Racing in Melbourne takes place at Sandown Lakeside this weekend with a 9 race program. The track is currently rated a Good 4 and the rail is in the True position.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below!
Sandown Racing Tips for Saturday, 27th of May
Race 1
Two-year-old race with three first starters here which is never easy. CLIFF'S EDGE can turn the tables on Star Search here with the benefit taken from his debut run. He also gets a 1kg weight swing in his favour. Wouldn't be discounting any of the first starters - LONE EAGLE, ALL TOO POWERFUL and FREEDOM'S LIGHT at big odds. JOSEPHINE SEA was impressive on debut and can measure up. Tough race to kick off.
Tip: Cliff's Edge
Race 2
Not a race I'm overly keen about. RILLITO gets the nod but Godolphin doesn't exactly have an inspiring strike rate in Melbourne so it's hard to be confident. She had two good trials leading into her first up 4th where she was beaten 0.8L. She's since had two more trials and a 52 day break and she tends to race well fresh so that is no concern. She's won twice at the distance and has won second up before so this looks a nice race for her. I think there is value to be found. SULLIVAN BAY is a nice price. She comes back from Adelaide and looks well placed witth the 3kg claim. SOVEREIGN DUKE is racing really well this prep and ran well in this grade two starts ago before bolting in in easier grade last start. THE CARD PLAYERS is a slight query back to 1200m but did beat a good horse in Stormsabrewing last start. STAR STEALER and NIKITAS have to be included.
Tip: Rillito
Race 3
Brierly winner ZED EM can make it four wins in a row here. Back onto a dry track but that won't bother him as he won over a similar distance two starts ago on a Good track at Oakbank. He'll lead and be there for a very long time with leading jumps jockey Steven Pateman in the saddle. NOW AND ZEN got closest to him in the Brierly and has had a flat race in the meantime as well as a jumps trial. Gets a 1.5kg weight swing from the Brierly and will be very competitive. WELLS has all the weight to carry but he's been tuned up for this with three progressive flat runs.
Tip Zed Em
Race 4
RENEW jarred up after his disappointing flat run last start at Flemington but he gets back over the jumps here where he has proved himself to be a rising star. The track will be Good but it won't be as firm as Flemington and he wouldn't be going around if he wasn't sound. The little concern is Weir's Warrnambool winner went backwards last week at Flemington. ARCH FIRE could be the biggest danger.
Tip: Renew
Race 5
GOATHLAND looks the best bet of the day here and I'm happy to jump into the short quote here around $2.45. He always needs his first up run before improving sharply second and third up. That was the case last prep when he was beaten nearly 13L first up before running 2nd at his next run. At his third run last prep he bolted in by over 4L over a similar distance to this. First up this prep he finished 5th, beaten 4.4L over 2000m on a Soft track. He now steps up to 2400m which suits him much better, as does the firmer track. Draws the inside gate and the claim brings him down to 54kg. Very hard to beat here. GREAT GLEN can bounce back after pulling up with poor post-race recovery last start, while there's a big watch on Goathland's stablemate KILMANJARO who is first up for 700 days.
Tip: Goathland (Best Bet)
Race 6
Interestingly Darren Weir suggested Kenjorwood would have been the pick of his runners and that PLEIN CIEL would probably need another run and be better suited next time. Kenjorwood has since been scratched and that's left Plein Ciel the red hot favourite at $2.00. When Weir says they need another run they generally win so I'm not too concerned about that, especially given his good second up record. He was unwanted in betting first up at Warrnambool and ran accordingly to finish 3rd. Back onto a firmer track will certainly help him, as will the step up in trip, and with just 52.5kg on his back he should be too good for this field. JACQUINOT BAY should be hard to beat back in trip, down in grade and with the blinkers back on. Carries 56.6kg, draws well and Williams takes the ride so expect him to run a big race. The value looks to be COLDSTONE who ran well first up and should improve second up here. Draws well and carries just 52kg. $12 available.
Tip: Plein Ciel / Coldstone EW
Race 7
Interesting race. Like the way PEDRENA is going but I'm going to take her on here with a couple at better odds. LEOTIE showed last start that she is edging closer towards her best form and with a 3.5kg weight swing on Pedrena here I think she's well placed to win today. She's drawn well as opposed to Pedrena and Soho Ruby who are both drawn a touch sticky, and the step up to 1600m is probably what she is looking for at this stage. Happy to take $6 to find out. WINDBERN is a horse I've followed for her past couple of starts and she's getting closer to a win. She charged through the line at this track two starts ago to be beaten a length, and it took her a long time to actually wind up that day. Last start she stepped up to the mile and was beaten a nose, and that was after rearing at the start and settling a long way back. The inside draw is a slight concern if she gets well back, but Damien Oliver takes over and she looks ready to win at $7.50.
Tip: Leotie / Windbern EW (Best Value)
Race 8
Pretty keen on ZAMZAM here despite the early betting drift. She was dominant at Flemington last start in this company, where she put the race to bed very quickly. She rises in weight by 1.5kg here but even so she looks weighted well enough to win again here. Will need a decent ride from the sticky gate but I think she's at a nice price now at $4.80. WIDGEE TURF comes up favourite again. He's started $4.60, $2.40, $3.20, $3.60 and $3.50 at his past five starts without winning any. He has the ability to win this and draws well, but he's becoming a touch costly. Was comprehensively beaten by Zamzam last start and although there may have been one or two reasons why, I'd rather be with the filly here. Value could be VALLIANO.
Tip: Zamzam
Race 9
Decent race with a number of chances. DATA POINT may be ready to go to the next level now that he's been gelded. His first run since the operation was imperious, winning by 4L in a BM70 at Pakenham over this distance. That was on a Heavy track, so getting back onto a firm surface here (which he's never won on) is a tiny query, especially with the step up in grade. But he's drawn well and weighted well enough to win in this grade. CANNYESCENT is the hardest to beat after a good win in Sydney last start. If you put a line through his run two starts ago on a Heavy track then his form looks very good. Has all the weight to carry but he'll be very competitive. The value could be TYKIATO at $26. She was luckless last start and looks ready to win. ACT OF VALOUR and THELBURG others to include.
Tip: Data Point / Tykiato EW
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!
