The Melbourne Review Jan 23

1 month ago

Sandown Hillside should be used more often on Saturdays - it's one of the best tracks in Australia and raced well again on Saturday despite riders wanting to get away from the fence as the meeting went on - why I don't know. The Valley played to those nearer the speed and that was probably fair enough at True with relatively quick ground at this time of year.

THE BEST WINS

SANDOWN RACE 7 - GRINZINGER ALLEE

The margin was only narrow but this was a very good win given the tempo of the race - with the leader off and running and pulling it's head off, the speed was much stronger than anticipated and that probably sucked the stamina out of those chasing and played into the hands of Kah and GA. He's a horse with enough strength to hit 2000m with purpose, I will be a little cautious next start when he bounces off this race but he can keep progressing through the grades. Mornington Cup prelude?

THE VALLEY RACE 4 - STREETS OF AVALON

Some horses fire at certain times of the year and maybe SOA could be a summer/autumn horse. When you look back to his 3YO career in 2018 he was producing career best runs between Jan-April, that pattern has continued and obviously peaked last year when he won the Futurity; I'm not saying he can win a G1 again - this so-called G2 was more like a Listed race, but he should be right in the mix from 1400-1600m in Listed-G3 races if he can find something under WFA or SWP conditions; the Blamey perhaps?

HORSES TO FOLLOW

1. SECOND SLIP (Sandown Race 3)

Now 2/2 in Australia and still with room to move at the HCP, Second Slip ran clearly the fastest of three 1300m races on the card and gave all rivals every possible chance to beat him. I loved the ride from Kah, confident early and happy to cover ground knowing her horse was up to the task - she kept asking for more late and the horse kept giving it to her, BM84 grade is well within reach and he might be a little better than that yet too.

2. MILTON PARK (Sandown Race 6)

This big tough on pacer might have another go at a Listed race now after proving he's a cut abover 3YO off-season grade with another powerful win. He's given this lot a decent start at the weights again and they've not been good enough to get near him, in fairness none of these are up to Stakes class, but he looks worthy of a throw at a 1400-1600m Listed race this time around.

3. CADBOL (The Valley Race 2)

Interesting debut from this unfashionably bred colt - he looked a little awkward in running and when turning but once he got balanced up over that last 100m he really picked up quickly. He's a compact looking sort but there is a turn of foot there, wondering what he might be capable of at 1200m if the stable can find a suitable off-Broadway style of race for him.

4. LOVE SENSATION (The Valley Race 7)

This Love Sensation might be a pretty handy filly and I want to be with her this prep - at least at her next couple of starts. She was ridden cold from a wide gate and had no luck at all trying to get a run at them from the 400m, eventually she got gaps and absolutely flew late. She was good in the Tranquil Star at big odds last prep and then had enough in the Thousand Guineas, she could be worth trying in a Listed/G3 fillies race to 1400m-1600m this time around.

THE MARKET SAID...

That ARTORIOUS (1st R1) was capable of getting it right at his second start and he duly saluted. Importantly, there were two goes at this horse - he was $7 to $4.80 in early markets, then that support continued early on race day and the bookies opened him up at $3.20. He drifted to $3.70 and then the money came again in the last 7 minutes of betting which is always a very positive sign - he jumped at $3.40 and won easily. There's obvious upside with this colt out to 1400m-1600m.