Feature racing extends to Sunday this week, and the Group 3 Sandown Stakes headlines the quality eight-race program in Victoria!
I’ve run the rule over every galloper and race, and you can find all of my 2023 Sandown Stakes Day Tips below.
Wishlor Lass has opened favourite in betting for the first on Sandown Stakes Day, and I agree with it.
The Mshawish mare was excellent during her debut prep, winning three of four, including a BM70 race overt his route most notably, and she returned with a credible effort for fourth here in September.
With natural improvement, I think she’ll take beating today.
There looks to be a couple of winning chances engaged in this race, but the resuming Serasana is the one for me.
Serasana made just two appearances at the races during her debut prep, but stamped herself as one to watch by destroying her rivals here before finishing a credible fourth in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes.
She’s had the benefit of a trial leading up to this race, and I think it looks an ideal launchpad for her.
Snippety Legend has returned two fine efforts since debuting, and he can continue his rise through the grades on Sunday at Sandown.
The Snitzel colt won on debut at Sale back in July, and he returned from a freshen-up to only just miss in BM64 company.
This is probably a harder race again, but he has plenty of upside and is drawn to receive every chance this week.
This shapes as one of the more open races on the program and at publish, we’re faced with around $5 the field.
Miss Aria returned a winner in maiden company at Geelong in August, and I thought that this looked the logical next step for her to take.
The well-bred filly finished fourth at each of her first two career starts, and her first run back this time hinted at big improvement.
Jye McNeil rides from a good alley this week, and we can have an each way play at the price ($8.50 at publish).
I’m going to give Queen Air another chance over the 1800m at Sandown on Sunday.
Queen Air is yet to show her best in two starts back from a break, but she is a horse that tends to improve with a couple of runs under her belt, and she capped her last spring prep with a lovely run for third in the VRC Oaks.
I don’t think the wide draw will prove too much of an issue this week, while the booking of Jamie Kah adds further confidence.
Betting suggests it’s all about the Queenslander Antino in the Sandown Stakes, and at publish, he’s up as a $1.75 favourite.
Antino has been a strong and consistent performer up in Brisbane throughout his career, and while absolutely luckless in a Listed race over 1400m at his first Melbourne start last time, he hit the line well late.
With improvement and out to the 1500m, this does look a perfect race for him.
Ain’tnodeeldun stormed back into winning form at The Valley last time out, and I think that he looks great value to make it two in a row on Sunday at Sandown ($6 at publish).
The Dundeel gelding stamped himself as one to watch early in his career, but he’s suffered a couple of disappointing injuries along the way.
Those looked to be in rear-view mirror when he kicked clear to comfortably account for them last time out, however, and the form out of that race his since been franked by First Immortal.
Tough way to end Sandown Stakes Day from a betting perspective and there looks to be plenty of winning chances engaged.
That being said, St Lawrence looks to be in peak order, and I think he can bounce back.
St Lawrence returned to the races to record consecutive wins in Benchmark races at Caulfield in June and July, and returned from a freshen up with a credible performance at The Valley last time.
He’s about a month between runs again, but I’m keen to see him away from the unique valley conditions and he gets some relief in the weights this week under the in-form Carleen Hefel.