Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, August 12th.
Midweek metro racing heads to the Hillside course at Sandown in Melbourne this Wednesday, with eight races on the card. The track is currently rated a Soft 6 with the rail in the 2m position.
Trent Crebbin has assessed every race of the day below!
Sandown Hillside Racing Tips: Wednesday, August 12th
Best Bet: Race 5 - (5) Rich Hips
Best Value: Race 4 - (14) Wairere Falls
Probably the race of the day for the 3yo’s. A few of these raced over 1000m at The Valley 10 days ago. (1) Diesel ‘n’ Dust ran 2nd in the colts & gelding’s race, which was run marginally slower than the fillies, where (6) Peggy Selene started favourite, led for most of the race before pulling up with a slow recovery and running a narrow 6th. Coming home strongly to run 2nd there was (4) Wide Awake, who did start $31. I can’t have Wide Awake at double Peggy Selene’s price considering how little there was between them last start with a 10x price differential. Whilst the boys’ race was a touch slower overall, Diesel ‘n’ Dust did come home 0.4 seconds faster for the last 400m than Wide Awake. The start before, Diesel ‘n’ Dust bolted in eased down when ridden midfield, and from the wide barrier in the small field I wouldn’t be surprised to see Olly have last shot at them. (5) Cut It Out will be one of the pace influences first up and won first up over 1000m last time in. (2) Royal Exit also led all the way to win on debut on a heavy track, which may not have been to her liking. The pace should be more than genuine here with three speedsters and I think Diesel ‘n’ Dust can sit off and pounce late.
(1) Diesel 'n' Dust
$4.60
Going to take on the favourite (8) Reard, purely because of the map. Last start Billy Egan was on from a wide barrier and snicked the horse to last, running on well for 4th. If he does that again over the 1000m some of these could be off and gone, but with a cart into the race he can obviously win. I’m pretty happy to be with (2) Sham I Am who returns from a let up. The horse races very well fresh and has a win and two thirds from 3 attempts at the 1000m. A genuine soft track is a bit unknown, but he draws nicely to find the front fairly easily, with only a couple of go forward types here. Hopefully Daniel Moor is aggressive early, gets the lead and runs them off their feet. (4) He Can Star started $3.60 against Reard two back and ran 4th. He’s racing very well and gets a 3kg claim. (9) China Affair next best who loves the 1000m and draws nicely.
I have to be against (5) Cracksman here. He has a great SP profile which is keeping him as favourite, but he steps up in grade and struggles to win. I was keen on (2) Light Pillar at double figures last start, he was heavily backed and ran Converging to a half-length 2nd. He should only be fitter 4th up but does go John Allen to Laura Lafferty which is a huge negative. (4) Protection Money ran 2nd to the handy Blandford Lad last start, with (3) Meteor Light leading in the inferior ground and fading, subsequently pulling up lame. Meteor Light did start less than half the price of Protection Money and is closer to double his price here. Last start Meteor Light ran well on a good track, and a return to a softer surface is definitely in his favour. (7) Grey Khan was no match for the odds on Tigre Royale last start after leading but a soft track is a concern. He does get in light and if it’s not too wet I’ll be saving on him carrying just 54kg.
Very interesting runner in the form of (8) Magnolia Man who has had three career starts, all in New Zealand and won two. Based on his jumpouts he’ll go back from the wide barrier but does look to have a fair bit of talent. Going to take him on here but he could also come out and win by 3 from last. (3) Scorpius has been racing in stronger company, racing on pace from wide barriers at his last two behind Mystery Shot. His 3rd beaten 2.2L as a $5 chance probably wins this, but he was poor last start. Draws wide again here but if he gets across and is back to his best, he’ll go very close. (14) Wairere Falls gets another chance with me. His win first up over Toyetic was outstanding before failing on paper last start at this T/D, running 8th but only beaten 1.85L. That race has turned out to be a very strong form line however. 4th placed Dirty Deeds would’ve won at Bendigo if it didn’t settle last as the $2 favourite. 5th placed Just Folk led all the way at Bendigo, Lord Markel and Antagoniser both raced at Flemington (with the latter running an excellent 2nd). The 6th, 7th and even the last placed horse won their next starts from that race. At the double figures available I’m very happy to be with Wairere Falls again. (10) Swing And Boom took on some strong races last preparation and did win first up last time in. I think Wairere Falls is enormous value here and will also be having something on Scorpius.
Also backing: (3) Scorpius $8.00
Good little race with three main chances. (5) Rich Hips is in great form, winning easily first up over 1300m at the Lakeside, before coming from last to run a narrow 2nd to Chassis in a strong mare’s race. Olly retains the ride, she should be able to sit midfield or worse and be far too strong late. (3) Thousand Wishes is first up for Lane/O’Brien and draws barrier 2 which should mean an easy lead or on pace run. She’s never won first up but hasn’t been far off and was very consistent last preparation. She might be a touch vulnerable late if there’s pressure, but on paper she does seem to get a comfortable run. (7) Shandy went back from a wide gate first up and stormed home to win well and I’d expect her to be ridden on speed from barrier 4 as she has in the past. Rich Hips does look very hard to beat here and I wouldn’t be shocked if she started in the red.
It was a typical Waller set up for (11) Blondeau, who was snicked from a wide barrier first up before drawing better 2nd up, settling closer and winning. That wasn’t the strongest maiden at Geelong but obviously his 2yo stakes form behind Farnan and King’s Legacy is very strong. (5) Kamien started a drifting $2.70 chance in a strong race behind Howlowcanyougo and Global Gift, who came out and bolted in at Bendigo. He did pull up with a lacerated heel there, so read into that what you will. Running 3rd in that race at $5 was (2) Blinder who ran the best sectionals of the race, including the fastest last 200m of the day. Goes Regan Bayliss to Dwayne Dunn here which is a positive, especially for this type of horse. Last preparation Blinder did run 3rd to Star Missile and Harbour Views, so he’s definitely good enough and goes on top here. (10) In Good Health was good first up down the straight at her first start for the Moody camp. She’ll get back but off that run and some of her Sydney form she’s definitely a chance.
Value: (10) In Good Health $13
Three of the main chances come out of a 1600m Sale race won by (3) Ocean Miss who sat outside the leader, took over and held on. Just over a length away was (4) Approach Discreet, who settled last in a sit/sprint and ran home in the fastest 800m and 200m of the race. Approach Discreet gets a 2kg weight swing off Ocean Miss, gets the services of Olly and did have the SP over her last start. If he can settle off midfield rather than last, especially with more pressure on paper for Ocean Miss I think he can turn the tables. (1) Quality Approach was a close 5th in that race as a $13 chance but I’m not sure he can turn the tables on Approach Discreet who had more work to do and still finished better. I can’t have (5) Jenkins anywhere near the two favourites. The horse finally got it’s 3rd career win last start, breaking a long run of outs in a BM58 at Swan Hill. Put any of those horses in this race and they’d be $50 chances at best.
(4) Approach Discreet
$4.40
Tough one to finish. I’ve got no doubt that (4) Mrs Beckham is the best horse in the race, but not over 1000m. Her jumpouts were very good, but she’s a 1400m horse and draws wide here. I doubt she has the speed to settle on pace over 1000m from out there, so they probably go back or get caught wide. I’d be inclined to lay her and look for her 2nd or 3rd up over a bit further. I see no reason why (5) Salty Kisses can’t win again. All four runs this preparation have been very good, culminating in a good win last start over 1000m at Cranbourne. The two starts before that were at this T/D in better credentialed races and she looks overs at the $17 available with Bet365. (7) High Risk has run at this T/D in her last two and been close up in both, the first behind a couple of Saturday class mares, and the latest a good 2nd on speed when bloused late by a swooper. Not sure how the inside will be by the last race because she was probably in the inferior going last start and draws barrier 2 here. (3) Exquisite Beauty is first up and has won fresh before. She’s also won twice at the 1000m which I think is very important for an 1000m race. She took on some handy races last preparation and should be thereabouts. Definitely backing Salty Kisses, especially if they’re coming wide by now and also having something on High Risk.
Also backing: (7) High Risk $7.50
