Respected value hunting tipster Laurie Sainsbury is banking on some strong Sydney form to send followers home a winner at the Sandown Hillside meeting on Saturday.
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Here are this week’s tips.
BLAZE A TRAIL (Eagle Farm Race 2 No 2) He has a tendency to mix his form but if you look thought his form, he’s a horse that’s desperate for good tracks. I watched The Archer in Rockhampton and was taken by his run on a soft (5). He drew barrier 11 and was always wide. Zac Lloyd had no options but to sit and wait before being very wide on the turn and he then got within a length of the lead at around the 150m before tiring late. Barrier two this time and Mark Zahra rides. He has been primed for this with a trial at Rocky last week and I will be surprised if he doesn’t race well. Track is currently a soft (5) but the forecast is fine so a good (4) is expected. He’s already been well supported which is a plus. BET: EACH WAY
SEVEN VEILS (Eagle Farm Race 5 No 14) She was enormous at her first start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in the Redelva at Morphettville. She was five wide in the run with cover and on the turn was at least nine wide so to only go down by 1-3/4 lengths in her first start for 31 weeks was super. Then she ran well again in the Tobin Bronze, also at Morphettville, when again wide, three deep this time, and she was only beaten a length behind Royal Merchant when strong late. Royal Merchant came out and won the Goodwood last week – that reads well. I think she’s big overs. BET: EACH-WAY
GREEN FLY (Sandown Hillside Race 8 No3) He is an import from France that had his first Australian start at Flemington in November last year and was beaten two lengths by Detonator Jack. He then went to Ballarat on a heavy (8) and defeated Detonator Jack. He comes here second-up this preparation knowing he’s undefeated in three previous second-up runs and get’s a track that will have plenty of give in it. His first-up run was better this time than back in November as he ran the second fastest last 200m of the meeting and was beaten less than two lengths by King Magnus and Crosshaven at Flemington. No flash odds but I like his chances. A fluker’s hope here is Mostly Cloudy, strong in a recent jumpout. BET: WIN
QUALITY TIME (Sandown Hillside Race 9 No 12) I’m taking a line through the form out of the Wagga Gold Cup here. Two runs back this horse was beaten less than a length at Rosehill running third to Marsabit and Navajo Peak, giving 5kg to Marsabit and 2kg to Navajo Peak. Marsabit then came out and ran fifth in the Wagga Gold Cup, beaten less than a length and Navajo Peak ran second in the Gosford Cup. Quality Time was luckless in the Gosford Cup, caught wide the rider elected to kick up and lead. He was keen and led and the pattern of the day was to swoop. I am hoping that Zac Spain can have him settle and the removal of blinkers may just help that. Another One was brave in that Wagga Gold Cup and with 200m less to travel may give plenty of cheek here. BET: EACH-WAY.