Sandown Hillside best bets & quaddie tips | March 22, 2023
| What | Sandown Races |
| Where | Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 |
| When | Wednesday, March 22, 2023 |
| First Race | 3:05pm AEDT |
Racing will return to Sandown Racecourse this Wednesday for another eight-race twilight meeting on the Hilliside track. The surface is currently a Good 4, but with rain forecast to fall for most of Tuesday, we could begin the program on a Soft track with a chance of an upgrade later in the day. The rail will be in the +3m position for the entire circuit, with racing set to kick off at 2:30pm AEDT.
Best Bet at Sandown: Eagles Crag
We will have to wait until the very last race for our best bet of the day, when the Archie Alexander-trained Eagles Crag takes on the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1400m second-up for this preparation. When first-up this campaign, this six-year-old gelding finished fourth in a Benchmark 84 Handicap, just over a length behind the winner, Here To Shock, with Muhnamek and Savannah Cloud finishing in second and third place, respectively. Here To Shock and Muhnamek have won their subsequent starts, while Savannah Cloud has finished second in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, indicating that the form is very strong. This son of Fastnet Rock will be second-up on Wednesday and staying at the 1400m where he will be looking to keep his solid second-up record (3:2-1-0) intact. With only 57.5kg on his back and the addition of Blake Shinn, we expect Eagles Crag to be very difficult to beat.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#12 Eagles Crag (8)
6yo Gelding | T: Archie Alexander | J: Blake Shinn (57.5kg)
Next Best at Sandown: Helix
The Clinton McDonald-trained Helix brings the best form to this Benchmark 64 Handicap after winning by a good margin on debut and then losing by a half-length in the $300,000 Future Stars Series Final second-up. On February 16, this three-year-old gelding was dominant on debut at Pakenham over 1200m, defeating Zoupurring by 2.5 lengths in the 10th heat of the Future Stars Series. Following his debut victory, this son of Flying Artie jumped as an equal second favourite in the Future Stars Series final, where he settled behind the leader and was left a little flat-footed at the 300m mark. When he picked up and began to fade, he demonstrated that he could go with the eventual winner in Marble Arch but faded in the final 50m. Blaike McDougall has partnered this talented gelding in both of his career starts and will do so again on Wednesday. McDougall will have this gelding outside the leader or in a one-one position from barrier four, which should be advantageous, and if he can let down like he did on debut, Helix will be difficult to beat.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#2 Helix (9)
3yo Gelding | T: Clinton McDonald | J: Blaike McDougall (58.5kg)
Best Value at Sandown: Wango Award
The fourth race of the day will feature the Kevin Corstens-trained Wango Award, who is coming off a very unlucky run over 1000m at Flemington on March 4. At her most recent start, this three-year-old filly settled near the back of the field, and as Daniel Moor pushed the button, another runner shifted and halted her run, forcing Moor to change tracks and head to the inside. This Shamus Award daughter was very brave in her performance, unleashing a blistering turn of foot to finish sixth, only 1.5 lengths behind the winner. Before heading to Flemington, Jack Hill rode this filly to consecutive 1000m wins at Yarra Valley and Pakenham, and he’ll be reunited with her on Wednesday, looking for his third win in a row. We expect Hill to settle Wango Award at the back of the field and run on strong down the outside at the end of the 1300m event from barrier four.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#9 Wango Award (4)
3yo Filly | T: Kevin Corstens | J: Jack Hill (57kg)
Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown races
Sandown quadrella selections
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
- 2-4-9
- 4-5-6-7
- 2-3-4
- 1-7-9-12-16
Investment: $180 for 100%