Feature racing may have headed to South Australia, but there is still plenty of quality racing taking place at Sandown this Saturday.
We’ve assessed all nine races on the card and offer our thoughts and betting plays below.
Diala was impressive when breaking through for her maiden race win at Caulfield over the 1200m first up running a very slick time on the soft track. She then stepped up in distance, and class, when well beaten at Flemington last weekend. She took an eternity to get to the lead from barrier eight, and spent a lot of tickets in doing so, and it told on her late when she faded to finish 10th. She will appreciate the step back to 1200m, the smaller field, and barrier two in this contest and I think she represents good value at the $10 at time of publish.
Midas Prince has finished third at both his runs this prep and he should be ready to peak third up in this contest. He fought on well last start at Geelong over the 1700m to finish within 2.5 lengths of the winner and I think he will appreciate the step back in grade here. He has had five starts over the 1600m for three wins and a placing and the $8.50 at time of publish seems overs.
The Australian Bloodstock filly Ludakorn has progressed through the grades well so far this prep having won at all three of her starts. Wins at Pakenham, Sandown and Bendigo have all been impressive and I think the daughter of Puissance De Lune can take another step towards open class racing with another win here.
Too Good Too Hard is a lightly raced four year old mare with plenty of ability as shown with her impressive win at Caulfield last start. She has now managed four wins and to placings from her eight career race starts and although she is being asked to carry the big weight in this race, she does look the one to beat.
Tooradin was scratched from two races he was nominated for last weekend to run in this event at Sandown and I have a lot of time for the son of Americain. He put together two nice wins on the trot before running fourth behind The Lifeline last start at Caulfield on the heavy track. He has drawn the inside barrier and will be in this race for a long time.
Charossa is ready to take a step forward at his fifth run this prep and he represents good value to break through for his first win in Australia. He was excellent two starts back when beaten just over a length by Exasperate on the heavy surface over 1600m and this is the first time the five year old gelding goes beyond 1600m in Australia.
It’s hard to ignore the form of Ancestry this prep. He has managed four wins in his short eight race career so far including his last three in a row by a combined 11 lengths. He is being asked to carry the big weight in this but he is every chance yet again.
Barthelona is another that is over the odds at $9.00 in the eighth event of the day Sandown. The six year old gelding has put in two very strong performances so far this prep to be narrowly beaten and he will appreciate the step up to 1200m at his third run. He also gets some weight relief with the apprentice steering.
My best bet of the day comes in the last race with the talented Buffalo River. He has managed five wins from his nine race starts and has been unplaced just once. This is another step up in class for the Mike Moroney trained gelding however I am of the opinion that he will measure up black type racing with a bit more experience under his belt.