SANDOWN Lakeside Wednesday February 7, 2018
Going to be a hot twilight in Melbourne with temperatures to get into the mid 30’s. Haven’t raced on the lakeside since Jan 3 and the rail is out 3m (it was true that day). Terrific mid-week card, plenty of depth and form from this will stack up on some Saturdays over the Festival of Racing this late summer/autumn.
BEST BET: Race 5 #7 FREEHEARTED
BEST PLACE: Race 3 #3 AMBITIOUS GEM
Race 1: 4-5-9-1
Good and deep maiden. MASUTA was well fancied on debut at Caulfield and only just failed to get the job done, the 3rd horses there (Spirt Of Aquada since won). OVER AND ABOVE was also favorite on debut at Ballarat, juts missed out and there was a gap to 3rd. Has pace and may be better suited 1200m. Key query in RUCHLA (welcome back John Sadler), with horse who was $21 into $17 and ran into Aloisa/Salsamor on debut at Flemington and didn’t have much luck – had knee op since. SNIPES (ex Bjorn Baker) hasn’t been seen since Gosford/Wyong placings late 2016 and has had a throat operation in meantime. Have to respect Weir 1st starter AQUASTAR – not a norm to run them in city maiden’s on debut.
SUGGESTED: Keen on MASUTA but form from this should be followable.
Race 2: 14-6-4–10
Have to respect SEMARI who was put away after big finish Ballarat 1400m on debut. ICE HUNT likely to run favorite, was good resuming at Ballarat, that was 1200m, so 1400m looks ideal now. CREEDENCE is on debut but trialled at Tatura and good enough off that for Lindsay park to come straight to city and at 1400m. MUJAADIL was good at Ararat, like Weir maideners coming to town off provincial placings.
SUGGESTED: SEMARI on top but open race.
Race 3: 3-2-14-8
Wow – 5 last start winners and others with ability to sort through here. TWILIGHT SONG was a $7 chance when despite racing a little greenly beat Masuta (r1) on debut. AMBITIOUS GEM seems overs off good Benalla win on debut. ZELSIGNORET is back from 1400m and better placed for mine. Stablemate EGYPTIAN GOLD was put away after Stawell maiden win. PLATINUM ANGEL (and others) have competitive claims.
SUGGESTED: Having something on AMBITIOUS GEM at the odds ($19).
Race 4: 10-11-8-12
GRETZKY drops back from 2000m and a Saturday Flemington BM70 to a mid-week 1600m BM64. Beat Hermanito (a winner last Wednesday) before trying to make all the running at Flemington. A number of go forward runners here so Dunn to get tactics right the key. It was hard to miss the luckless run of NEAR QUEUE at Caulfield in a BM70 and Williams stays with it (was unlucky previous as well – but that’s its racing pattern working against it). MONTEVIDEO has more upside than many of these after on-pace Kilmore maiden win and extra trip be no issue. FOXLAGO is also lightly raced – takes on the boys here – but likely to get good run as steps out to 1600m.
SUGGESTED: GRETZKY top pick but respecting lightly raced 8/12.
Race 5: 7-3-10-2
Weir here with FREEHEARTED looks the winner to me. Won a BM64 at the last Lakeside meeting beating Our Chiquilla who has run well since. Then just missed out in Adelaide – good enough form for this. CASQUE has to prove itself at 1200m but was sound at Sale 1100m dominating from the front. PATIENT walked in at Mornington also dominating from the front and should bounce into prominent position from 2 here. MAKATITI is best horse in race but both wins have been 1400m. Still respecting though.
SUGGESTED: Very keen FREEHEARTED.
Race 6: 8-4-9-6
AMENDMENT had no luck – or beat itself to some extent at Geelong. Gets to this trip (2100m) for first time at just 3rd run in and like the odds on offer. CHARLTON gave away a start at 1600m Ballarat – another who goes to 2100m and looks suited by it. MANNING ROAD on the other hand likes to roll along on pace and will make its own luck. SAVVY DRESSER comes off a plain but excusable Caulfield run. Can certainly bounce back here.
SUGGESTED: have something at the odds on AMENDMENT.
Race 7: 2-5-11-1
Ok, tipping CALL ME HANDSOME who finally got a deserved Victorian win at Sale and using it’s fitness and tactical edge as the reason for going that way over a race where Weir has the queries on many fronts from Sandown Guineas runner-up PEACEFUL STATE and import ROSTAM (whose only win has been 1600m). CRITICAL THINKING did things wrong but still won over 1200m resuming at Ballarat. Certainly the 1300m now is a better option. Not dismissing BOORADLEY/SANDHURST DELIGHT/PITTSBURGH but this is a terrific mid-week race.
SUGGESTED: Stick with CALL ME HANDSOME but take plenty of post-race notes.
Race 8: 5-2-9-8
Williams goes on DUECOURSE who graduated from a Bool maiden win to a Terang BM64, winning by a margin that impressed. Drawn to get good run. The Weir paid LIPSTICK LOVER (had one run back and ready for 1400m) and BELLARIA (racing well but got it wrong Caulfield last time) are key dangers. Overs is ELLE O’LOVE who led at big odds at Bendigo then bungled start and got back Ballarat and hence excusable.
SUGGESTED: DUECOURSE to keep winning.
QUADDIE:
7
1-3-4-5-6-8-9
1-2-5-9-10-11
2-5-9
$63 for 50%