Sandown R2 #3 Royal Fox $3.90 at PlayUp – Keen to take on the well-bred favourite here, and am therefore siding with Royal Fox over this 1400m trip. He comes here third up into his career, off two very solid and encouraging performances so far. He was well backed at long odds on debut at Terang and had absolutely no luck in the straight after settling towards the rear. He was badly held up until the final 100m when he got clear and flew home. Similar story last start during the ‘Bool carnival, where he made up great ground against an intense on-pace bias. Third up now, out to 1400m a big tick, and the Hillside track will suit his get back run on style.
Sandown R6 #16 Maybe The Best $1.95 at PlayUp – Getting a good price about what looks like a serious group-level horse in the making from the Freedman camp. She came out on debut at Echuca as a $1.50 favourite and blew them out of the water, running the fastest last 400m & 200m of the entire meeting to win, and looked to do it with something up her sleeve as well. Now second up to 1300m, she is very well drawn and acquires the services of M Zahra to pilot her. The debut rating figure she recorded is already higher than most horses in this race, and at worst is equal with the career-highest rating of a few others in this race. She clearly has scope for improvement second up, which means she should be far better than these again.
Sandown R7 #9 Bermadez $3.30 at PlayUp – Love the way this unbeaten Tavistock gelding has won his two races to date, which included a domination job on debut at Geelong last year, before returning at Pakenham a few weeks back and coming from stone-motherless last to get up and score over the 1400m. It was a huge effort that day, clearly laking some race fitness, but proved he is a winner. Second up into the prep now and will have come on from that fresh win, he sticks to 1400m and will really appreciate the long Sandown straight. He drops a kilo in weight for this harder event, and will likely be last (or near enough) again from the wide draw. But with a strong rider on, he has the ratings to be very competitive here and can see him flying home again.
Warwick Farm R6 #5 Bethencourt $2.40 at PlayUp – Third up here into the prep, coming off two strong runs so far including a 3rd on the Kenos track the last start as a favourite. It was a moral beaten that day, after settling on the fence behind the leader was left with absolutely no room in the straight. With clear running, it wins easily and would’ve been pulling away from them too. Third up now at the peak, and gets to a wider track with a more favourable wide draw. Holds weight from the last start, and also gets a weight swing on the previous winner who comes up 2kg as the cherry on top. J Mac will be keen to atone, and it looks like the winner here.
Warwick Farm R7 #6 Reinvest $3.50 at PlayUp – First up here for this talented gelding for Waterhouse/Bott, who in only three career starts has recording two wins and a second placing at Randwick to Stockman, who is a Saturday open-class horse. He resumes here off two trials, both of which have been over the longer trips to ensure he will be fit on race day. Although all wins last prep came on wet going, his trial on a good 4 at Randwick proved he is adept in any conditions, and will of course settle in a handy position in running to give him every chance. A proven first-up winner, who just looks way over the odds in this midweek bm70.
