Libby’s Dream will carry winning form into the first at Sandown Park tonight and looks well placed to go on with the job. The two-year-old daughter of Banjo Boy was an impressive winner in her first start for trainer Leanne Polato in January, but was only fair to the line in her two subsequent starts at a tougher grade. The ten-length win over 520m at Sale that she recorded last week was easily the most dominant performance of her career, however and a repeat of that would see her extremely tough to beat again.
Apex Within has been in scintillating form recently and gets the chance to win another at Sandown Park tonight. Twenty-one wins and nine minors from only forty-three starts is how the ledge reads for the two-year-old so far and he has barely been tested at his two most-recent performances, which included a run at this track and distance last time out. His form from central boxes is solid and clearly, he is a prolific winner.
Courting is another dog that he been airborne recently and she will take a power of beating in the sixth at Sandown tonight. The daughter of Magic Sprite continued to improve with racing upon resuming early last month, but she has now clearly found peak condition after stringing together three-consecutive wins, each more dominant that the last. She relishes racing on the 515m course and can stay away from early trouble from Box 1.
Payton will enjoy a step back in class into the eighth at Sandown Park tonight and with even luck in running, is good enough to salute at a nice price. The three-year-old has finished outside of the first three in her five most-recent starts and powered home late to finish a length third at The Meadows last time out, despite being unwanted in the market. I’m happy to take on the favourite in this race and Payton does look the one to do it.