Saturday Racing Tips - Sandown Racecourse 25/02/23

It’s Blue Diamond Stakes day on Saturday at Sandown and the Victorian Autumn Carnival is well and truly underway with this marking the season of black type racing. The card features nine races with only one race not being at Group level and three group one races on the card with the feature being the Blue Diamond Stakes run over 1200m. There is a total of nearly $5 million prize available across the races and the rail is in true position, track is rated a good 4.

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#1 - Barb Raider (NEXT BEST) - $5.50
#3 - Espiona - $3.90
#6 - Pride Of Jenni - $3.50
#7 - Forbidden City - $11.00

BEST BET - #1 - Barb Raider (NEXT BEST)
Barb Raider is a serious prospect in this race. The Jerome Hunter product hasn’t raced since the Inaugural ‘The Invitation’ when she was down the track behind Promise of Success. I think that Will Price didn’t give her any favours there to be honest. However, she has class and the stable work leading up to this race has been very good. She runs best with fresh legs and maps to be right up there on the speed, I think she is the top chance in this small field.

THE DANGER - #3 - Espiona
Espiona was awesome on Oaks Day 2021 when she won at Flemington and that is the only time she has been in Melbourne. In terms of this prep, she was first up behind Quantico but she was in the wrong spot for the day there being too close to the inside where the ground was poor and she couldn’t do much. To be honest she hasn’t shown an awful lot of late but at her best she has a whole lot on these. Don’t know if ill have the guts to lay chalk on her though…

VALUE BET  - #7 - Forbidden City
Forbidden City has been holding form outstandingly. She has had three weeks between runs since running in the Bellmaine where she was never a threat as the race was totally against her run style, with on pace runners contesting the race. However, she found the line really well late there to a subsequent winner Wrote To Arataki, so the form is stacking up and out to 1400m now is positive as well.

Selections:
#3 - Hennessy Lad - $4.50
#2 - Pericles - $3.00
#8 - Ausbred Rising Sun (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $8.00
#7 - Acosta - $8.00

BEST BET - #3 - Hennessy Lad
Hennessy Lad has been in the midst of his prep for a while now but this horse is flying for Peter Moody and will find it a softer task against this field than some of his runs. He ran over this track/distance a few weeks ago in an age restricted race and his run style there was exceptional, getting stronger as the race progressed to eventually draw clear late and win. He has been saved for this and I think for good reason.

THE DANGER - #2 - Pericles 
It’s too hard to stay away from James Cummings and the younger horses and risk looking stupid at the moment and that is where Pericles presents. The horse had big expectations on her shoulders when resuming at Sandown and whilst she ran a good time, she was luckless in running doing it tough out wide and the run told when she was eventually run over to end up fourth. She maps for a much softer run now and goes out to the 1800m which are both positive indicators of intent here second up.

VALUE BET  - #8 - Ausbred Rising Sun (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)
Ausbred Rising Sun is one of my favourite horses in the country right now. The Brad Widdup three year old is super progressive and also has an 1800m run under his belt during this prep. He just missed to end up second at Warwick farm two runs back over the 1600m before going to Newcastle over this distance and after winding up for a long while in the run he eventually stormed over them and put a good few lengths on the field to win strongly. He maps well for this and I don’t think that the stable is looking too far ahead to other races which is a bonus.

Selections:
#2 - Alligator Blood (BEST BET) - $3.70
#1 - I'm Thunderstruck - $2.90
#3 - Mr Brightside - $5.50
#8 - Nugget - $5.50

BEST BET - #2 - Alligator Blood (BEST BET)
Alligator Blood holds a dear place in my heart as I’m sure he does for many. He resumes for the Gai/Bott stable on Saturday and really came to the forefront of racing last year during Winter/Spring. He took out both the Champions Mile and the Underwood but wasn’t ready for the CF Orr and if his trials are any indication he is ready for this. Down the straight from the gate he should land right up top and push forward all run being hard to run down.

THE DANGER - #1 - I'm Thunderstruck
It’s no secret that I’m Thunderstruck is a class 1 beast. He resumed in the CF Orr as favourite under Jamie Kah but peaked just a bit too early in the run at about the 100m and was subsequently run down by rivals to end up fourth. His only win since 2021 was in the Makybe Diva where he beat Alligator Blood on the line and whilst he is too good to dismiss I think that the jury is out on him,

VALUE BET - #3 - Mr Brightside
Mr Brightside has a touch of class, not unlike the opposition he meets today but he has returned to racing in great steed when resuming in the CF Orr Stakes and coming from last with determination to end up fifth behind Jacquinot. He maps to settle much closer in the run this time and in a smaller field as well. He has the run on board and if he sits where he maps to I think he can run a huge race.

Plan on betting on the races this Saturday? Betting online is surprisingly simple these days, and our Best Bookmakers area is the simplest way to discover the best online betting sites to follow our expert’s tips.

Playup is my top selection for Racing this week as they are providing some of the best overall fixed odds amongst the Australian bookies at the moment for racing. They are also very generous, often offering a number of racing promotions such as money back in bonus bets for 2nd and 3rd for a selected runner in a race of your choosing. They cover all Australian thoroughbred racing and are quite comprehensive in their international racing markets.

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Jamie is one of the best jockeys in the country, having been one of only a handful of Australian jockeys to ride a century of wins and she gets another top stack of rides for some super prominent stables here at Sandown. She thrives in the spotlight for Group racing, mostly having her rides for the likes of Chris Waller and James Cummings on Saturday and I have outlined all her bookings below:

R1 - #5 - Saracen Knight - $4.50
R2 - #9 - Adamant - $31.00
R4 - #4 - Spacewalk - $3.30
R5 - #2 - Pericles - $3.00
R6 - #7 - Surefire - $6.50
R7 - #1 - Barber - $5.50
R8 - #1 - I'm Thunderstruck - $2.90
R9 - #13 - I Am Me - $7.00

It’s a big day at Sandown and there are a stack of chances in the big races in some super competitive fields, as such I have focused my multi on the smaller fields as to increase our chances of having runners in the placings. I have also taken into account that the big straight gives room for a lot of sit/sprint horses to motor home and as such I have factored this in. Follow me below for a fun value bet to track over the day!

R3 - #1 - Barb Raider  - PLC $2.60
R5 - #2 - Pericles - PLC $1.40
R8 - #2 - Alligator Blood - PLC $1.90

Total Odds = $6.91
$50 Stake = $345.80 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 (R5)
1st: 2, 3, 8
2nd: 2, 3, 8
3rd: 1, 3, 7, 8

$50 stake = 313% flexi

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If you are looking for the best promotions this week for Wednesday's racing I wouldn’t look past Unibet, often they offer odds boosts in addition to the money back promotions. Don’t forget to check your account as well for personal offers. 

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