Sandown Hillside hosts 10 races on Saturday with renovations still underway at Moonee Valley.
The $1 million Moir Stakes is the highlight on the program, where multiple Group 1 winner Giga Kick resumes for a high-octane battle down the straight against last-start Group 3 winner Natural Fling.
A pair of Listed races, as well as the Group 3 Chautauqua Stakes, make up a quality day of black-type racing, and it’s worth noting the track is rated a Soft 5 with the rail in the True position throughout.
Scroll down for race-by-race analysis, a look at all the key runners, as well as our best bets in our 2026 Moir Stakes Day Tips!
CIGNETTI (3) has returned well for the Busuttin and Young Team with a first-up win to his name at Sale a few weeks ago.
He crossed from the wide barrier and led into the straight, punching clear over the final furlong to put away a decent sized field and go 1.75 lengths clear.
Blake Shinn retaining the ride is a big plus and another slightly wet track will be right up his alley from a nice inside alley this time.
| 3. Cignetti (2) J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg 35×1T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months favourite; won by 1.75 len at Sale on August 21 over 1400m on a soft track defeating Passio carrying 57kg at $1.90. Previously second-up 5th of 10 in the LR ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington on April 25 over 1400m, 4 len behind Blind Raise with 56.5kg at $26. Fast win fresh and looks set to go on with it. | |||
RUSSIAN DUCHESS (4) looks to be a mare with a bit of upside.
She was fast into stride on the synthetic at Ballarat last start upon settling midfield, finding some nice cover into the turn before putting her foot down to go on and win by a length.
This is tougher again, but I thought she worked through the gears well and the booking of Craig Williams is also worth noting.
| 7. Russian Duchess (1) J: Craig Williams 56kg 6×531T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start came from midfield and won by 1.0 len at Ballarat Synthetic on August 11 over 1400m defeating Designs Of Eight with 57kg at $3.40. The race before that 3rd of 13 in a Bm62 at Cranbourne on July 16 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 3.5 len behind Touxlove carrying 58kg at $12. Minor hope this time. | |||
BEAST MODE (1) hasn’t won for a while but has spent a good chunk of his prep racing in tougher Group 3 contests.
The Hayes-trained gelding was fast into stride a few weeks ago in the Carlyon Stakes, plugging away up on the speed where he was ultimately no match for Cavalry Girl, beaten 2.5 lengths.
Keep in mind he was competing on a Heavy 8 that day, so coming back in grade should help this time around. Blake Shinn sticks and he’ll be just as hard to catch in the late stages.
| 1. Beast Mode (7) J: Blake Shinn 61kg x2034T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run 4th of 8 in the G3 Carlyon Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1000m, on heavy track; 2.5 len behind Cavalry Girl carrying 57kg at $6. The race before that set the pace for much of the race 3rd of 10 in a Bm88 at Randwick on August 8 over 1000m, 1.2 len behind Prima Bella with 61kg at $5.50. Back in grade, best sees him hard to catch. | |||
CRUISERWEIGHT (3) didn’t make the cut last week at Caulfield as one of the emergencies, but there’s no doubt he’ll be hard to beat on Saturday with close to six weeks between runs since his last assignment.
This talented four-year-old trained by the Hayes boys saw his unbeaten run end at Caulfieldwhen he went down as the favourite, overracing early and never really adjusting to a tempo that didn’t suit.
To his credit, he plugged on fairly to finish fourth, but after being caught wide early without cover and forced to settle closer to the speed, this looks like a much more winnable assignment fourth-up with an encouraging jump out win between runs.
| 3. Cruiserweight (1) J: Ethan Brown 60kg 1×114T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Form hard to fault. Comes here off a 42-day let-up. Most recently raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 11 in a 3yo Hcp at Caulfield on July 25 over 1400m, slow going 2.5 len behind Lauberhorn with 58.5kg at $1.80. The start before that favourite; settled well back; won by 1.0 len at Caulfield on July 11 over 1400m on a rain affected track defeating Celtics carrying 54kg at $3. Back in trip perhaps not ideal but will give a huge sight. | |||
PORTINATI (10) should have some fans after running on late for fourth in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes a fortnight ago at Caulfield.
She was a long way back at the turn angling out wide, running on well to close the gap over the late stages after she was shifted off her line briefly at the 250m mark.
Stripping fitter now with three runs under her belt and a nice soft gate offering her every opportunity to find cover this time, she should be suited getting out over 1300m for the first time.
| 10. Portinari (4) J: Blake Shinn 56kg 9×824T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Recent form sound. Last start 4th of 16 in the G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield on August 15 over 1100m, slow going 5.5 len behind Natural Fling carrying 56kg at $9. Before that made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 10 in a 2yo F Hcp at Caulfield on July 11 over 1100m, slow going 0.8 len behind Angels Fury carrying 56kg at $4.20. Sets up nicely here and can improve. | |||
BLIND RAISE (3) returns to the races for the Busuttin and Young Team hoping to replicate his debut win at this trace in early April.
The son to Ace High put the writing on the wall with a tidy two-length win, going on to claim the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington by the same margin a few weeks later.
He was out of his depth in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce at Eagle Farm last time out where he was up on the speed early and seen weakening badly after overcoming a wide gate.
Whether 1300m is a little on the short side for him fresh is a fair question, but the gate and Shinn are two big factors working in his favour.
| 3. Blind Raise (4) J: Blake Shinn 57.5kg 119xT: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Resuming after a three-and-a-half months break. Finished off last preparation ninth of 16 at Eagle Farm in the G2 Sires Prod May 30 over 1400m, soft track; 4 len behind Berzelius with 57kg at $4. At his first start won by 2.25 len Sandown-Lakeside 2yo Hcp April 6 over 1400m defeating Harry Met Sally with 56.5kg at $3.20. Looked very good early and sets up nicely with Shinn on. | |||
EVAPORATE (2) was entitled to run third in the PB Lawrence Stakes a few weeks ago, given he was forced to round up the field early from the wide gate in order to find the front.
The son to Per Incanto ran out of petrol tickets when it mattered, beaten 1.5 lengths by Cosmic Crusader, who has since gone on to run third in last week’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes.
Fitter now second-up and well-suited over a slightly longer trip, he’ll be very hard to beat with a much better gate to his name.
| 2. Evaporate (6) J: Blake Shinn 58.5kg 299×3T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months led but faded 3rd of 11 in the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on August 15 over 1400m, slow going 1.5 len behind Cosmic Crusader with 59kg at $5. Previously second-up 2nd of 9 in a G1 The All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 7 over 1600m, long-neck behind Tom Kitten with 59kg at $12. | |||
GIGA KICK (1) is the pick on sheer class and ability.
We haven’t seen him since the All Aged Stakes during the autumn when he was beaten just over four lengths, a race that never really went to plan after settling a long way back from the speed and failing to run on.
Form around the winner Beiwacht really stands out on the resume though, and although it’s going on close to a year since his last win, he did go within half a length of Joliestar when second in the TJ Smith Stakes the start prior.
Off two good jump outs leading in, he maps to settle in the back half of the field and save his best for the finish.
| 1. Giga Kick (9) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 5420xT: Clayton Douglas | |||
| Gelding returning from a spell and has won previously when first up. Finished off last preparation tenth of 13 at Randwick in the G1 All Aged April 18 over 1400m, 4 len behind Beiwacht with 59kg at $9. When resuming last campaign fifth of 8 at Flemington in the G1 Lightning February 14 over 1000m, 2 len behind Tentyris carrying 58.5kg at $3.50. | |||
WARNIE (3) is very dangerous I feel coming off a massive first-up effort behind Shadhavar in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulifled.
Ciaron Maher’s gelding was away cleanly and settled dead last in running, eventually working his way to the outside down the straight where he was seen quickening well to finish 1.5 lengths fourth.
The son to Highland Reel ate in the margin over the final 50m and has a likable second-up record to his name. It’s been a while since he tasted a win, but the extra distance, plus Mark Zahra’s experience in the saddle, only strengthen his claims.
| 3. Warnie (8) J: Mark Zahra 58kg 308×4T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second run back. First-up after two months ran on strongly from last on the turn; 4th of 11 in the LR Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield on August 15 over 1200m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Shadhavar with 59.5kg at $12. Previously second-up 11th of 15 in the G1 Doomben 10,000 on May 16 over 1200m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind Rothfire with 58.5kg at $11. | |||
MR VERSE (13) is third-up and ready to peak now out over the mile.
It’s been just over 12 months since he won a race and he does have a tendency to mix his form, but his latest effort at Rosehill was good without winning, working home strongly from the tail to finish 1.5 lengths off.
He’s been dealt another slightly wide gate, but down at the weights with Craig Williams booked to ride, it should offer him every chance to switch off early in the hopes of saving his very best for the finish.
| 13. Mr Verse (8) J: Craig Williams 57kg 65×45T: Dan Meagher | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 4th of 14 in a Bm88 at Flemington on July 18 over 1200m, slow going 0.6 len behind Piastri carrying 55kg at $14. Second run from a spell 5th of 13 in a Cg&E Bm78 at Rosehill on August 15 over 1400m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Barbaric Lad carrying 60kg at $4.40. | |||
