solid runs this time in and the slight rise in distance will be ideal. Follow any positive betting moves for the mare.
New Elegance started its racing in Sydney, but Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott tried the gelding left handed last start and it worked well. The son of High Chaparral debuted at Kembla Grange when finishing fourth before winning on the same track in August by just under a length. It kicked off a new campaign at Sandown last start where it finished second behind Castelo as a double-figure chance, but we’re expecting a much shorter price with bookmakers for this run.
Race 3 tip: Deal With It to win at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 4 – Moorookyle Park Thoroughbreds Handicap (1400m)
Dusty Jack is a winner of two from four starts, including a stylish three-length win at Cranbourne last start. The son of Written Tycoon turned on the afterburners as the short favourite and another good run is expected here. The progeny of Written Tycoon are flying at the moment and Lindsay Park looks to have another strong gelding on their hands.
Tigger has shown plenty of promise to date and it wasn’t overly far away behind a subsequent winner in Rich Jack last start. The Enver Jusufovic-trained gelding was a winner on debut at Pakenham before producing another top effort on the same track to follow. It hasn’t won in three starts since, but this race looks slightly easier and having Craig Newitt riding from the inside barrier is ideal.
Race 4 tip: Dusty Jack to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Crown Lager Handicap (2400m)
Sweet Melody continues to run consistent races and there was plenty to like about its placing last start. The Weir-trained mare finished second behind European import Crocodile Rock at Sandown which was a credible effort. Its form prior included a win at Sandown over the talented Ashlee Marie and this field looks a much easier target than recent assignments. We’re expecting bookmakers to open it short in the betting.
Thunder Connection is bred to see out this distance and the son of Pins brings good form into this. The Andrew Payne-trained gelding finished fourth at Sandown last start behind Playful Rosie, but its win prior over 2060m at Cranbourne is a much better form guide. It’s yet to run over this staying distance, but all indicators show that it should relish the extra distance and the 3kg claim from Jack Martin is ideal.
Race 5 tip: Sweet Melody to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 6 – Ladbrokes Handicap (1600m)
Shane McCusker lines up Parallel World which was an upset winner at Cranbourne last start. The three-year-old filly by Shocking upset the heavily-backed Ridgway at odds of $21 and there’s nothing to suggest why it can’t win again. It wasn’t far behind the winner on debut at Cranbourne and the rise up to the mile will only help the daughter of Shocking. The betting will suggest its winning chances, but consider in win selections.
Typhoon Monaco is a mare by Monaco Consul which was a stylish winner last start. The Robert Smerdon-trained runner stormed in to win by 3.25 lengths at Geelong – which justified its favouritism tag at $2.70. The lightly-tried four-year-old has since won a trial and the addition of Dwayne Dunn in the saddle suggests a big effort is expected here.
Race 6 tip: Typhoon Monaco to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 7 – Le Pine Funerals Handicap (1200m)
Bons Away was a quality winner on debut at Warrnambool over Cranky Missus and Tennessee Gold. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt was heavily supported at $1.70 which suggests it has shown plenty of ability at home and it should be able to produce another good run. The son of Bon Hoffa jumps from barrier five which should give it every chance in the running and Linda Meech continues her association with the runner.
Last Request scored impressively by 2.25 lengths on debut and it looks to have plenty of ability. The Weir-trained gelding put away a quality maiden field which included The Lunch and Sundell. It carried some support on debut at $4.20 and the son of Bel Esprit will likely attract support again. It has drawn perfectly in barrier two and Beau Mertens takes 2kg off its back.
Race 7 tip: Last Request to place at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 8 – Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m)
Tigidig Tigidig is always around the mark and it’s coming off a win at Kilmore. The Vincent Malady-trained gelding is a winner of only three from 29 starts, but it has 16 placings to its name and it has either won or placed in four of its last five starts. That consistency rewards punters and they will surely get stuck in again. The only worry is the big weight, but Jake Bayliss takes 2kg off its back.
El Dorado Mine is a talented horse for Mick Price which is coming off a good placing behind Champagne Cocktail at Pakenham. The four-year-old was a winner five starts back in maiden grade before it took on the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington where it finished seventh. It has been knocking on the door since and it won’t be long before it breaks through for its second career win.
Race 8 tip: El Dorado Mine to win at Bet365.com