Sandown Preview – Wednesday 26th March

The focus returns to Sandown this Wednesday with another quality eight-race program. 

The rail is back in the true position with the track rated a Good 4, and you can find our Sandown preview, best bets and tip for every race, including a roughie in Race 2 and a short-priced favourite in Race 8 shooting for a hat-trick.  

FACILITATE (1) steps out ready to win off a break for Leon and Troy Corstens. 

The colt by Capitalist was fast into stride on debut at The Valley last month, settling just off the speed and holding his own the whole way to finish runner-up. 

Similar tactics were on display in his recent jump out win at Headquarters where he burst clear early to establish the tempo and lead all the way.  

Drawn a nice soft gate with Jamie Mott back in the saddle, he should give another big sight. 

1 Unit Facilitate (1)  

CARDONE (3) made it look easy winning on return here a few weeks ago over the same distance under Tom Prebble.  

The pair found a late split out of the turn to punch clear and win by well clear of a length in the end, showing plenty of sustained speed through the line to suggest there might be more to come. 

Whether this son of Written Tycoon is looking for 1200m now is the question, but in with the 3kg claim with some decent second-up form to his name, I think he’s a decent each-way play in a tricky race.  

1 Unit Each-Way Cardone (3) 

LODBROK (6) has been racing well of late, cashing a cheque in his last two starts here at Sandown and The Valley.  

He probably could have won last start out over 3000m if he wasn’t held up at the top of the straght, but this still presents as a winnable assignment from an inside gate with the added fitness benefit. 

Mark Zahra gets a crack in the saddle and if he can settle handy without using too much early petrol, the pair should be tough to run down in the late stages. 

1 Unit Lodbrok (6)  

DIVINE THOUGHTS (10) presents fitter second-up for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. 

The daughter to So You Think gave a nice sight up on the speed first-up at Pakenham over 1400m, leading by several lengths before being worn down right before the judge in a three-way go for the line.  

She’s placed in both starts at this stage of her prep in the past and will likely adopt similar tactics from the inside barrier with the class of Blake Shinn taking over.  

1 Unit Divine Thoughts (10)  

The unbeaten PROVED (2) has gone up short odds again after saluting as the short-priced favourite at Pakenham a fortnight ago.  

This talented mare by Time Test hasn’t put a foot wrong in all four wins, findng the centre of the straight last start where she was a little one-paced approaching the 100m mark, before unleashing with a quick burst to go on and win by over two lengths. 

She was only competing against a small field that day, but her change up speed is exceptional and she only needs to settle handy enough to go on with the job here.  

1 Unit Proved (2)  

Quite keen to see what ALTERMATUM (7) can produce here back out over 1400m. 

The Zoustar filly won her maiden in impressive style last start at Ballarat over 200m shorter, bolting in down the outside to score by half a length where she was really only warming up late.  

She’s hard fit here with two runs under her belt and wasn’t beaten far when she attempted this trip last October. 

From a much better gate with Harry Coffey retaining the ride, I think she ticks a few important boxes.  

1 Unit Altermatum (7) 

PULA (14) has some claims here in an open race with a few of the top chances drawn poorly. 

Still lightly-raced, there was a bit to like about her maiden win two back at Bendigo where she went 1.5 lengths clear over the final furlong to beat home a few talented types. 

A daughter to Pierro, she was never afforded a fair crack at them three weeks later here over 1500m, held up badly for a run when beaten two lengths by Phenom and Athanatos, who has since gone on to run well in the VOBIS Guineas. 

Back slightly in trip now and drawn another inside gate, she should go well. 

1 Unit Pula (14)  

KING ZEPHYR (5) is an absolute ripper for Grahame Begg who should take beating here third-up.  

The gelding by Hallowed Crown has put together two impressive wins to kick-start his prep, getting back early in the run here last start over the same trip before improving along the rail to get the upper hand and win well. 

His late turn of foot is electric and in what appears to be another similar race, I can’t see many beating him if he gets the rails run.  

2 Units King Zephyr (5)