Studied a few of these runners last start, so why not have another crack. Quality sprint race at Sandown with pretty high field quality, and this year favourites have a 40% strike rate in these races here. Broadly, not expecting any huge surprises, and focusing in on three runners in particular. The Gauch rates very well across most KPIs, and has a decent record first up. Drawn to sit off the lead, and has a strong turn of foot at the weights to chase down the leaders. The others that look well placed are the obvious leaders in Starry Legend and Ashford Street. Ashford Street handles the wet and was a smashing win last start. Starry Legend rates well again, but cautious due to his stitch at the 200 last start. Interesting numbers for Ranting, but his last start also concerns a bit. No revelations here, but you still have to find them. The Gauch to be too strong for Ashford Street late
Top 4
- The Gauch
- Ashford Street
- Starry Legend
- Ranting
Good Luck
Westy
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POSITION IN RUN MAP
RUNNER COMMENTRY
| NO | NAME | COMMENT |
| 1 | Ranting | Top turn of foot in the race, and off two starts back he can win from anywhere. Just lokos to get back, and the longer straight didn’t work for him last start. You can’t rule him out, but hard to rule him in. |
| 2 | William Thomas | Big wraps on this guy in Warrnambool, and we saw what the wet track did to him there. You see moments of brilliance from him, but not 4th up on a heavy track. Stable change, who knows. |
| 3 | Ashford Street | What a win last start, which we underestimated slightly. Absolutely no reason he can’t do it again, but he has been up for a while now. Has won on a heavy, and jumps from a top rated gate. Surely in the finish, but will have to hold out The Gauch. |
| 4 | Shamino | Getting into his prep here and a heavy track doesn’t help. Will get back in the run, but has won here before. Turn of foot is OK, just needs to keep up early to be any sort of chance. |
| 5 | Starry Legend | Hard to know what to make of his last run, whether he got a stitch due to stronger early pace or simply couldn’t match the acceleration of the winner. Or both? Either way, similar proposition here in this race where he should lead from the ideal draw. The data says that his turn of foot is actually not that strong, and will need a soft pace to go deep into the race. Now, he could get that, but he is another runner that will need to hold out The Gauch. Heavy track a bit of a worry also. |
| 6 | The Gauch | Top rated stable and great first up form. And looks to sit nicely off what might be a fight for the lead. Big wraps on his last prep, and despite not racing at Sandown yet, you would expect him to be well suited. Doesn’t seem to mind it wet. Very well weighted in this race, and his turn of foot should see him take it out. |
| 7 | Scissor Step | Always had big wraps on this guy, but a big jump in class here. He has still run into good horses, but he will need to produce something big to settle at the front half of this field. Expect an honest effort, but might burn it early. |
| 8 | Whipcracker Way | Into his prep now, and from the draw would have to drop back. The data says his recent runs won’t stack up in the later stages of this race, but the weights certainly give some sort of hope. |