Sandown & Canterbury Today

Sandown is a Good 3 and it's fine so expect fast ground there today.
Canterbury is a Heavy 8 up from an earlier 9. Expect it to improve a bit more as the day goes on.
The Canterbury card makes little appeal at this stage as it's generally been dry in Sydney in recent weeks and now they are racing on a genuinely wet surface. There may be something there pending patterns/conditions but at this stage it looks unlikely.

Sandown

Race 1
Heronia is very well in here racing off a mark of 66. She won her maiden comfortably and then took on Listed grade going down narrowly and unluckily to the 87 rated Buddy Bundy at level weights .3 lengths behind that day was the 74 rated Pistolier who went on to win next time. Reading that form literally suggests Heronea is justified being rated in the high 80's. That last effort was on slow ground though. He is up against some tough established handicappers here and this quick 1000m can find an inexperienced horse out especially one that get's back a bit. Has C.Williams steering though so that's a definite positive. He was around 2.30 earlier and is now on the drift. Not committed at this stage.

Race 2
Stitch Me Up was terrific winning here last time and looked a horse of real promise that day. I don't how strong that race will turn out to be but he's the only one I could consider backing here. These early season 3-y-old events can be very tricky and I generally avoid them like the plague. May make an exception and get involved here but he's shortened a bit and is very marginal at current odds.

Race 5
The race that Contact won here last time wasn't a very strong event. Outback Ranger been the only real opposition and he's been beaten in weaker grade since. That said his win was dominant and the 3kg claim gets him on a slightly lower weight today. House Of Stars ran well in Saturday grade last time and she'll be fully fit now and is a real hope here. La Belle Mome is the other possibility after a sound win at Bendigo last time-fair bit harder here though. May play here-depending on odds

Race 6
Critical Angel could be a bit too classy for these. Her run in the Vanity where she split Solicit and Girl In Flight is outstanding form for this and she get's in on a mark of 68. She's got the potential to pick up a Stakes race this Spring but it's a long Spring and 1400m first up may find her out fitness wise. The alternative clearly is Paddy's Gem who has run good seconds both starts this prep. 1400m a query though. Probably passing here.

Race 7
Imaging pulled like train last time but still bolted up.Faster ground and further are positives for him he'll need to settle better here as this is tougher. Mahican was good resuming at Geelong showing a fine turn of foot to win.He's a promising horse but the gate is a worry here and he'll probably go back.Tristram's Sun is suited back in trip and hopefully they are positive from the gate with him as there isn't much obvious pace here. I think they are the three most likely here with Oltr Finito and Cross Of Gold other hopes. Not committed here at this stage but probably doing something.

Race 8
The Giddyup Kirky bubble burst last time but in fairness he got to far back to have any hope of being competitive. Now And Zen has a better gate today than last time and looks the form pick to me although he had the length of the straight to pass Tycoon Rob last time and either couldn't or wouldn't. Nordic Duke was well backed last time but flopped.Oliver takes over from the claimer this time. If I back anything here it'll be Now and Zen but not committed at this stage.

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