Sandown Hillside racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 30
| What | Sandown Hillside Races |
| Where | Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 |
| When | Saturday, April 30, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:10pm AEST |
The Hillside track at Sandown is the scene for metropolitan racing in Melbourne this Saturday and we have nine races to sink our teeth into. Perfect racing conditions are set to greet us with the track coming up a Good 4 and the rail in the true position. The Listed Anniversary Vase is the feature event, with the first of nine races set to jump at 12:10pm AEST.
Anniversary Vase Top Tip – Excelida
With $160,000 on the line in the Listed Anniversary Vase, a field of 13 runners are set to go around in the 1400m event. Having not been beaten all that far by Ayrton at Caulfield in the Victoria Handicap, we expect Excelida will be too hard to hold out in Saturday’s feature. Earlier in this prep, she was a half-length off subsequent Coolmore Classic winner Lighthouse and if she brings that type of effort here, she should simply prove too good for this lot. From barrier six, expect Patrick Moloney to ride her cold from the barriers and on the back of a genuinely run 1400m, look for Excelida to be the one finishing strongly down the centre of the track.
Anniversary Vase
Race 8 – 
#9 Excelida (6)
5yo Mare | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Patrick Moloney (54kg)
Best Bet at Sandown – Jucconi
We were with the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Jucconi when he won at Moonee Valley on March 25 and he looks to be a horse on the rise. Having won three of his four starts, his only defeat came when finishing second to the smart Growl and there certainly isn’t that type of quality in this. Despite drawing barrier 12, there looks to be plenty of speed drawn underneath, so Madison Lloyd should have no issue in finding cover around midfield aboard the Nicconi gelding. His turn of foot is too strong for a field like this and with $3 available with online betting sites, Jucconi looks a clear best bet of the day on price alone.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#1 Jucconi (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Madison Lloyd (a2) (61kg)
Next Best at Sandown – Witchachar Star
Having won three of his five runs this campaign, the Chris Hyland-trained Witchachar Star is low flying and is coming off a narrow defeat to the smart Point Nepean at Caulfield on April 16. The Myboycharlie gelding arguably deserved to finish closer if not win that race, with the bay gelding laying in throughout the straight. This race is no harder than what he has been facing in recent times and considering he won by 5.5 lengths two starts back over this track and trip, Witchachar Star looks a great play early on Saturday. We’re more than happy to take the $4.80 on offer with Neds.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#9 Witchachar Star (9)
6yo Gelding | T: Chris Hyland | J: Beau Mertens (54kg)
Best Value at Sandown – Young Liam
The Michael & Luke Cerchi-trained Young Liam was gallant in defeat when running into the Group class Clemenceau at Caulfield on April 16. The five-year-old gelding is a 1000m specialist having had 21 of his 23 starts at the trip. Despite the distance, Young Liam looks set to gain a relative uncontested lead which should suit his front-running style like no tomorrow. He drops 3kg from that effort at Caulfield and as long as he handles the step into BM84 grade, we are more than happy to take the $9 with online bookmakers in the opening leg of the quaddie.
Best Value
Race 6 – 
#6 Young Liam (5)
5yo Gelding | T: Michael & Luke Cerhi | J: Jordan Childs (57.5kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Sandown Hillside
Sandown quadrella selections
Saturday, April 30, 2022
- 3-6-7-10
- 2-3-9-10
- 1-5-7-9
- 6-9-11-14
Investment: $256 for 100%