Midweek racing from Sandown Hillside and Warwick Farm as The Wizard of Odds previews the competitive cards on both programs.
A good each-way bet comes up in the seventh at Sandown and Warwick Farm represents itself with a great opportunity in race six.
Sandown HIllside Race 2
#5 Back In The Day
Going with the fit, raced horse in this event.
Back In The Day has had two nice runs to date in her career thus far to suggest she is up to a midweek metropolitan event.
Her effort at Pakenham when rising up to the 1400 metres was solid.
She ran second by just under two lengths to a potentially smart horse called Next Step Berrima who since come out and won easily at Sale.
The three-year-old filly trained by Colin Little looks set to peak today and a fitness base with a 1400-metre under her belt should be the competitive edge she needs to break through for a maiden victory.
Suggested Bet: Back In The Day each-way at $6.5 the win and $1.95 the place
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 3, 5/ 3, 5, 8/ 3, 5, 8
Sandown Race 4
#11 Crestani
This race should set up nicely for the swoopers with a fair bit of pace engaged in this 1000-metre BM-64 handicap.
Crestani comes into this race off an 11-week let-up following a 10th placed finish at Sandown Lakeside over 1400 metres in BM-70 level.
The sharp drop back in distance looks as though it will suit this three-year-old gelding well given the predicted hot early tempo.
Patrick Moloney will flop him out the back from a wide barrier and then hopefully come up the middle with a booming run right over the top of the tiring leaders.
Suggested Bet: Crestani each-way at $7.5 the win and $2.6 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 11
Sandown Race 5
#3 Laundy
Get the feeling Laundy is going to use his gate speed to take up the lead with the apprentice on board today.
Lachlan Neindorf takes the ride on this Trent Bussutin and Natalie Young-trained gelding after an honourable run at Morphettville.
He was sent as a $2 favourite but could only managed to run fourth after a race that did not set up very well.
Today, from the low draw and the rise to 2400 metres, it should see him settle in or outside the lead.
Expecting a much improved performance and he should be winning this if he can land in the lead.
Suggested bet: Laundy win at $4.4
Warwick Farm race 4
#6 remlaps gem
A big jockey change for this short-course sprinter should spell a return to winning ways.
Hugh Bowman hops aboard this Scott Singleton-trained four-year-old gelding which should improve this horse the extra length or two he needs to win a race like this.
Copped a heavy track and drew an inside barrier at Warwick Farm last start which hindered his chances whereas today he gets the wide barrier to be out of trouble and a drying track.
Definitely one of the better bets on the program.
Suggested Bet: Remlaps Gem win at $3.6
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 4, 5, 6
Warwick Farm race 6
#5 bethencourt
Bethencourt is bashing down the door for victory after a flashing light run at Randwick-Kensington last start.
He leapt up in distance from a first-up effort over 1250 metres to a second-up run over 1550 metres at Randwick-Kensington and acquitted himself well.
After finding a nice spot in the run last start, he plugged away well to run third beaten just under a length.
That type of race probably just saw him peak on his run in the last 50 or so metres.
Now, he is poised to run somewhere near his best and James McDonald is in fine riding form after taking out the Queensland Derby on the weekend.
Expect McDonald to push forward on this favourite, find a spot with some cover and prove too good in the concluding stages.
Best of the day at Warwick Farm.
Suggested bet: Bethencourt win at $2.25
