Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sandown Lakeside on Wednesday, April 1st.
It's a cracking meeting at Sandown on the Lakeside course this Wednesday, with some hot races on the eight-race card!
Fresh off a weekend full of winners, Tim Geers is back to preview every race below!
Sandown Lakeside Racing Tips: Wednesday, April 1st
Best Bet: Race 3 - (1) Sierra Sue
Best Value Bet: Race 8 - (8) Sheriff John Stone
Keen on (3) Beau Zoom here. He's a horse I've been waiting for to return to the races, as I've been following him since day one. He was originally aimed at the Caulfield Guineas last year but just didn't show enough at the races, but he's obviously a horse they've got a good opinion of. He represents the Neville Parnham stable (WA Hall Of Fame trainer) but has been based in Melbourne his whole career. In his two career starts, he 5th behind the likes of Hidden Legend, and then ran 2nd behind Groundswell here at Geelong last time we saw him. He resumes from a spell today with one jumpout (click here to watch) under the belt, where he led all the way. He was given a decent hit out in that but it's the only jumpout I can find of him, so he should improve plenty from it. Damien Oliver jumps straight on for his return to the races today and I think he's the one to beat. The other very interesting horse in the race is (8) Moyassar at $8, which could be a ridiculous price. He looks as if he's taken a bit of time to come to the races as he actually had a couple of jumpouts at Flemington back in November last year. He looked absolutely incredible in this jumpout but just didn't make it to the races. He trialled publicly at Benalla a couple of weeks ago leading into his debut today and although it was a weak trial field, I thought he showed enough. He settled well back, looped the field around the turn and went straight past those chasing the leader within a few strides. I'm tipping he's a pretty smart horse and I think the $8.00 is a big price. The main query with him is barrier 11 and if he gets back too far on a track that usually favours on-pacers. Backing both Beau Zoom and Moyassar.
Value: (8) Moyassar $8.00
You won't find a midweek race with more depth than this one, though there has been a couple of scratchings overnight. I'm giving one more chance to (6) Hidden Legend today with the blinkers on for the first time. He hasn't had much go right in his first two runs back from a spell, with a chequered passage in the straight first up, followed by sitting three-wide the trip last time out. The problem is, with his racing style he tends to find problems. He was still only beaten a touch over 2L last start despite that wide trip so it was a brave effort. Unfortunately he's drawn out again so will get back, but he's got the talent. The other one I'll be backing is (4) Excelman who resumes today. He was a winner on debut at Pakenham before running 4th to Wings Of Pastrami at Flemington. That's a very good form line and he jumped out well at Cranbourne last week. Again, he's a horse with little tactical speed so he'll get back and that's the worry given we're on the Lakeside course. (10) Charleise trialled well at Cranbourne leading into this and should put herself right on speed which gives her every chance.
Value: (4) Excelman $6.50
(1) Sierra Sue is undefeated from two starts coming into this, both of which were at Sale. She settled right up on the pace on both occasions and she was strong through the line when stepping up from 1100m to 1400m last start, indicating the mile today should suit her. She looks the only speed horse in the race so expect her to slide across from the wide gate and take up the running. She gets a handy claim for Thomas Stockdale who is riding in terrific form and she looks the one to beat. I think the big value in the race is (8) Walking Flying at $13. She was enormous first up on the Hillside course over 1300m, closing off in the fastest final 400m and 200m of the race. Just go back and watch her final 100m. She will relish the step up to 1600m today and she won second up last prep when making a similar step up in distance. She was a length off (5) Affair To Remember first up and granted she gives Affair To Remember a 2kg weight swing today, but Affair To Remember is $4 and Walking Flying is $13.
Value: (8) Walking Flying $13
A very uninspiring race this. (4) Big Brew won here over track and distance two starts ago and then went to The Valley where he wasn't beaten far. There really isn't much to this race so with a drop back in grade he should be around the mark at each way odds. He has the weight to carry but they elect to go with Mark Zahra rather than an apprentice. (12) Fields Of Yulong really came into his own when he got up past 2000m last prep, but it will be interesting to see how he returns today over 1400m. It appears well short of his best but they waste no time putting Craig Williams on first up, and his recent jumpouts at Flemington have been good. He might be worth backing at $11. Something small on both.
Also backing: (4) Big Brew $9.50
(12) Fields Of Yulong
$11
He beat nothing last start but it was hard not to be impressed by (12) Tigre Royal. He exploded to the front and charged away to win by 3.75L on the Hillside course last start, which followed up a luckless 2nd placing two runs back when he was caught three-wide the trip for 2400m. He draws to do no work from barrier 4 and should be hard to beat again. The query I have with him is the fact that we saw him win a race in dominant fashion at the exact same stage of his last preparation. He saluted by 7L at Bendigo and then came out and could only manage 3rd as favourite at his next start. So although he's the horse to beat, he's got that asterisk next to his name. I was on (10) Clementina last start when she did what Clementina does. She seemed to hit a flat spot early in the straight but then picked up to run the fastest final 400m and 200m of the race, and the second fastest of the entire meeting. She gets the GOAT Damien Oliver on from the good draw today and she certainly gets her chance again, but she's now a winner of just one race from 18 starts and I've lost patience with her. (9) Reflect The Stars is the stablemate and actually finished ahead of Clementina last start. That was behind Grande Promenade, which I believe is a strong form line. Tricky draw the query today. The value could be (7) Konkalikon at double figure odds. He ran 2nd to Mister Ballistic at Sale last start and that horse is flying so it's not a terrible form line. Terrible draw but he's racing in great form.
Value: (7) Konkalikon $10
I was with (18) Aree Al first up when he was beaten a nose by Beauty Bolt on the Hillside course and I'll stick with him second up today. He steps up slightly in trip to 1400m, Damien Oliver stays aboard and the horse has only run poorly once in his career, when he pulled up lame at the end of last prep. (2) Sonaree could be a blowout chance at huge odds. He finished last first up at The Valley but he never goes any good first up. We saw him come out second up last prep and win by 5L so he could spike sharply off that run. I hope they go forward from the wide gate as it can be advantageous to be on-speed on the Lakeside course. (11) Treaty Of Seville has returned in good order, with a strong win at Pakenham last start, coming from off the speed to round them up. He's drawn well so may sit a touch closer. (14) Strike A Beau can be included at double figure odds. He should have won his first two races and then he sat wide without cover last start before going down by less than a length. Gets blinkers on for the first time so don't be surprised to see him bounce back.
Tipping another one from the Levi Kavanagh yard here with (13) Wild Vixen. She should have more than two career wins. First up last prep she sat wide without cover when 2nd to Somals. That's a good form line in itself, but then second up she again sat wide without cover when 4th behind Charleise. That proved a very strong race. She then put two wins together before a midfield finish in Listed company back in November. She won her only jumpout at Flemington leading into this, she should be able to take up a position on speed from the inside gate, and Brett Prebble comes here for only one ride. She should take some beating at each way odds. (2) Kooweerup will find this much easier than anything she contested last start. (6) Street Icon has been racing well without a lot of luck all preparation. If she jumps well and can settle handy, she will be around the mark. (14) Shilo Lass was my best bet first up but she was only fair. She might take good improvement from that run, but she'd need to as this is a good race.
(13) Wild Vixen E/W
$6.50
(8) Sheriff John Stone is a huge price here at $21. He did nothing first up at Moonee Valley but improved sharply to run 3rd second up at Mornington. He's never missed a place from five starts when third up from a spell, he's won over this track and distance before (that came third up from a spell too) and he finds a race he can be competitive in. Hopefully they roll forward. (15) Open Minded is favourite here but certainly has some queries. Both wins have been on heavy tracks and Anthony Freedman's stable isn't performing to their normal standard at the moment. The trial was decent but $2.90 looks short. Something small each way on the Sherriff for me.
(8) Sheriff John Stone E/W
$21
