25/09/21 Sandown Tips & best bets for Saturday Racing
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- Author: TheMelbourneMailSep 24, 2021 09:00 AM
- Photo: AAP
Early oil for Underwood Stakes Day
For the first time since 1948, the Group 1 Underwood Stakes will be run and won away from Caufield racecourse.
In what will be a momentous day for the club, Sandown Hillside hosts the 2021 edition of the middle distance clash which shapes as a one horse race.
The track is currently rated a Soft 5 and with a few showers predicted on Friday, participants will be met with a surface that borders around the Good 4/Soft 5 range.
The rail is in the true position for the entire circuit and at this set-up, horses midfield and above are likely to hold an advantage.
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Sandown Hillside Race 3 #3 Linas Legend $3.60
It's extremely hard not to be impressed by the back-to-back victories of Linas Legend so far this campaign, and he doesn't look like slowing down now.
He put a handy field away at this track over 1300m last start by 2 lengths, after jumping, leading, dictating, and pulling clear late.
Prior to that he was a very good winner at Echuca by an even bigger margin, and multiple horses have come from that race and won since.
Third-up here and rock hard fit, he maps to land up on speed again from the very soft draw with the option to lead or hand up if others decide to push hard.
He gets a 3kg drop in weight for the rise in class, but he is easily up to this grade and it doesn't look an overly hard contest for him.
With key rival Sandy Prince a huge possibility of running on Friday night at The Valley, it will make his assignment even easier if that runner is scratched.
I can't find any negatives with Linas Legend here and I have him marked as a $2.70 favourite.
Sandown Hillside Race 4 #4 Picarones $15.00
I'm going to spec Picarones here in the Listed Jim Maloney Stakes, who looks overs even though she strikes a hot field.
A number of these are coming off a defeat to Zouzarella in a Listed event at The Valley, so I'm keen to find a different form line for this race.
Picarones fits that profile. I thought she was great last start behind Crystal Bound at Flemington, sitting off speed and closing through the line very strongly into 4th.
Third-up now and the step to 1400m looks ideal based off how she attacked the line last start.
A track that starts towards the Good range would definitely suit, and her Melbourne form as a 2YO is up there with the very best.
She won on debut at Caulfield, ran 2nd to Artorius at this track over 1300m and was up there in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude earlier this year.
She can sit midfield here off what could be a slow tempo, and ideally can be in front of key rivals like Zouzarella and Mac 'N' Cheese in running.
D Oliver elects to stick on her from last start and in a solid race, she can give a lot of cheek late in the piece.
I have her marked around the $8 mark so with double figures available through all bookies, I'm happy to play each way.
For a list of all the tipsters who have posted Sandown Tips for today's races, checkout the dedicated page at theGreatTipOff.com.
