Sandown takes its first Saturday meeting of many throughout the winter period, a role it does so well and one that (hopefully) isn't given away.
I'm looking to Race 4 for the best of the day where the topweight Fasuto just needs to replicate what he did fresh to be winning this.
He posted a big rating of 105 there with the 62kg at Mornington, smashing Title Fighter by three lengths who then came out and won a three-year-old open race at Caulfield over some handy types.
Consistency has been Fasuto's problem so he's no sure thing to go and repeat his rating but we're getting a good price again in what doesn't look a particularly strong benchmark 78.
Even with 61kg, our weight-adjusted ratings have him a few pounds clear of the next best last start rating, and I like the fact he's over a month between runs with Luke Nolen sticking.
The wide draw won't be an issue from the chute start and he can probably just get a similar run to his win first up off a strong speed. $5 in the market looks more than fair.
For the value play I'm heading to the last where Showmanship gets to 1400m second-up having done more than enough on resumption in the Wangoom at Warrnambool, getting back on a day where it was near impossible to make ground and running on well.
The tempo was strong there but even still, he was first-up on testing ground on an unfavourable track and came home in the second-fastest last 600m and equal fastest last 200m.
His splits were near identical to Nicolini Vito, who was fitter and finished a length ahead of him. He's come out and run second in the Straight Six but is ¼ of the price of Showmanship here, who draws to sit much closer and is 4/5 at 1400m.
Happy to take the double figures about Showmanship, who can easily improve 10 pounds here off his 98 rating first-up. At his best, he's close to the best horse in this race and there was nothing in the first-up run to suggest he hasn't come back healthy.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet of the day: Race 4 #1 Fasuto at $5
Each-way play: Race 10 #3 Showmanship at $13/3.9
FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
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1st |
11. WONDEREACH (AUS) 4yo G OUTREACH (AUS) - ONE CAT WONDER (AUS) |
JORDAN CHILDS MATTHEW SMITH |
$9
54.5kg |
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Denns Racing (Mgr: D L Yopp), KPC (Mgr: R Doherty), J M Russo, Mrs E M Russo, G Wynne, Miss J Southon, Ms R A Heggarty, J D Klap, A Berry, Mrs A Berry & A D H Smith | |||||||||||
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2nd |
6. MRS CHRISSIE (NZ) 5yo M PER INCANTO (USA) - TURF FIRE (NZ) |
MS CARLEEN HEFEL CIARON MAHER |
$4
58.5kg |
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M D Rocke, K B Hitch, C J Harris, M Bacic, P Shulman, A K Racing (Mgr: Ms K L Solomon), M J Scafidi, P Smith, A J Scafidi & C G Doak | |||||||||||
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3rd |
4. PERILOUS FIGHTER (AUS) 3yo C STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) - BEAUTY SCHOOL (AUS) |
JAKE NOONAN CLAYTON DOUGLAS |
$8.5
59kg |
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Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd (Mgr: A P Mithen) & Clayton Douglas Racing (Mgr: C Douglas) | |||||||||||
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4th |
5. BOONIE (IRE) 5yo G BRAZEN BEAU (AUS) - DICE GAME (GB) |
DANIEL STACKHOUSE BEN, WILL & JD HAYES |
$14
58.5kg |
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5th |
3. WOLFLANDS (AUS) 5yo G WOLF CRY (AUS) - CROSSLANDS (NZ) |
LUKE CURRIE BEN, WILL & JD HAYES |
$19
59.5kg |
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6th |
8. ORACLE SON (AUS) 4yo G DIVINE PROPHET (AUS) - CHESTNUT STAR (AUS) |
THOMAS STOCKDALE PHILLIP STOKES |
$9
58kg |
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7th |
7. WILLIAM THOMAS (AUS) 9yo G NICCONI (AUS) - GIRLS ROCK (AUS) |
BEN ALLEN J W PRICE |
$7.5
58.5kg |
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8th |
1. FASUTO (AUS) 4yo G SUPIDO (AUS) - JUGGLES (AUS) |
LUKE NOLEN CLINTON MCDONALD |
$3.25
61kg |
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9th |
2. KENTUCKY CASANOVA (AUS) 6yo G ARTIE SCHILLER (USA) - ABDAAN (AUS) |
BRIAN HIGGINS MICHAEL HUGLIN |
$18
60.5kg |