As we edge closer to the start of October, it also means that we are getting closer to ‘moving day’ with the Turnbull Stakes meeting at Flemington on October 1. From Underwood Stakes Day at Sandown on Sunday, we have found three horses that are worth following into their next start after producing very good runs in defeat in three of the main events.
Sandown Hillside – Sunday, September 25
Track rating: Soft 5 (up to Good 4 after Race 3)
Rail position: True
Race 7: Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) | Time: 1:23.83
- Horse to follow: RUSSIAN CONQUEST (4th)
In a race that lacked speed, Russian Conquest found herself out the back early with a lot of horses around her, cluttered up with not a lot of room to move by the time the Jim Moloney Stakes field hit the home straight. Jamie Kah gave this daughter of Russian Revolution a very good ride under the circumstances and lack of tempo, where the race did not set up for her at all. She really only found free air and space to move at the 200m mark and once she got that space she was so desperate for, we saw this filly’s amazing turn of foot to only go down by 0.4 of a length, officially.
When to bet: Peter & Paul Snowden and the owners of Russian Conquest still hold a nomination for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 12, where she is $10 in futures markets with online betting sites. With the extra 200m – going from 1400m on Sunday to 1600m in the Thousand Guineas – and with more speed injected into the race, we suggest following this girl after such an impressive second-up run.
Race 8: Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) | Time: 1:48.98
- Horse to follow: MO’UNGA (2nd)
Considering that Mo’unga has run third in a Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes first-up and second in a Group 1 Underwood Stakes second-up, it isn’t very hard to see that he is a looking for more ground now. Hugh Bowman was suspended for overuse of the whip whilst riding Mo’unga to his second-place finish in the Underwood, but even so, this son of Savabeel beat the race favourites in Zaaki and I’m Thunderstruck. The majority of the small field in the Underwood Stakes wanted to be in the middle of the track, where it seemed to be better ground; however, Hugh Bowman took Mo’unga to the less-favoured inside and he was still able to pick up a length or two on the leaders, shedding more light on how impressive his run really was.
When to bet: As of right now, Annabel Neasham and the owners of Mo’unga hold a nomination for the Cox Plate on October 22 at Moonee Valley, where he is $18 in futures markets with online bookmakers. However, there is also a chance this guy could line up in the Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 8, where he is a $12 chance. We suggest having a wager on Mo’unga at his next start, wherever that is.
Race 9: Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1300m) | Time: 1:16.09
- Horse to follow: BANDERSNATCH (3rd)
In the Testa Rossa Stakes we saw the very talented I Wish I Win and Ayrton run one-two in the final race of the day, but the surprise run in the race came from a $51 outsider. Bandersnatch was very good at his first-up run with his aim this preparation clearly over further than 1300m. Jye McNeil had this guy out the back rounding the home corner, and while he wasn’t as good as the winner, I Wish I Win, he was a very close second when it came down to finishing off the race. The Team Hawkes-trained gelding went down by just over a length and looked as though any further distance would be a massive positive.
When to bet: Bandersnatch has qualified for the inaugural $2 million Big Dance at Randwick on November 1 over 1600m, which will no doubt be the race he will be most screwed down for. As long as his next run between the Testa Rossa Stakes and The Big Dance is solid enough, we think this guy will be a great bet at $13 in futures markets.
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