Sandown Preview – Wednesday 24th January

Twilight racing continues at Sandown on Wednesday, January 24^th with another quality eight-race program.

There looks to be great value around some key runners, and you can find my Sandown Best Bets below.

Dragoon has turned in some improved performances recently and can break his maiden at Sandown on Wednesday.

The Grunt gelding was less than a length from the winner at Caulfield last month, while he was last seen finishing a head second behind Immediacy over 1500m at Cranbourne.

He is in peak order this week and the mile looks absolutely ideal.

3 Units Dragoon

Inez only just missed at her first two career starts and is primed to win on Wednesday.

The well-bred filly hit the line to only just be denied out at Seymour on debut and was tough through the line at the same course last time out.

Fitter third-up, from a perfect draw and under Blake Shinn, she is my best bet on the program.

5 Units Inez 

It has been a short while since Tanto won a race, but her recent efforts have suggested another isn’t far away.

The Churchill mare was fair without threatening behind Manhattan Thunder at The Valley two starts back, but mustered a decent turn of foot to fill the minors over this route last time out.

She’s another that takes her place on Wednesday in peak order, but she gets plenty of ticks and might not be offered a better opportunity.

2 Units Tanto

A case to be made for a few of them in the fourth at Sandown on Wednesday, including the third-up Este Dia.

She returned to action with a fair effort to finish fourth, beaten more than three lengths at The ‘Bool on December 31^st, but enjoyed big improvement to a tough win at Cranbourne last time out, having taken up the running.

This is harder, but she strips fitter and it does look the next logical step for her, while I’m further buoyed by Damian Lane’s decision to keep the ride.

2 Units Este Dia

I’m keen to stick with Mr Trafficanti when he returns to the midweeks on Wednesday.

Having strung together a couple of nice wins at the provincials back in November, Mr Trafficanti was only denied by an impressive Raetihi at The Valley last month, while he hasn’t been disgraced in a couple of tougher Saturday metro races at his two most-recent appearances.

He does rise 3kgs in the weights this week, but there’s no denying that this is a weaker race, and he’s another whose winning claims have certainly been enhanced by the booking of Blake Shinn.

2 Units Mr Trafficanti

Miss Passion boasts a key fitness edge over a few key rivals in this contest.

The Redoute’s Choice mare is yet to miss placing in three runs back from a length break, and she was last seen filling the minors behind the talented Yellow Same at Geelong on Coastal Classic Day.

The drop in class has heralded a small rise in the weights, but she has drawn ideally into this contest and can use it as a springboard into something bigger and better.

3 Units Miss Passion

This is the strongest race on the program in my opinion, but I have long been a far of Daily Bugle, and this really does look the perfect opportunity for him to finally return to winning form.

He stamped himself as one to watching during his two-year-old preparation, and while he probably hasn’t proven to be the genuine black type horse that many expected him to be, he has still raced well and largely consistently throughout his career.

Each of his three runs back this time have been full of a merit, and a repeat of his last effort in BM70 company at Flemington would almost certainly see him into the finish this week.

2 Units Daily Bugle

I was with Star Vega when he flew home to win in a similar race here last time out, and I don’t see any reason to jump off when he steps out again on Wednesday.

The Team Freedman-trained galloper has been on the improve with each run back this time, culminating in what was easily the best performance of his career earlier this month.

He has found top gear now and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.

3 Units Star Vega