Saturday Racing Tips - Sandown Racecourse 04/02/23

Metro grade racing continues at Sandown for the first weekend of February and it looks like there are some really smart types prepping for what looks to be a big Autumn for some of the Victorian stables. There are a total of nine races on the card and $1.3 million prize spread across the races. There are two group three races on the card and the feature is the LAMARO'S GEOFFREY BELLMAINE, a 4YO mares handicap run over the 1300m. Follow me below for an exciting day of racing.

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#3 - Serasana (BEST BET) - $2.80
#2 - Veecee - $2.70
#1 - Zulfiqar - $8.00
#5 - Perilous Fighter - $15.00

BEST BET - #3 - Serasan (BEST BET)
It will be a close run race between the top picks but I am sticking with the Griffiths/De Kock filly who ran according to her strong back, smashing the field easily on December 10th when breaking away late and clearing the field in an impressive time. She looked sharp at recent Jumpouts and gets the weight advantage over Veecee who looks to be the main danger.

NEXT BEST - #2 - Veecee
Veecee is the real threat here, he’s had three weeks between runs after beating quite an ordinary field on the Flemington straight when he ran his own race and thrashed them, also running a good time for the meeting. He has a good racing pattern and will be better for the experience but I think the weight advantage with Serasana could make this a losing race for Veecee

VALUE BET  - #1 - Zulfiqar
Zulfiqar is a Cummings mare and that is enough to be respected and was a first up winner at Flemington on debut when smashing them late down the straight for a smart win. He has had two soft looking trials to ready him for this and I think that with a bit of luck in running he can be in the finish.

Selections:
#1 - Benedetta (NEXT BEST) - $2.35
#5 - Belmia - $3.90
#4 - Discerning - $13.00
#6 - Elegant Diva - $8.50

BEST BET - #1 - Benedetta (NEXT BEST)
Benedetta looks to be a progressive filly for the Warren stable. All you can do is win and she has done just that with two wins in three of her career so far. The most recent was over this track and distance where she embarrassed them, coming on strong from off the speed to belt them late. Natural improvement suggests there’s going to be even more from her and I think she will beat these. 

THE DANGER - #5 - Belmia
Belmia resumes on Saturday for Edwards and is the main threat in this race. She kicked off her career in the spring with three runs and the last of which was a great fourth placing on Zipping Classic Day behind Twilight glow. The form reads well for this and she will appreciate the big track as her style is sitting and sprinting. If they go hard up front she can take this out.

VALUE BET  - #4 - Discerning 
Discerning is a primary contender here for the Snowden camp. She came here last run after being strong from the back at Mornington prior but was never really a threat to the smart Benedetta. She has been running at the 1000m and steps up to the 1300m which she looks suited to and there’s definitely room for improvement. My query is where she settles in the run but if she finds a good spot she can definitely be in the finish.

Selections:
#10 - Wrote To Arataki - $4.60
#11 - Snapped - $4.00
#2 - Vespertine - $5.00
#8 - Forbidden City (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $10.00

BEST BET - #10 - Wrote To Arataki
Wrote to Arataki is absolutely flying at the moment after resuming from a spell she came on strong to end up third first up at the Valley and then went onto Sandown, sitting on the speed and working home strongly behind Life Lessons to end up third again. Last start she went to Flemington and Kah jumped aboard, rode her to the front and the rest was written from there, winning with something in hand. She has great upside still and will be all the better with the runs on board.

THE DANGER - #11 - Snapped 
Snapped is another who can do no wrong at the moment. He’s racing for the Freedman stable third up here and Zahra takes over from Cartwright which is a bonus. He returned to the races late last December when slowly away over the 1000m but coming on too strongly to win that fresh in the last 150m. Went to rosehill after that but was given no favours there, being crowded until the last 100m and still motoring into third. The talent and fitness are there and he draws for a softer run than he’s been given and I think he goes super close here.

VALUE BET - #8 - Forbidden City (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)
Forbidden City put together a few smart wins before racing at Flemington a few weeks back when she just was a bit ordinary despite Nolen giving her an awesome ride, still coming third to the in form Belle Et Riche. She drops back in trip here and is a proven winner at Randwick Racecourse so I think that at the price I will have to have something on

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Mark Zahra has been awesome this year already, with a 15% win rate and 41% place rate in the last 12 months he has certainly been riding for some prominent stables on some really good types and whilst he gets a short booking of rides for Saturday, I think he has a good chance to pick up at least one win. I quite like all three of his rides though and have outlined them below

R3 - #3 - Michelotti - $10.00
R7 - #11 - Snapped - $4.00
R9 - #1 - Glory Daze - $7.00

Sandown is a bit of a tricky one to try parlay a few runners together so I am sticking to the strategy of sit/sprint horses in the races that I have outlined as I think that the top chances are overall exhibiting similar race patterns, sitting back and winding up for a hard run down the big straight. I am going to mix between win betting with my more confident picks and place betting for the better value chances. Follow me below for a fun bet to track over race day.

R2 - #3 - Serana - PLC $1.28
R4 - #1 - Benedetta - WIN $2.35
R7 - #10 - ​​Wrote To Arataki - PLC $1.75

Total Odds = $5.26
$50 Stake = $263.20 Return!

Odds provided by PlayUp, sign up for a new account here to get started.

Our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of exotics betting, check it out for clarification on the different types of exotics betting or just to brush up on your knowledge.

Sandown Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R4)

1st: 1, 5

2nd: 1, 4, 5

3rd: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9

$50 stake = 333% flexi

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