Sandown Hillside plays host to a metropolitan Saturday race day this weekend, with a number of competitive benchmark and open handicap races set down for decision across the course of the afternoon.
The track is currently rated a Good 4 and with sunny weather predicted, participants will be met with a perfect racing surface.
The rail is positioned in the true position for the entire circuit and at this set-up, the track should be playing fairly.
I'm very keen to take the each way price available early doors for this Hawkes galloper, who comes into this 2YO race second-up off a luckless debut.
She finished third behind some nice debutants at Bendigo over 1100m. However after jumping cleanly, she was unable to find cover in the big field and sat three wide punching the breeze throughout the entirety of the race.
Entitled to drop right out of it, she managed to box on very strongly through the line and hold third position. All things considered, it was an impressive debut.
She is sure to have taken significant improvement out of it, and the set up for this second-up assignment looks far more suitable.
She draws perfectly in barrier one, which could allow her to bounce fast and find the front. Otherwise, she can elect to take a sit on the fence behind what is expected to be a very hot speed.
She drops down to 54.5kg, a significant reduction from her debut run, and that rates very well compared to other horses who are either holding or rising in weight.
The debut run rated very highly and with more factors in her favour today, I can easily see her reversing a result.
The $8 available on Thursday afternoon is a steal and she looks a great each way bet.
In what looks a competitive small field for this 1400m Open Handicap, I've sided with this Lindsay Park runner.
Deep into his prep here (seventh run) and he comes off a very gallant fifth in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap behind multiple Group 1 winner Mr Quickie.
He loomed as though he may win about 200m out from the post and although his run came short towards the dying stages, he boxed on very well through the line.
It was a high rating run and I'm willing to forge the effort two starts back where he pulled up with a slow recovery.
He has been showing form behind not only Mr Quickie, but Best Of Days, Nonconformist and he even beat Skyman four runs back.
These form-lines are superior to any others lining up here in this race, and he manages to hold the 54kg he carried last start in a much harder event.
He is yet to break through since arriving to Australia, but he looks to get his best chance yet here in this race.
With only the small field there is a chance they could go slow in front. From barrier 7, look for them to show some urgency and put Biometric up on the speed alongside, or in behind the leaders.
From there with the light weight and fitness, he should be right in the finish.
I have him marked him the $3.50 as favourite, so I'm definitely interested in taking the $5.50 on offer.