Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Sandown Hillside and Warwick Farm on Wednesday, May 15th.
Both tracks are currently rated a Good 4 and should remain so with fine weather forecast. The rail is out 13m at Sandown and 3m at Warwick Farm.
We've picked out five selections from the day's racing below!
SANDOWN HILLSIDE RACING TIPS
RACE 2
Think there's a good each way bet here in the form of (1) Kyzamba at $6.00/$2.20. This six-year-old mare returned from a spell with a good run behind Big Reel in a BM84 over this track and distance five weeks ago, beaten just half-a-length. She comes into today's race second up from a spell and this is historically the best run of her prep. She's had four previous second up runs, resulting in three wins and a 2nd, where she was beaten a nose. The big query is the firm track - all five of her career wins have come on soft ground and she's yet to win on good ground from 10 starts. If this was soft ground, she'd probably be favourite. But she can still go alright on firm ground. (4) Atlantica is in a similar boat; she comes off a good run at Bendigo and gets blinkers on for the first time today, but all three career wins have been on soft ground. (8) Soul Star resumes from a spell and she's more than capable of winning, but she's a bit of a non-winner with just one win from 15 starts. She's placed a further seven times. Her one win did come first up and she's in well with the 3kg claim here. Happy to back Kyzamba each way, with a saver bet on Soul Star. Wouldn't shock you to see a winner at decent odds here though, given the queries around those at the top of the market.
Save: (8) Soul Star $4.80
RACE 4
(2) Royal Ace was beaten 3L into 3rd when first up at Warrnambool but that's about par for his first run back. He jumps out of the ground when he's second up. He's had four starts for three wins when second up previously. He won his only previous start at this track and he's got three wins and three placings from 10 starts at the distance. Goes well on both firm and wet ground so the conditions won't bother him. Damien Oliver takes the ride for the in-form Danny O'Brien stable and this combo has been hot in the last month or so. Carries 59kg but can go close. (4) Intueri has finished in the top two in his past four starts, which have all been over this distance. Overall, he's won three and placed in a further five from 10 starts at the mile. He'll lead and be tough to run down. (7) Mister Belvedere could be the value at $13. He's first up in Australia for the Maher/Eustace camp. He's likely to be much better suited over further ground but it wouldn't shock me to see him run well fresh.
Value: (7) Mister Belvedere $13
WARWICK FARM RACING TIPS
RACE 1
It's rare that I get involved in two-year-old races like this, but I simply thought (5) Rari was over the odds at $7.50. He ran 4th on debut behind Reloaded, beaten 1.1L, and I'm tipping that will be a very strong form race going forward. I'd suggest Reloaded is a leading contender for the G1 JJ Atkins in Queensland so to be beaten just over a length is good form for another midweek race like this. Disruptor ran 2nd in that race and he ran well again in Queensland on the weekend. Rari draws well enough in barrier 2 here and will just need a bit of luck getting a run in the straight. With some horses high up in the market coming off Newcastle, Kembla and Hawkesbury form, I'm happy to take $7.50 about a horse with proven metropolitan form.
RACE 2
Small field going around here but I'm happy to take on the favourite (2) Bergen, who has won both his starts to date but they were at Kembla and Newcastle and he only just got across the line in front last start. Brent Stanley is a very astute trainer and he brings (6) Smart Horse to Sydney and whenever he brings horses to Sydney, you have to take note. This horse bolted in on debut at Kyneton, winning by 5L, and was then well-backed last start at Bendigo. he had a tough run however, sitting three-wide on the speed throughout, before dropping out. He's had six weeks to get over that and now comes to a midweek race in Sydney. Think he's found a very winnable race and happy to back him. (3) Plenty will be my saver bet. He ran well first up and has the ability to win a race like this.
RACE 6
We've got a $3.50 favourite in the form of (10) Primitivo here, but she's proven herself to be a bit of a herd-chaser, with just one win from 12 starts. She always looks to put the writing on the wall but has struggled to get her head in front. She also looks to go better on soft ground rather than firm. With her taking up such a large part of the market, I think there's an opportunity to bet around her and hope she goes down again. There's three standouts to beat her. (8) Vontaine will go on top for me. This mare has struggled to recapture the form of last prep but she had had 44 weeks off so maybe she just needed her first two runs back. Third up now, up to the mile, gets a handy claim and could be ready to win. (6) Vega won over this track and distance in this class last start. Goes up 2kg in the weights but has finished in the money at her past six starts and can do so again from the good draw. (12) Kaapfever was beaten 1.5L by Vega last start and gets a 4kg weight swing in his favour today. One of his two career wins came over this track and distance so he looks the value at $9.00.
Value: (12) Kaapfever $9.00
