Sandown Tips & Preview | Wednesday 25 March

OPTIMUS (6) has enjoyed nearly a month between runs after debuting on the Hillside track in late February. 

The colt by I Am Invincible led for most of the way until his condition gave out around the 250m mark, settling for fourth in the end with the 1300m trip perhaps proving a little too sharp on debut.  

He’s been given a nice jump out in which he won quite well at Cranbourne a couple of weeks ago, making every post a winner with a lot left to give through the line. 

Drawn another low gate with Craig Williams appealing, he looks a big improver. 

Sandown takes centre stage on Wednesday, with an eight-race card scheduled for the Lakeside track.

Showers are expected in the lead-up to race day, though the surface is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail in the True position at the time of writing.

Attention then turns to a blockbuster Group 1 Australian Cup Day at Flemington on Saturday, but in the meantime, we’ve got all the key insights for Wednesday’s Sandown meeting covered here.

OBVIOUS (1) gets in well with the claim second-up. 

He was a little keen fresh at Pakenham a few weeks ago over the 1400m trip, overracing early on with the tempo and the state of the track also playing a big part in him only managing third. 

In saying that, the son to Toronado contested some tougher races at Saturday level during the spring last year and has also proven capable of the mile in the past. Fitter and likely to get back off the speed, he’s right in the mix in an open race 

AVENUE MONTAIGNE (7) ticks a few boxes here ahead of her first start for Grahame Begg. 

Formerly with Waterhouse and Bott, the Pierro filly has raced well without winning in two stats to date, finding the money twice in Sydney last year with her last run coming over the mile at Wyong. 

She was runner-up over a similar trip on debut at Canterbury and really caught the eye when quickening late down the centre of the track to win her recent Cranbourne jump out. 

LADY THINKABELL (9) drops 3kg for this assignment with a stack of fitness now on her side. 

This lightly-raced mare was one of the runs of the race last start at Ballarat over 100m shorter, blowing the start but still finding an extra gear at the top of the straight to make real headway and finish a nose second to the winner. 

Although up in grade, she’s drawn a much softer gate this time and appears very close to another win. 

The gate hurts his chances but gee there was a lot to like about the way DIRTY LOOK (3) won here a couple of weeks ago. 

Graheme Begg’s filly was held up badly approaching the furlong after shifting off the fence, weaving her way back along the inside to charge through a small gap and win by small margin. 

Fair to say she may have gone several lengths clear if she found some breathing room earlier on, so if she can get across early and handle the extra weight this time, I think her best is still yet to come. 

REDDERS (8) has made the journey back to Melbourne looking to improve on a last start runner-up at Murray Bridge in the Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic a few weeks ago. 

Danny O’Brien’s gelding out of Star Turn was beaten nearly five lengths the run prior in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes, form that has since seen the runner-up Devil Night go on to place in last Saturday’s William Reid Stakes.  

Drawing the inside gate is a big plus now with three runs under his belt and with some wet track experience, he has to be considered one of the leading hopes.  

FACTCHECK (8) is the one they all have to beat, providing he gets enough space along the inside. 

The Press Statement four-year-old was a clear winner two back at Pakenham over 1400m, before stepping up to tackle the mile for the first time nearly a month later where he was caught four-wide, eventually finishing a narrow second to Jareth.  

Rock-hard fit now for three runs back and given less of a turnaround between runs, he should show natural improvement with Craig Williams only carrying 0.5kg extra. 

THEBELMONTGANGSTER (5) has trialed up well ahead of his return. 

He was found to have some issues post-race last October when he wrapped up his spring prep finishing third last in a similar race at Caulfield beaten nine lengths. 

Beforehand, he beat home subsequent Group 1 winner Observer here at Sandown over shorter in his first start on Australian shores. 

Everything indicates he’s in good order ahead of his return and he’s certainly in the right hands under Mark Zahra from a slightly awkward gate.