Australian Hurdle and Steeplechase Day is one of Sandown Racecourse’s most highly-anticipated meets each year and we are treated to nine quality races on Saturday afternoon.
The two feature races have drawn some of the country’s best jumpers and there is plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective.
Twelve two-year-olds remain in the field for Race 1 and of those horses, four will be making their competitive debuts.
One horse that warrants interest in this field is the debuting Prince Of Caviar ($5.50), the second progeny of equine superstar Black Caviar to make it to the races. On pedigree, he clearly has a class edge over everything else in this field and he has already attracted plenty of interest in betting, having opened at $7.50.
There is just too much that can happen in fields rich with debuting juveniles and I am happy to watch this lot go around.
An open and capacity field will step out in the second and there is a case to be made for more than half of the confirmed runners.
Artie Dee Two ($7) returned to winning form via a smart performance at Ballarat last time out and while he faces a step up in class here, will be ready to peak third-up. It’s typically rocks or diamonds with this horse, but he does look over the odds at his current price.
Overstep is another horse that is third-up on Saturday and she’s drawn ideally into this big field in gate 2. The Exceed And Excel mare shook off the cobwebs with a credible first-up performance at Flemington in April, but savaged the line for a close second at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
The early scratching of live chance Diamond Grace has left thirteen horses in contention for Race 3.
Lycurgus ($2.50) return to winning form with a dominant performance at this course and distance last time out and he’ll be extremely difficult to beat again. The Star Witness gelding showed plenty of potential as a three-year-old and with Damien Oliver in the saddle, he can stalk the pace from barrier 10 before unleashing his big turn of foot.
The first of two jumps features has drawn twelve quality horses, including Gold Medals ($2.60). Gold Medals has returned to racing in excellent form this time and dominated the Warrnambool Carnival in May; winning both the Brierly Steeplechase and the Grand Annual. This is a step back in class from the latter and he’ll be extremely difficult to beat.
The Dominator ($4.40) carries winning form into this race and looms as the major threat. The Thewayyouare gelding took up the running in the Decron Dunroe Steeplechase (3450m) at the ‘Bool in May and held on to beat a decent field.
The field for the Australian Hurdle looks far-more competitive and there is a case to be made for several runners finding their way into the winner’s stall.
At the time of publish, Self Sense has been backed into $2 favouritism and he should prove tough to beat. The Street Sense gelding won a 3200m race over the jumps at Pakenham on April 15th, before returning to the flat to easily win over 2000m at Caulfield and finish second behind Life Less Ordinary in Listed Wagga Cup. He’s since trialled over the jumps and will have conditions to suit on Saturday.
A horse that appeals at double-figure odds in this race is defending champion Ancient King ($13). The Ramonti gelding was fair during the Warrnambool Carnival and turned in a lacklustre run for tenth in the Casterton Cup last time out, but he simply does not perform on the flat anymore and he has a genuine class edge over the hurdles.
I’m happy to play the value here and taken Ancient King each way.
The field for Race 6 looks pretty open from a betting perspective, removing odds-on favourite Lucky For All ($1.80) from consideration. Lucky For All has posted three impressive wins from as many starts this time and should be winning, but he is just too short at his current quote.
A horse that appeals at odds is the Matt Cumani-trained Greycliffe ($18), who has the class to find his way into the first three on Saturday. The son of Tavistock ran a close second in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas on April 14th, but faded late in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes last time out. Four weeks between runs looks ideal and he’ll be able to take a position on-pace from barrier 6.
I’ll be have a small each-way bet on Greycliffe at current odds, but without a lot of confidence.
Ten horses will contest the seventh and first-up winner Jamaican Rain ($3) looks extremely well placed here. The daughter of Manhattan Rain ended her 2017 campaign a credible fifth in the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Flemington and was too good for her rivals when resuming at Cranbourne a fortnight ago; striding away for a six-length win. She can take up the running again on Saturday, pulls weight from every other horse and will be tough to run down.
Godolphin gelding Peacock ($10) is capable of a big run on his day and looms as a major danger. The son of Lonhro won at Rosehill Gardens most notably this time and he’s over the odds at his current quote.
There’s plenty of winning chances in Race 8, but one horse that stands out at her current price is the Chris Waller-trained Velocita ($8.50). Velocita returned to the races for a smart win over 1400m at Rosehill, before running third over a mile at Randwick. She was well beaten in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks last time out, but this is a big step back in class and returning to a mile also looks ideal.
Twelve horses will step out in the last, but it really does look like Fifty Stars’ race to lose. Fifty Stars ($2.80) has only made three appearances at the races to date, but he has won each with complete ease and is clearly a horse with plenty of talent. This is a step up in class, but he’s drawn well and can salute for punters.