Ladbrokes Park Sandown will host Melbourne’s Saturday metro meeting this week and we’ll be treated to nine talent-rich races.
The rail will remain in the true position around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the Good (4) range.
Picarones was an impressive winner on debut and can keep alive her unbeaten record at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday.
The Shooting To Win filly didn’t show a lot at the trials prior to making her debut, but stamped herself as one to watch with a smart performance and win at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
She’ll take good improvement for that experience and is drawn to receive every chance again from barrier 3.
3 Units Picarones
He mixes his form a little, but Dune Field has returned some nice efforts this preparation and shapes as an each-way chance of winning the second at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday.
The Shamexpress gelding needed a few to strip fitter when resuming this time, but hit the line to finish second in BM64 company at The Valley two back, before finishing fourth over 1200m here last time out.
The small rise in trip should suit and with even luck, he can be in the finish again.
1 Unit E/W Dune Field
Kingsheir hasn’t been seen at the races since September, but he is a proven fresh performer, and he can make a winning return on Saturday.
The Kingman gelding was an impressive on debut at Newcastle in July and continued to return quality efforts in city company, winning on the Kensington course here at Randwick and running second behind Discharged in a BM78 race at Rosehill most notably.
He gets into this race well under the conditions and is up to the class.
3 Units Kingsheir
Stars Of Carrum has improved for two starts back from a spell and is ready to win third-up at Ladbrokes Park.
The Fiorente gelding needed the run, but still returned a nice effort when seventh at The Valley first-up and worked home well to finish just over two lengths fourth at Flemington last time out.
Getting out to a mile and a half is ideal at this point of his prep, and I don’t think he’ll be offered a better opportunity to win in town on a Saturday.
4 Units Stars Of Carrum
Quantum Mechanic is yet another runner that is primed for a big third-up performance in Melbourne this weekend.
The four-year-old daughter of Deep Field ran home well to finish fifth, just over two lengths behind Hearty Lass in a BM70 race at Caulfield when resuming, and was last seen filling the minors, just over a head behind the winner at Flemington.
Fitter third-up, from the good draw and with leading hoop Jamie Kah in the saddle, she is my best bet on the program.
5 Units Quantum Mechanic
Still Be Friends has been a strong and consistent performer this preparation and strikes another winnable race at Ladbrokes Park this weekend.
The Danny O’Brien-trained gelding was a dominant winner at Werribee two back and stepped up to city grade at Flemington last time, returning another nice effort to fourth in BM70 company.
He’s rock-hard fit and can fight out the finish again.
1 Unit E/W Still Be Friends
Fundraiser has been excellent this preparation and looks the runner to beat again in Race 7.
The Helmet gelding tuned up with a credible performance for third at Geelong in October and simply hasn’t looked back; winning each of his three starts in the wake, including a similar race to this one at Flemington last time out.
The small drop in trip shouldn’t be an issue and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
2 Units Fundraiser
Whittington Stone is probably unlucky not to have won this preparation, and he gets another chance at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday.
The Whittington gelding ran home to finish fourth at Cranbourne when fresh and has since finished second in consecutive races here at Ladbrokes Park, only just missing on both occasions.
He looks to be at peak fitness for this race and just needs some luck from the draw to be in the finish again.
2 Units E/W Whittington Stone
This is a drop in class for Pariano and he has a fitness edge over several key rivals.
The Lindsay Park-trained galloper finished third in a similar race to this one at Pakenham first-up and while she did run ninth at Caulfield last time out, she was only three lengths behind the classy Sword Of Mercy.
She’ll take further improvement from that run, she is drawn to receive every chance from the inside draw and it looks a great opportunity to strike.
2 Units E/W Pariano