Sandown Preview – Wednesday, 4th February

MR INDEPENDENT (8) is an each-way chance coming off a decent effort for fifth at Pakenham fresh.  

Julius Sandhu’s three-year-old was taken a long way back under Jake Noonan from a tricky gate, working through his gears nicely out wide at the top of the straight to charge home strongly. 

He looked to be in need of the run, but he indicated he might be wanting further through the line. Drawn the rail this time with Beau Mertens taking over, he’s a definite top three chance if he can repeat that effort. 

TOOKAY PETE (1) should get a nice run up along the inside with the 3kg claim.  

The son to Mikki Isle was denied his chance at a hat-trick at Cranbourne last week, given his usual ride up close to the speed where he found the centre of the straight but couldn’t quite reel in Educated. 

Keep in mind he had a bit of early work to do that day from a wider gate, so with prior form in mind, the decision to race on the quick backup suggests he’s ready to go one better. 

LEGACY BAY (3) is worth another look here dropping back a level. 

Luck went against the Zoustar mare when she ran five lengths off at Flemington a few weeks ago, the wide gate costing her early in the run when she never really found top gear down the outside part of the straight. 

The form from that race has stacked up very nicely though, and she should be hard fit for two recent runs over 1400m. Back to midweek level with a trial between runs, she appeals with the blinkers coming off for the first time.  

HANAFUBUKI (3) looks the one to beat here on recent form. 

It’s been close to a year since the Savabeel mare last won a race, but she has been around the mark in recent outings, beaten only 2.5 lengths here two back over 2100m, before stepping up over further at Pakenham where she was only found out over the final furlong. 

She’s one of the few in this field with experience over the 3000m journey and finds herself in safe hands under Craig Williams, who was in the saddle two back on the Lakeside track. 

FIGLIO D’ARGENTO (2) just needs some luck to go his way from out wide. 

The grey trained by the Kavanagh Team has flirted with wins in recent attempts at Cranbourne and Geelong, followed by a decent effort over 1800m at Flemington a fortnight ago where he was up close to the speed along the rail to finish only 2.9 lengths off the talented, Yes I Know.  

No one has a better feel for him than Brad Rawiller and this does look a nice race for him to break through if he can find the front nice and early.  

Bit of a tough watch for those aboard ATTACHMENTS (3) last start on the Lakeside track, the mare to Prince of Caviar boxed in approaching the furlong and only clear late, eventually finishing just outside the money. 

Archie Alexander’s mare was fresh from a six-week let-up after winning her previous start at Kilmore, overcoming a five-wide sit to bolt in over the final 100m to win well. 

Carrying 60kg again is the query, but she’s got the inside gate, plus Craig Williams working to her advantage now with some improvement still to come.  

WATERSPORTS (9) looks the straight bat option back over 1500m. 

She’s been solid in all four starts this time in work for Archie Alexander, finding the money on as many occasions with a good win over the same distance at Cranbourne two back to her name.  

There wasn’t much to fault about her latest effort at Flemington over the mile, just lacking the dash to go with the very talented Midnite Storm, who has since gone on to win last Saturday at Caulfield.