Ladbrokes Park Sandown will host Melbourne’s major Saturday metropolitan meeting this week, and nine races are on the program.
The rail will remain in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
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Race 1 – 11:40AM – Clanbrooke Racing Handicap, (1000m)
This isn’t the easiest way to start the day from a betting perspective, but I think that Ranveer can run a race first-up from a spell.
The Winning Rupert colt made just one appearance at the races during his debut prep, but raced home well to finish second behind Profiteer at Flemington.
That form has obviously held up, and this horse looks to have a future.
Race 2 – 12:15PM – Tile Importer Handicap, (2400m)
This race is full of hurdlers that are being kept up to the mark between jumps races, so I’m pretty keen to have something on Mr Mooj.
Mr Mooj has had two starts since arriving in Australia and Robert Hickmott’s care, and while he didn’t show a lot at Caulfield on debut, he was far better into fourth over 1800m here at Ladbrokes Park last time out.
Fitter third-up and out to a mile and a half, he can fight out the finish.
Race 3 – 12:50pm – Ladbrokes Split Handicap, (1300m)
Quietly Discreet will take winning form into the third at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday and looks up to making it two in a row.
The Phillip Stokes-trained filly tuned up with a couple of competitive efforts in midweek races when resuming and charged in to score with complete ease at Pakenham last time out.
This is a rise in class, but it certainly isn’t the strongest Saturday metropolitan race of all time, and Quietly Discreet can win again.
Race 4 – 1:25pm – Ladbrokes Handicap, (1300m)
Amercement can return to winning form third-up at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday.
The classy Godolphin galloper is yet to show her best form in two starts back this time, but she has clearly improvement, and she does generally take a couple of get going.
She wasn’t too far away from the winner in a better race at HQ last time, and she is drawn to receive a lovely run in this contest.
Race 5 – 2:05pm – Ladbrokes Bet Ticker Handicap, (1800m)
Dr Drill can win the fifth race on Saturday’s program in Melbourne.
The multiple black type winner has been a great horse for the Maher & Eustace stable since arriving in Australia, and he has had two starts back this time for a credible fifth in the Listed Anniversary Vase at Caulfield and second in the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes last time out.
Fitter third-up and with some relief in the weights, he’ll take a power of beating in something like this.
Race 6 – 2:45pm – Ladbrokes Cash In Handicap, (1600m)
I’m happy to give Relucent another chance in this mile race.
Relucent has been a good and consistent horse for the Waller stable throughout his career, and he has picked of several races like this one throughout.
He has noticeably improved with each start since resuming in autumn, and enters this race off the back of a close-up second placing in BM84 company at Caulfield.
This race doesn’t look to be a whole lot different to that one, and Relucent can go one better.
Race 7 – 3:25pm – Ladbrokes Blended Multi Handicap, (1600m)
Standoff is another last-start winner with further claims at Ladbrokes Park this weekend.
The Smart Missile filly didn’t show much at her first three starts back this time, but she charged home to record an impressive win over 1400m at Flemington last time out.
She beat home Snickerdoodledandy by nearly three lengths on that occasion, and given that horse came out and won last weekend, I’m happy to follow the form again.
Race 8 – 4:05pm – Ladbroke It! Handicap, (1300m)
The enigmatic Jumbo Ozaki will make his return from a decent spell at Ladbrokes Park on Saturday and I’m going to have a small each-way play.
The Unencumbered gelding missed placing once in five starts last time in, recording wins at Flemington and Caulfield most notably.
He has bucket loads of talent, but he has always done plenty wrong – I’d just hate to miss the price if he’s come back well this time!
Race 9 – 4:35pm – Ladbrokes Punter Assist Handicap, (1000m)
This is an excellent race and a tough way to end the card from a betting perspective, but I’m going to stick with the second-up Great Again.
Great Again has picked off some good races, generally outside of the main carnivals throughout his career, and he placed in three black type races during his last prep.
He returned to the races this time for a credible fourth in the Listed Wangoom Handicap, and he has finished worse than second only once in five previous second-up attempts.
