The Spring Carnival wraps up here with a very good card at Sandown, featuring the Zipping Classic, Sandown Guineas and Sandown Cup on a 10 race card. The track is rated as Good but there are showers predicted and I would expect the track to end up in the Soft range.
We have betting tips for all 10 races on the card, including our best bet!
2016 Zipping Classic Day Betting Tips
Race 1 – Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes 1000m
Tough race to start the day with 10 debutantes in the field but leaning towards VINLAND for Tony McEvoy and Kerrin McEvoy. Won his only trial leading into this and the first two put more than 5 lengths on the 3rd horse. McEvoy’s Melbourne horses are generally very competitive. A big danger looks to be KEDLESTON for Tony Vasil. The eye catching booking of Damien Oliver is a big lead and the early money suggests as much.
Tip: Vinland
Race 2 - Yarramalong Racing Club Stakes 1500m
REDKIRK WARRIOR looks close to best bet of the day here. He was our best bet of the day when scratched at the barriers last week and he once again looks hard to beat. At his best he is a Group 1 horse and his first up run suggests he is on the right track. His biggest danger will be stablemate SOVEREIGN NATION who is in good form and needs to win to earn entry into the Group 1 Railway Stakes.
Tip: Redkirk Warrior (best bet)
Race 3 – Ladbrokes Sandown Cup 3200m
Despite having to carry all the weight here it looks tough to beat QEWY in this after his big run in the Melbourne Cup to finish 4th. He is very good at two miles and if he reproduces his Melbourne Cup effort he should be winning this. Biggest danger could be MURPHY’S DELIGHT. Drops to 54kg here and has won over this distance before. DE LITTLE ENGINE has claims too.
Tip: Qewy
Race 4 – OTI Racing Doveton Stakes 1000m
I’ve got this between VEZALAY and O’MALLEY. Vezalay ran well first up before getting caught on the inside of the track last start which was clearly inferior. She can bounce back here at the $7 mark. O’Malley recorded his first win last start since returning from injury. All three runs this prep have been good and he has performed well at this track in the past. Any rain will certainly help him. Leaning to O’Malley but wary of Vezalay. At the odds can back both.
Tip: O’Malley
Race 5 – City of Greater Dandenong Twilight Glow Stakes 1400m
Four main chances here. PROMPT RESPONSE looks very hard to beat if she runs up to her last start when 2nd at Flemington during Cup week. She did a stack of work and still managed to run 2nd – it was a massive effort. Oliver takes over today and with the good draw she should prove hard to beat. PETITION is the one that really interests me, particularly because Kerrin McEvoy sticks with her. McEvoy rode this one last start, but had been on Prompt Response for her last four starts too. Not sure whether Waterhouse went with Oliver or McEvoy chose this horse but it does catch the eye and they both have very similar form lines with narrow losses to Jennifer Lynn. One over the odds is I’LL DECIDE at $26 for Tony McEvoy who won very well on debut in Adelaide and makes the trip across.
Tip: Petition
Race 6 – Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas 1600m
MORTON’S FORK looks one of the better bets of the day here, providing he gets a good ride. He should arguably be undefeated this prep but he’s been unlucky at his past two starts. Last start he shot through last start to run 2nd to what I think is a future Group 1 winner. Barrier 5 should give him every hope today. JENNIFER LYNN is the obvious danger, shooting for her fourth straight win.
Tip: Morton’s Fork
Race 7 – Quayclean Zipping Classic 2400m
Looks a very, very even race and the presence of the three-year-old So Si Bon with the low weight and different form is a bit of an unknown. So Si Bon will like the rain but this is a big test at WFA levelIf Big Orange brought his best form he would win this, but I’m not sure he will like any rain that comes. Almoonqith is around the mark but hasn’t won in a long time. WHO SHOT THEBARMAN is flying and despite the rise in weight and step back in distance I think he’ll go close. BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE is another that could go close after a very good run in the Melbourne Cup. I also think SECRET NUMBER will improve off a disappointing run in the Cup. He led in the Cup and had no hope with the speed, but he did run 2nd to Dandino last year over 2600m so can bounce back at $12. Sticking with the Barman but no confidence.
Tip: Who Shot Thebarman
Race 8 – Kevin Heffernan Stakes 1300m
Tough race. ILLUSTRIOUS LAD is flying and arguably should be undefeated this prep. His win on Derby Day at Flemington was very good over some handy types. The step up to WFA here is a whole different ball game and he has to rise to 59kg but with the form he’s in he might be able to handle that. $4 available and I think he will start shorter than that. FAATINAH is one I think will go well. He’s also racing in very good form and from the draw he will lead easily and take some running down. Super Cash and Under The louvre hold claims too.
Tip: Illustrious Lad
Race 9 – Mypunter.com Eclipse Stakes 1800m
Happy to stick with COOL CHAP here after another good run last start behind The Chairman. Down to 54kg here at his third run back from a spell and from barrier 2 he should get a comfortable run on the speed. TUCANCHOO ran well behind Fabrizio last start who looks a very good horse. Has won at this track before and also comes here third up. The barrier hurts so will need a good ride. DESERT JEUNEY ran well to finish 3rd in the same race and from barrier 3 will get a nice run. He’s the value.
Tip: Cool Chap
Race 10 – Le Pine Funerals Summoned Stakes 1500m
Happy to follow the form from the HKJC Stakes where SHILLELAGH ran 2nd and SILENT SEDITION ran 3rd. Silent Sedition maybe finished off a touch better and has won over 1800m before, but she also got the cosy run last start compared to Shillelagh who drew wide and ended up on the worst part of the track. Hard to split them given they both draw very wide here. Will stick with Shillelagh but Silent Sedition will appreciate the distance. The value could be VITAL IMPORTANCE at $26 who returned with a big win at Sale first up. Beat home Mossbeat who has since come out and won.
Tip: Shillelagh
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
