The Sandown Lakeside circuit will host midweek racing on Wednesday with eight competitive races on the program. It hasn’t been easy in recent meetings with track downgrades after minor rain, but surely Lakeside won’t go any slower than a Soft5 on the day. It’s a twilight meet again and the first race starts at 3:40pm (AEDT). My three best bets are below and my first comes up in just that, the first.
Sandown Racing Tips: Wednesday, February 19th 2025
Race 1: Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap - 3:40pm (AEDT)
(1) Galilaeus is a bit of a plodder but he can definitely run out the 3000m that’s on offer here. I picked him to win on this site when he raced at The Valley on January 24 (2nd) but he never looked like winning despite working home steadily over the final furlong. Soft track is a slight concern but I think if he is a quality stayer like the stable thinks he is, well then he has to win this. Blake Shinn replaces Jamie Mott who did nothing wrong but sometimes horses just know when a star jock is on top.
(2) Highland Blaze is proven on the Soft and likes this track. He was beaten a nose here on February 5 and on that performance has to be the main danger.
(3) Make Us Proud beat Highland Blaze and the lightly raced six-year-old can go on with it and finish in the top 3 here again. Group 1 Johnny Allen is riding for Shane Jackson and he knows how to train stayers.
(1) Gailaeus WIN
$2.20 (2 Units)
Race 3: Sportsbet Get On Extra Handicap - 4:50pm (AEDT)
(3) Nostringsattached has drawn well in 3 and the colt stormed home to win at Pakenham last start and can go on with the job. He has ran a 3rd on the Heavy so you would think a Soft track will be okay and so will the rise to 1400m. He has had a little freshen up for this and the Busuttin Team are in both the training and ownership of this horse so will want full points.
(6) Divine Justice won well for Shinn when favourite at Kilmore last start. That was over the 1450m so we know he gets the journey. Mertens hops on this time.
(4) Sacred Rocks has drawn 1 and will likely position up behind the leader in this race. He ran on well over the final 100m at this track on January 29 and he should be strong to the line again.
(3) Nostringsattached WIN
$3.20 (1 Unit)
Race 8: Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap - 7:30pm (AEDT)
(3) Hola Amigos has ran 3rd in his last three starts and he was unlucky at this track last time so this race might be redemption for the Welly stable. The Toronado gelding seems to like Lakeside and from barrier 5 he should be able to get a lovely run in around 4th on the outside. He likes the 1400m and this being his third run in this prep, he should be cherry ripe.
(8) Aiming can miss the start in her races but will be running on. She has won 3 from 5 starts on this track and she has won twice on Soft tracks before.
(9) Fiasco Tess has drawn wide and she hasn’t had much like this prep so far. If she can get cover in this race she can run on well into a placing.
(3) Hola Amigos Each-Way
$4.60/$1.80 (1U/2U)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 2, 4
Leg two: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg three: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg four: 3, 8, 9
