Betsy’s Set: Sandown

Best Bets

Turf Talk

• Racing is on the outer Hillside track.
• Beautiful 490m long home straight generally gives all horses their chance.
• Rail back to true – think on speed may have some edge, especially with wind at their back down back straight.

Race 1

Not a lot of speed on paper. Suspect (3) Jawsome Rob leads from (9) Let It Beel and (8) Crusader Voyage. Good, long run into the home bend for the field to find its order, so doubt it’s a manic tempo.

Limited hopes here.

(6) Enchanted Jenni should get a nice run, just behind the speed. This mare has found her way to Lucy Yeomans’ stables since she was last seen at the races and I suspect she will be keen to post her first winner as a trainer. Partner Blake Shinn has been booked to ride – which is a plus. This mare brings as good ratings as anything into the race but the kicker is her trial between runs, which was outstanding. She isn’t favourite – I think she should be.

The best roughie in the race is Jawsome Rob. He’s a hulking figure who will only get better with racing, but his on-speed run first up off a long spell at Bendigo was super. He finished third there, the second horse has since won the Derby Trial at Flemington, and his trials leading in suggest the performance was no fluke. The biggest plus for his chances is the map: he should get a soft time in front.

Race favourite, Crusader Voyage, was good chasing Regal Spirit first up at this track. The little knock I have with him is he could get a bit keen last campaign, so with a more sedate tempo here could he get pulling? He’s got a great hope, but is a bit tight in early markets, for mine.

Selections:
(6) Enchanted Jenni
(3) Jawsome Rob
(8) Crusader Voyage
(9) Let It Beel

Betting suggestion: Backing (6) Enchanted Jenni and (3) Jawsome Rob.

Race 2

Speed likely from (4) Fastobullet. Unless something races outside of its pattern to date, can’t see there being much speed here.

Two key chances in Fastobullet and (6) Regal Gent.

Fastobullet had little luck on debut before leading them up here at Sandown last time out, sticking on to run well. The key for him here is he maps to get total control of the race.

Been a big fan of Regal Gent off his jump-outs. Tatura wasn’t his track on debut, but he overcame significant traffic issues to hit the line strongly. The 1300m on a spacious Hillside track is right up his alley. The knock is the map – as he’s likely to get back – but his turn-of-foot will stand him in good stead in a slowly run race.

Always have to respect the Begg runners and that’s the case here with (16) Upstage. She hit the line in the best last 600m split of the meeting on debut over 1100m in a race that has already produced subsequent winners. The 1300m looks ideal.

(12) Obucci was well beaten first up at Benalla, but the horse who beat her ran well at Caulfield on Saturday and there was a huge gap back to third. She maps for a nice run.

(11) Miss Revealing has jumped out well. (9) Expanding Power has a chance, but is under the odds as favourite, for mine.

Selections:
(6) Regal Gent
(4) Fastobullet
(16) Upstage
(12) Obucci

Betting suggestion: Small two-bet play: (4) Fastobullet, (6) Regal Gent.

Race 3

Sheesh, this is an open race.

Giving two roughies a chance: (3) Tumbling and (6) Pocket Size.

Tumbling has a ripper fresh record and despite being better known over further than 1000m, his two runs at the trip have been good. He has been given two very quiet trials since joining the Nathan McPherson yard, but watch the 100m past the post in his latest work – it was super. The wide draw suits as he will settle off speed and the gentle 1000m course at Sandown is ideal – it helps horses wanting further get into the race.

Pocket Size is an out-and-out 1000m horse – she’s 8-4-1-1 at the trip. She had little luck first up at the track and trip and her best ratings are superior to her rivals. Ben Melham jumping aboard is only a positive and like the middle pin for her.

(8) Just Like Gaby has jumped out nicely for her return. She has the speed to put herself in the first course here and Tom Stockdale has a good record on her.

Selections:
(3) Tumbling
(6) Pocket Size
(8) Just Like Gaby
(1) Martial Music

Betting suggestion: Backing (3) Tumbling/(6) Pocket Size at big odds.

Race 4

Speed looks OK. (12) She Nailed It, (10) A Diva probably look to lead. (11) Blindedbythelight right there.

Not sure the market is paying enough respect to (9) Macedon Rose. She was very good in her first campaign before it abruptly came to an end in Adelaide. She had zero luck here first up at 1400m, going to the line hard held. The mile suits, wide draw suits. Tempo should be strong enough to bring her into the race.

Think (1) Fearless Writer is the other horse over the odds. Ben Melham jumps back aboard having ridden her a couple of times and she drops sharply in grade here. Drawn for a nice run, the mile is within her capabilities and the blinkers go back on.

Blindedbythelight trialled up nicely at Traralgon before beating a moderate field in fast time at Bendigo. It was a good win, and she’s clearly come on this campaign. Tougher task here and won’t get as soft a run, but progressive and can certainly win – just well enough found.

The mile fresh suits (4) Jealous who is having her first start for Mark Walker. She has been quite dour in her trials, but you’d expect that from a stayer. Has a touch of class and like C Williams riding.

Selections:
(9) Macedon Rose
(1) Fearless Writer
(11) Blindedbythelight
(4) Jealous

Betting suggestion: Something small at odds on (1) Fearless Writer and (9) Macedon Rose.

Race 5

Good speed. (4) Ritzytwenties, (9) His Finest Hour, (5) Shiny New Deel lead. They should set a strong tempo.

Hateful race, this.

Shiny New Deel took off early last time out and stuck on strongly, although it was a race dominated on speed. Like Shinn taking the sit again tomorrow having had a ride on him and suspect getting back to 1800m here they will be positive from the get-go. He’s down in grade here and meets a bunch of horses probably wanting further.

The toppy, (1) Move On In has trialled up well ahead of his second campaign on Australian shores. Wants further in time, but should be sharp enough to run well fresh.

Selections:
(5) Shiny New Deel
(1) Move On In
(3) Dashwood
(4) Ritzytwenties

Betting suggestion: Pass.

Race 6

Another really tough race.

Liked the return of (10) Chewing Gum who was narrowly beaten by track specialist Harmonett at Mornington. She’s a mare that likes getting cover down near the rail and she can quicken on a dime, so think gate one is a plus. She showed heaps of potential early doors – so the talent is there – and Ethan Brown sticks.

(4) Nepravda has had five weeks between runs but went to the jump-outs to keep her up to the mark – she can roll forward and make her own luck.

(16) Blue Hawaiian is another who pushes forward and will be in this a long way.

Race doesn’t end there.

Selections:
(10) Chewing Gum
(4) Nepravda
(16) Blue Hawaiian
(14) Sky Sista

Betting suggestion: Could have something small Chewing Gum

Race 7

(5) Thebelmontgangster raced a little keen at a mile in Ireland, so I quite like him here at 1300m fresh. His win prior to coming over to Australia was strong, winning by a space and really spreading the field. The time was also quicker than the other mile race on the card. His two jump-outs this time in have been super and from the soft draw I don’t think he’s going to be too far away from them – $8 appeals greatly.

(10) Observer created a big impression when bolting in at his second start here on the Lakeside course. He beat a very weak field that day, but the time was strong. He then knocked up in a 2YO race at Flemington as a $1.90 fave. Jump-outs this time in have been strong, but just not sure how good that 2YO form will prove vs the older horses and at the price, I have to be against him. He can win, but think he’s unders.

Loved how (9) Vellasmachine trialled leading into this. He did a mighty job for Paul Koumis last campaign and looks to have come back in great order.

Selections:
(5) Thebelmontgangster
(10) Observer
(9) Vellasmachine
(2) Regal Might

Betting suggestion: Think (5) Thebelmontgangster E/W is the best bet of the day.

Race 8

Long time since (5) Overactive has won but he was super last time out dropping back to this BM66 grade in a high-rating race and this is a suitable race for him. The knock is the price, I can’t get him as short as the market.

(6) Shaalute has been excellent on synthetic tracks and if he can bring that form back to turf he will be right in the finish. Maps for a perfect run and Rose Hammond is two from two on him.

(8) Keane Enuff is suited back to 66 grade having tackled two stronger contests his last two. He likes high pressure races and provided he can run on will be strong late.

The race certainly doesn’t end there.

Selections:
(6) Shaalute
(5) Overactive
(8) Keane Enuff
(2) Masterful

Betting suggestion: Happy to see how the track is playing first.