Panama Canal is eyeing his 12th straight victory in a Grade 5 Road to the Diamond 350m Final at Healesville, but Action Girl (won 12 from 15), Struck Gold (won nine from 13) and Revolution (won seven from 10) are worthy challengers.
TAB Million Dollar Chase finalist Photo Man faces Hill Top Jonnie in the third heat of the Healesville Derby, while G3 finalist Zigzag Cabang v Jefferson County and Aston Scorcher v G2 finalist Dynamic Prince v Silver Brute are great battles in the first two heats.
Queen Amarok stands out in the first heat of the Healesville Oaks, while Karmen Kristy v Sekola is a top clash in the second heat.
Big Opal Rocks – victorious in seven of his 13 races including a Sandown Park 29.02 victory in March – is the standout chaser in a Mixed 4/5 595m event at Sandown Park this afternoon.
Today’s Drawcards
Trainer: Jess Hopkins
Healesville Race 6
Box 5 350m 12:14pm
Claim to fame:
– Won last 11 (11 of 12 overall)
– 18.98 PB Healesville 350m
TAB fixed odds: $1.65
The Watchdog says: Yes
Trainer: Gavin Clifton
Healesville Race 9
Box 1 350m 1:19pm
Claim to fame:
– Million Dollar Chase finalist
– Won 8 from 18
TAB fixed odds: $2.90
The Watchdog says: No
Trainer: Mario Briganti
Sandown Park Race 6
Box 8 595m 3:45pm
Claim to fame:
– 29.02 PB Sandown Park 515m
– Won 7 from 13
TAB fixed odds: $1.18
The Watchdog says: Yes
THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT
Sunday 22 May
$2 Win – STRUCK GOLD
Must Watch Race
Grade 5 Final
Healesville Race 6
Box 6 350m 12:14pm
TAB fixed odds: $7.50 Win
The Watchdog says : PANAMA CANAL (5) and a few others are going to be very hard to beat, however STRUCK GOLD (6) is just as talented as any runner in this event, and he would have derived a lot of benefit from his first look at the track here last Sunday. He should get a nice cart across in the initial stages and at the price, he looks to be great value.
‘Must Watch Race’ Preview :
PANAMA CANAL (5) has won 11 straight and a clear run early should see him go very close again. He was an electric 18.98sec heat winner and he went through the first marker in a scorching 6.46sec, so he will need to produce something similar as he takes on some elite types. ACTION GIRL (3) is another with a tremendous winning strike rate and she has been enormous in her two runs since resuming. She has proven to be a very reliable beginner to date and could go stride for stride with PANAMA CANAL. Her kennelmate STRUCK GOLD (6) was beaten in his heat, however it was his first look at the track, so he would have derived a lot of benefit from that run. REVOLUTION (7) resumed from a spell with a devastating 19.09sec heat win and he will improve on that run.
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538601/race/6
The Watchdog’s selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 7
$4 Multi
First : Win – SPIRIT ENERGY
Sandown Park Race 4 Box 7 515m 2:58pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.70 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538602/race/4
Second : Place – WIGRAM ROAD
Sandown Park Race 8 Box 2 515m 4:22pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.65 Place (Top two finish required)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538602/race/8
Third : Win – HIS GOT TOW
Sandown Park Race 12 Box 1 595m 5:36pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.30 Win
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538602/race/12
The Watchdog says : SPIRIT ENERGY (7) resumes after well over 12 months off, however she sizzled in a trial at Geelong, and she looks very well graded in this event. WIGRAM ROAD (2) is a powerful type, and he will get a dream run through at the bend behind his kennelmate MY SEANNA (1). HIS GOT TOW (1) has panels on his rivals and there should be no excuses from the inside draw.
Multi price: $3.65
$4 Multi
First : Place – ZEALOUS ALEX
Sale Race 6 Box 8 440m 6:24pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.90 Place (Top two finish required)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538600/race/6
Second : Place – SOLEUS
Sale Race 9 Box 6 440m 7:25pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.65 Place (Top two finish required)
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538600/race/9
Third : Place – SWEET LIFE
Sale Race 11 Box 1 440m 8:06pm
TAB fixed odds: $1.55 Place
Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/666538600/race/11
The Watchdog says : ZEALOUS ALEX (8) is ideally drawn out wide and he is armed with blistering early speed. He meets a good line-up, but a clean getaway should see him hit the scoreboard. SOLEUS (6) was far from disgraced at Sale last start and he will be much better for the run. SWEET LIFE (1) has a flat patch mid-race; however, she does burn early and that should allow her to set up a nice lead and after being headed mid race, she should still kick on for a top-three finish.
Multi price: $4.85
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