A great day of midweek racing this Wednesday, with two Victorian meetings in Sandown and Moe, racing in NSW from Wyong, plus Oakbank, Townsville, Ascot, as well as Stakes racing in the apple isle in Launceston. Have a look at our expert selections below.
Sandown R1 #4 Cranc $7.00 at PlayUp – Happy enough to speck this Maher/Eustace debutant in the opener at Lakeside, coming here off two trials where the latest one was the most impressive by far. Settling off the speed over the 800m, he was given a nudge to finish off up the inside of runners and picked them up within a blink of an eye. He was quickly put back under a hold through the line, but easily could’ve extended to win by a fair margin if asked. I’m willing to forgive his first jump out this prep, as he seemed to put in an awkward stride halfway through and was subsequently eased out of contention. This looks a solid race, but I feel the main chances in Ord and Johnny Angel are two horses who have seemingly had every chance to win but not been able to convert. The booking of J Allen is strong, and hears hoping they work along at a solid speed.
Sandown R2 #5 Rubiland $8.50 at PlayUp – Think the price of this D Bowman galloper is wrong here, coming off a more than pleasing debut effort behind As I Please at Warrnambool over the 1100m. After settling behind midfield in running, he came on through the line very pleasingly, doing his best work especially inside the final 100m. The winner then came out and won again in Bm64 grade, rating very well in the process. The extra distance out to 1300m here will really help, and from barrier two now with race experience i’m tipping they will be settling much closer in the run. The booking of D Oliver, who doesn’t usually ride for this stable, is a big push, and he looks a great each way bet.
Sandown R6 #2 Faretti $4.20 at PlayUp & #11 It’sourtime $3.90 at PlayUp – Two bet play here in R6, starting with the Gai/Bott trained Faretti who is first up and comes off the back of two seriously impressive jump outs. He ran the quickest time of the morning over 800m in his first jump out by a whole second, with high cruising speed in the lead and urged through the line. D Oliver on is a big push, he has a great fresh record, and if he can work across to lead from the widest draw without much fuss he can be winning… that is a big “if” though. It’sourtime is the main danger, second up and was a great debut winner last start at Sale over 1110m. He got back to last in running and the hot speed in front allowed him to run on very well down the outside to win. He recorded the second fastest last 200m sectional of the entire day, and looks to have a lot of talent. Expect him to get back in running again here, but the pace should be genuine enough again to allow him to run on.
Wyong R4 #9 Sniper Legend $3.10 at PlayUp – On debut here for Matthew Vella, and comes from the ownership of stars such as Classique Legend etc, Bon Ho knows how to purchase a very good horse. His two lead in trials at Rosehill, both over 900m, have been extremely encouraging, The first was behind Ranch Hand and Remarque (who dominated on debut last Saturday and is $11 third fav for the Golden Slipper), where he got back in the field and worked very strongly through the line. He then matched motors with Arthur Francis, who looks an extremely talented horse for J O’Shea. That trial form is clearly superior to anything else in this field, and the fact he has been able to compete nicely with these horses in trials tells me that he is of above average talent. K McEvoy is a big jockey booking (think Classique Legend again), and from barrier 11 expect him to be positive from the barriers and park up on speed in what looks a relatively weak maiden.
