Sandown hosts Melbourne’s major metropolitan program this weekend and nine races will be run and won.
The rain has continued to tumble at Sandown this week and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (9) range, while the rail will be set out six metres around the entire course.
Read on for my complete Sandown best bets.
Stars Of Dom is second up and primed to strike at Sandown.
The Exceedance filly showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and worked home well to only just miss behind Divine Dot here three weeks ago.
With natural improvement for that experience, she can certainly go one better.
| 7. Stars Of Dom (4) J: Damien Thornton 55.5kg 2T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| At debut, 2nd of 13 at this track 2yo F Hcp on May 23 over 1000m, slow going neck behind Divine Dot with 55.5kg at $16. Excellent on debut, hard to hold out. | |||
Afterberna rates as a key winning chance third up from a spell.
The Cosmic Force filly returned to action with a sharp performance to break her maiden in dominant fashion at Pakenham and was last seen finishing third, beaten a nose on the Caulfield Heath.
She strips fitter again, is drawn ideally and gets some relief in the weights under Ryan Houston.
| 9. Afterberna (2) J: Ryan Houston 56kg 24×13T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming came from midfield and won by 5 len at Pakenham Mdn-Sw May 8 over 1200m on a heavy track defeating My Bonnie Lassie with 57.5kg at $1.45. Second run from a spell 3rd of 9 at Caulfield Heath 3yo Bm64 on May 27 over 1200m, on a slow track; nose behind Blankfield with 54kg at $4.80. Racing well. Drawn for every hope, respecting. | |||
First Chorus takes winning form into another nice race at Sandown.
The Lindsay Smith-trained mare has finished worse than second just once in four runs back this time, winning twice including a strong effort to get up over a mile at Caulfield last time out.
In peak order this week, a repeat of that latest run would see her extremely difficult to toss again.
| 1. First Chorus (10) Scratched: | |||
Clevor Trevor looks to keep an unbeaten record since resuming at Sandown on Saturday.
The son of Omaha Beach actually ended his last preparation with successing in maiden company out at Seymour in February, picking up where he left off with a sharp performance in Class 1 company at Bendigo.
Having since progressed to Saturday metro success at Caulfield a fortnight ago, he’s open to further improvement and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
| 2. Clevor Trever (7) J: Billy Egan 58kg 21×11T: Patrick Payne | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.0 len at Bendigo Cl1 May 13 over 1300m defeating Join The Que carrying 59kg at $2.90. Second run from a spell won by 0.8 len at Caulfield 3yo Hcp May 30 over 1400m in the wet defeating Obvious with 55.5kg at $4.80. Well placed. Very progressive and looks nicely placed again. | |||
This looks another nice race for Big Swinger.
Having struck in BM100 company at Flemington back in April, Big Swinger was a month between runs into a credible run under testing conditions to finish third here last time out.
Staying at the 1400m suits, he’ll relish a drop in the weights and has options in the run this week from the rails draw.
| 6. Big Swinger (1) J: Ben Allen 55.5kg 6×413T: Charlotte Littlefield | |||
| Recent form sound. Last start 3rd of 16 at this track Bm100 on May 23 over 1400m, slow going 2.75 len behind Meridius carrying 56.5kg at $5. The start before that won by 0.5 len at Flemington Bm100 April 25 over 1400m defeating King Zephyr with 54kg at $5.50. Brings the right form and is well placed. | |||
I’m keen to stick with Bazaball Rewarded third up from a spell this week.
Bazaball Rewarded was nothing short of outstanding last time in, winning five of six starts and finding form around some credible opposition in the process.
She returned to action with a sharp performance to win in BM84 company at Caulfield; arguably her best effort to date, while she was far from disgraced stepping up into Listed company last time out, finishing a credible fifth.
With further improvement this week and dropping in class, the $7 about her at publish looks a touch of overs.
| 10. Bazaball Rewarded (3) J: Jamie Mott 56.5kg 11×15T: Kelvin Southey | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.0 len at Caulfield Bm84 May 9 over 1000m on a rain affected track defeating Cannyworth with 54kg at $14. Second-up raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 11 at Caulfield in the LR Hcp on May 30 over 1100m, on rain affected going; 4 len behind Hearcomesthestar with 54kg at $9. Back to 1000m suits much better. | |||
Simurgh has been outstanding since landing in Australia and rates as the one to beat again in Race 7 at Sandown.
Having only just been denied over a mile at Pakenham fresh in April, Simurgh is since unbeaten in two stronger Saturday metro races over 2000m at Caulfield.
I thought his latest effort, while still clearly very good, was one of a horse looking for further and he gets out to the mile and a half this time.
| 5. Simurgh (7) J: Ben Allen 57kg 1×211T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently favourite; came from midfield and won by a long-neck at Caulfield Bm84 May 30 over 2000m in heavy going defeating Skippers Canyon with 54kg at $2.20. Before that favourite; came from midfield and won by 1.5 len at Caulfield Bm78 May 9 over 2000m in soft going defeating Almairac with 54kg at $2.50. Keeps raising the bar and love the rise in trip now. | |||
Gilded Water was surely too bad to be true when resuming here last month and I am happy to give him another chance.
The Fastnet Rock gelding turned in some fine performances last time in, winning in BM84 company at Caulfield before two strong efforts in The Bart Cummings and the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup, the latter of which where he was only just denied.
He is a horse that tends to enjoy strong improvement with a run under his belt and does have form on rain-affected going.
| 4. Gilded Water (6) J: Ben Allen 56.5kg 132×9T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second run back. First-up after seven months ran last of 9 at this track Bm100 on May 23 over 1800m, slow going 21 len behind Pudding carrying 57.5kg at $2.70. Previously second-up favourite; won by 2 len at Caulfield Bm84 September 20 over 2000m defeating Unlimited with 58.5kg at $2.30. Clear excuses fresh, his best would likely win. | |||
Tough way to end the program from a betting perspective and a case to be made for many of them.
Storm Season resumes in the race and appeals at a genuine each way price ($10 at publish).
We haven’t seen her at the races since Decmeber, but Storm Season was unbeaten in two starts last time in, including a sharp performance to get up over 1400m at this point of her preparation.
She flies fresh and, in a race, as open as this, she’s certainly one that I capable of running a drum at a price.
| 8. Storm Season (7) J: Logan Bates 59kg 2x11xT: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Dual acceptor. Mare returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation won by neck Caulfield Heath Bm66 December 3 over 1500m defeating Swift Circle with 60.5kg at $2.70. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 0.8 len Kembla Grange Cl1 November 4 over 1400m defeating Elivina with 60.5kg at $3.20. Handy sort, watch the betting. | |||