We have to wait until Race 7 for the best on the card, but it should worth it for this three-year-old filly who is ready to fire first up.
All the best bets and tips from the eight-race card at Sandown.
sandown race 1
#3 lalaguna
Went like a rocket at her third career jump out when the blinkers got applied for the first time.
Her 800-metre effort at Cranbourne on February was very quiet, but she exploded when the shades went on.
She strode away to win her jump out with ease and was barely asked for an effort as she strode out beautifully past the finish post.
This three-year-old filly looks a really zippy type of galloper and the 1000 metres on debut should suit her perfectly.
Jamie Kah returns to Melbourne for this ride and will be wanting to continue with her supreme form shown in Adelaide after riding winners on their Cup day.
Suggested Bet: Lalaguna win at $2.60
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 3 & 7
sandown race 5
#9 anchorman
Anchorman was outclassed in his effort over BM-70 grade when starting a $201 shot, but he did race much better than the market expected him to.
He finished sixth out of 10 in a pretty astutely-rated race for that grade and he now drops down to a much more suitable BM-64 grade 1800-metre event.
Two starts ago he arguably would have won his race in BM-58 level when start a $3 elect, but he copped laceration and pulled up sharply.
He will be fully fit now and will get a nice run from barrier four.
He is clearly thriving with his racing given Brian McGrath has opted to back him up only a week after his last run.
Suggested Bet: Anchorman each-way $12 the win and $3.10 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 2, 7, 9
sandown race 7
#1 point nepean
The clear class horse in this staying event and Alana Kelly helps his cause with a nice 2kg claim.
He will only have to carry 59kgs for the step down from BM-70 level to BM-64 grade and looks the likely leader of the race.
These connections must always be respected in these types of races.
He might be first-up over 2400 metres, but Robert Hickmott and the Williams racing family will no doubt have used their great facilities to get this horse race fit.
In a race that looks void of any early speed, Kelly can take the initiative from the alley and make bound towards the front to gain an advantage of the field.
Suggested Bet: Point Nepean each-way at $6.5 the win and $2.35 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 4, 5, 11
sandown race 8
#4 head first
A three-year-old filly by Headwater, Head First had bundles of early speed and a stellar turn of foot.
She showed her talent on debut when mustering up from an inside barrier over 1100 metres at Wodonga on a heavy eight, leading the field a merry dance and booting clear to win by nearly six lengths.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. opted to put her away for a spell immediately after that run and she seems to have come back a more furnished horse.
Her two jump outs have been super sharp and Patrick Moloney should be able to probe through on the rail, hold the lead and try to boot clear from the field.
Suggested Bet: Head First win at $4
