Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, July 22nd.
Trent Crebbin takes a look at another solid midweek program on the Hillside track this Wednesday, where the track is rated a Soft 7 with the rail out 12m.
Find his preview and betting tips below!
Sandown Hillside Racing Tips: Wednesday, July 22nd
Best Bet: Race 5 - (2) Meteor Light
Best Value: Race 3 - (9) High Risk
Tricky race to kick us off. There’s not much between (1) Mccain and (7) Melba Storm from their clash at Echuca. The former won and ran better sectionals, but the latter had the SP, was only on debut, and gets 3kg off the winner. Those factors sway me the way of Melba Storm. (3) Frankie Two Angels ran okay in a stakes race at The Valley on debut. Now with Dennis Pagan, he won a recent jumpout and could settle closer than he did on debut from barrier 2. (4) Reuber could be the one at a price. This gelding ran the fastest last 800, 600 and 200m of the race at Moe on debut. The winner of that race ran a very narrow 2nd in a good race at Caulfield two weeks ago.
(3) Hydro Star has attracted all the early support off some good jump outs. Draws wide here but should get every chance in the field of 8. (4) Miss Bosetti maps for a suck run, similar to the one she got when knocking off Euphoric Summer at Mornington two back. She’s racing very well and has the runs on the board but could potentially be a bit exposed now and might have reached her level. The debut win of (5) Piscatorial was very good, coming wide in the straight and running the fastest sectionals of the day. The 2nd horse there, Awkward, should’ve gone close to winning a good maiden at Geelong last start. Both (1) Aquagirl and (2) Diamondesque ran well in some lower stakes races in the Summer. They finished alongside each other and started nearly the same price before a spell. I think you might get a better price about Piscatorial because of the trainer jockey combination, along with her SP on debut so I’ll have her on top but playing late.
Handy race but very open at around $5 the field. I think the hardest to beat and horse I’d probably mark equal favourite is (7) Beauty Betty. It would’ve been a sick beat if she’d lost at Ballarat after being held up nearly all of the straight, fortunately getting a gap late and getting up. She then went to Wangaratta and ran 2nd to subsequent Creswick stakes winner Front Page, beaten 1.3L. She draws wide here but with a bit of luck will be in the finish. The one I’m interested in at double figures is (9) High Risk. The form out of her maiden win when sitting outside the lead has been solid, with the 2nd horse running placings behind some good ones. High Risk then raced at this track and distance and went back from a wide barrier, running the fastest last 400m of a good 3yo race. From barrier 2 here she can be just off the pace and with a bit of luck in the straight can definitely win. (1) Hard Press won at this track and distance when first up last time in, then started $5 and failed in a good race at Caulfield. Has to carry 61kg from a wide gate which will be tough. (6) Shevrolet worked hard on debut but kept fighting to win as favourite and is right in the game here. If you’re an each way punter I think the $4 for High Risk is a great place bet, otherwise the $14 for the win is a great price.
I was very keen on (9) Wairere Falls last start, who halved in price and was promptly scratched on race day. This is a tougher race, but I still think he’s a good bet. The first up win over Toyetic who duly bolted in 2nd up was very good. He can sit midfield and build momentum into the race with the benefit of race fitness. The clear danger is (6) Frondeur who is first up. This filly bolted in on debut, and again won easily when first up in January. She then went to a group 3 and was only beaten 2.2L by some very handy horses. I don’t love barrier 2 for her in a decent size field, but with some luck she might just be too good. (8) Lord Markel has form around some good ones and ran the fastest sectionals of a race at The Valley when first up, beating home the likes of Librate, Splendoronthegrass and Beehunter. Next best if she gets a run is (14) Plantini who beat a handy one on the synthetic last time. Her debut run behind Microphone was very good. I think one of those 4 will win what is a very strong race but with the race fitness and at the odds I’m happy to stick with Wairere Falls.
I was keen on (2) Meteor Light last start and he led all the way to just scrape in, beating Crimson Ace, who was only 3L away in a much stronger race at Flemington on Saturday. Gets a 3kg claim and draws to find the lead comfortably again, so there’s no reason he can’t win again. Not sure how well (1) Shepard is going. His dominant win over Arty Lucas as favourite would win this, but his last two have been flat out disappointing so I can’t back him at the same price as Meteor Light who is in form. (11) Wristband has some upside and was dominant over the longer trip to break his maiden, but this is a big step up. Not sure the 4kg weight swing will be enough for (10) Monmouth to turn the tables on Meteor Light but he’s consistent. (9) Blandford Lad next best but should be closer to double figures in my opinion.
Incredibly open 1800m contest. Not sure what to make of (3) Tavirun. I liked him at double figures last start, and he sat outside the dominant leader, finishing 2nd on a tough day to lead, with a big gap to 3rd. He had every chance the start before at The Valley after being well backed but his best form would probably win. It was a great ride by Aitken on (4) Heavenly Emperor last start, showing initiative to push forward and win. He hasn’t raced over further than a mile in Australia however, and the one attempt in NZ he was well beaten. (7) Master Shuhood has been building towards a win and did that last start at The Valley. (8) The Black Leopard narrowly beat him home at this track and distance last start. I was happy to take on (11) Triple Strip last start and will happily do so again here. She’s suited up to 1800m 3rd up but looks very short after being beaten a long way last start. I’ll give Tavirun another chance and think the price is fair enough.
Interesting little mares’ race. I really like (11) Desert Realm as a horse. First up she ran 2nd to subsequent Rivette Final winner Cordilla before putting two together. This is a step up for the filly, but I do wish she wasn’t coming back in trip slightly as she looks like more of a middle distance filly rather than a miler. (7) Mrs O’malley swooped with Grand De Flora on the lakeside last start but wasn’t as strong late, running 2nd and clearing out from the leaders. She draws wide here and will get back which makes things tough. (6) So You Swing comes through the Leilani Final on the same day as Cordilla. Interesting to note that Cordilla ran much better sectionals on the day than So You Swing, albeit in a different race shape. I also don’t like barrier one for So You Swing, although the step up to 1600m is ideal. Going to side with the 3yo form in Desert Realm who maps beautifully and gets 6kg off So You Swing.
Impossible 1000m race to finish. The favourite is (8) Elite Legacy who won in this grade last start. He draws wide here and will need to come across and looks very short in an open race. One of the leaders in the race is the resuming (5) Iknewshewasmine from barrier 2. This mare won 4 times and placed twice in 8 starts last preparation, rising through the grades very nicely. She’s 2 from 2 at this track and distance and can win first up. (4) Not Enough Effort raced very wide without cover at Mornington. His close up 4th at Caulfield is good enough for this and Olly replaces the recent apprentices. He’s also 2/2 at the T/D and draws to sit just off the leaders. (11) Zizzis drops back to 1000m which I’m not sure about. She struggled in a 1200m race last start but was good late. Her one go at this T/D was a 2.8L win from last, and she has a great 3rd up record. I don’t love barrier 3 but she flies 3rd up, albeit usually up in trip. With little confidence I’ll put Not Enough Effort on top, mainly because of the jockey booking.
(4) Not Enough Effort
$7.00
