Spotlight falls on historic Sandown as fillies look to reverse Guineas trend

They are two of the better meetings of the carnival. Enough people to engender atmosphere, not enough to make it a bunfight. I may be biased given Ballarat is the place of my birth but in regards to Sandown, well it simply provides the best racing in Melbourne on what is now a great racing surface. The 491 metres Hillside straight, 41 metres longer than Flemington, allows races to unfold more in the European manner than the usual bounce-take hold and stop-start fare at most other tracks. There is a perception that it favours leaders despite the long run home. That’s inaccurate. The races are invariably determined by tempo and the track did race superbly, with a mix of on-pacers and closers, this day last year. Horses are also less likely to be held up inside at Sandown. Opponents claim it’s not that popular with the public but I daresay its location wouldn’t have deterred patrons had Winx (Street Cry) or Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) happened to have raced there in recent years. It is true that, these days, we don’t see the likes of Light Fingers (Le Filou) or Gunsynd (Sunset Hue) backing up to win the Sandown Cup (now Zipping Classic) or a mighty threeyear-old like Taj Rossi (Matrice) rounding out an extraordinary spring in the Sandown Guineas which he did in 1973 after having won the Ascot Vale Stakes, Stutt Stakes, Cox Plate, Victoria Derby and Cantala Stakes (which earned him horse of the year honours). However, the truth is trainers can’t avail themselves of “help” to patch them up nowadays. The track faces the threat of redevelopment but hopefully that will be stalled by the efforts of the Save Our Sandown petition and its heritage listing. The Heritage Council Victoria reported, earlier this year, that the: “Sandown Park Racecourse Grandstand is of architectural significance as a notable example of post-war grandstand architecture. The design is fine and innovative and the vast cantilevered roof over one uninterrupted continuous tier is striking in its simplicity and scale. The grandstand is one of the earliest of the group of Modernist grandstands built in post-war Victoria. Its architectural design is pivotal and it is a highly intact example of its class. The grandstand exhibits design characteristics which became standard, such as the accommodation of spectators in a single elongated stand without supporting vertical supports, and the provision of a wide visual field for racegoers without particular emphasis on the winning post.” Sandown is further described as having “aesthetic significance for its sophisticated and elegant form reflective of a period of vigorous architectural experiment in post-war Melbourne. Its cantilevered roof and bold single tier articulation combine to produce a structure of dynamism and daring visual impact. The grandstand was featured on the front cover of two leading architectural journals of the day and the design was described as ‘striking’ and ‘ultra-modern’.” Every Wednesday & Saturday in ANZ Bloodstock Saturday, November 16, 2019 Follow us @anz_news: click here | 10 | Brought to you by Spotlight falls on historic Sandown as fillies look to reverse Guineas trend Ladbrokes Park SANDOWN RACECOURSE | 11 | Because of this, there is no track in Australia better than Sandown in terms of watching a race. As a youngster, I well remember seeing the great Balmerino (Trictrac) at Sandown. It was the 1976 Feehan Stakes, transferred from Moonee Valley, and he was beaten by Wave King (Crest Of The Wave) after going into the race under an injury cloud. The following year, Balmerino would beat all but Alleged (Hoist The Flag) in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe. Alleged would win again in 1978. Sandown Racecourse celebrated its 50th anniversary two years ago. The first Sandown meeting, on the course as it is now, was held on June 19, 1965 and a still record 52,379 people turned up, causing traffic chaos in the area and bedlam inside the course. Motor racing has been conducted on the site since 1962 and therefore we can add the famous names of Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss to the list of great horses who’ve competed there including those already mentioned and track stalwarts like Samson (Nilo) and wins record holder Luther’s Luck (Acidity) plus memorable Orr Stakes winners Manikato (Manihi), Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince), At Talaq (Roberto), Let’s Elope (Nassipour) and Jeune (Kalaglow). So, what of today’s action? I suspect the key is to focus on horses ‘on the up” rather than those who might be having one last throw at the spring stumps and, a couple of the races, do have useful recent precedents which may be useful. R 3 – TWILIGHT GLOW STAKES (1400m – Listed) Xilong (Deep Field) and California Salto (Fastnet Rock) come off sound performances in the Desirable Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington on Cup day just as the past four winners of this race have done. Xilong was obviously the better run but California Salto had her momentum blocked at a crucial stage and I’d be inclined to back both. R 4 – SANDOWN STAKES (1500m – Group 3) The past two winners of this race had won the 1400m Benchmark 90 (1400m) at Flemington on Cup day. William Thomas (Nicconi) was narrowly beaten, under 60.5 kg, in that race this year and drops to 54 kg in this race. R 5 – DOVETON STAKES (1000m – Listed) The veteran Thermal Current (Exceed And Excel) ran well in the Century Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on Oaks day as did the past two winners of the Doveton. He’s on the up and can run well here together with stablemate Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) in the same colours R 7 – SANDOWN GUINEAS (1600m – Group 2) No filly has won the Guineas since 2005 but Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) went close finishing second last year and the females Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) and Affair To Remember (Toronado) look well placed. Xilong and California Salto will have provided a further lead to Pretty Brazen’s form. However, seven of the past 12 Sandown Guineas winners have come through the Carbine Club Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) which is a strong pointer for Conqueror (Fastnet Rock) who looks the each way play at around 9/1. R 9 – SUMMONED STAKES (1500m – Group 3) The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Jentico (Written Tycoon) is hopefully the best value bet. The form is good around her and and she won in a fast time on her latest outing. Yes, that was in a Benchmark 75 but the past two winners of this race were beaten in similar Benchmark races before winning here.