| What | Sandown Hillside Races |
| Where | Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 |
| When | Saturday, April 29, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:35am AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing returns to the Hillside track at Sandown once again on Saturday afternoon with a monster 10-race program set down for decision. Following the abandonment of Flemington’s program on ANZAC Day, the Listed VRC St Leger and Listed ANZAC Day Stakes accompany the Listed Anniversary Vase this weekend. With perfect weather forecast, we expect to be racing on a Good 4 throughout the day with the rail coming out 3m the entire circuit. The action commences at 11:35am AEST.
Anniversary Vase Tip: Megamea
The Listed Anniversary Vase has attracted a strong field of 12 for the penultimate race on the card, and we’re hoping the Luke Oliver-trained Megamea can break through for her maiden Stakes success. The six-year-old mare was last seen finishing a nose off Good And Proper on the Lakeside track over 1400m when stretching out nicely, only to go down by the barest of margins. She gets in beautifully at the weights for Saturday’s task with just 54kgs on her back, which should aid her cause to run on from the rear of the field. With Buffalo River and Imperial Lad set to run this at a genuinely clip, the race looks to shape up nicely for Megamea to finish right over the top.
Anniversary Vase
Race 9 – 
#12 Megamea (4)
6yo Mare | T: Luke Oliver | J: Jye McNeil (54kg)
$7 with Palmerbet
VRC St Leger Tip: Nightsun
The annual VRC St Leger is essentially a glorified BM64 on Saturday, with the top-rated horse being just a 62-rater in the 3000m event worth $300,000. Most of these come out of the Listed Galilee Series Final, and we expect the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock-trained Nightsun to bounce back from a poor showing in that race. The three-year-old gelding was ridden in a more prominent role than usual and didn’t show much when asked for an effort. His run the start prior was much more promising, and a repeat of that will have him right in the finish in a field like this. He looks like an old-fashioned dour stayer, and if he can see out the 3000m, there is no reason why Nightsun cannot win this.
VRC St Leger
Race 8 – 
#2 Nightsun (5)
3yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Craig Newitt (58kg)
$19 with Unibet
ANZAC Day Stakes Tip: Mistavain
The Gavin Bedggood-trained Mistavain did more than enough on debut in The Showdown to suggest he is capable of a forward showing in Saturday’s ANZAC Day Stakes. The two-year-old finished on the heels of Treasurway, who he meets again in this, but is almost double the price of his rival. There is no She’sallshenanigans in this race, and if Brian Higgins can get a cart across from barrier 10 and land the one-one, then Mistavain looks to present great value in the first of three Listed races on the card.
ANZAC Day Stakes
Race 5 – 
#3 Mistavain (10)
2yo Colt | T: Gavin Bedggood | J: Brian Higgins (58kg)
$9 with Betfair
Best Bet at Sandown: King’s Crossing
We do not need to wait too long for our best bet at Sandown as the Danny O’Brien-trained King’s Crossing looks to go one better than his narrow defeat at Geelong last time out. The three-year-old gelding seemingly had the race shot to pieces at Geelong, before a $101 shot pipped him in the shadows of the winning post with a freakish finish. The pair put three lengths on their closest rival, and considering how this son of Almanzor won his maiden the start prior, he looks to have a bit more ability than the rest of these. Look for Jye McNeil to hold a prominent spot aboard King’s Crossing, who should prove too hard to hold out over 2400m.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#2 King’s Crossing (8)
3yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Jye McNeil (54kg)
$3.30 with Bet365
Next Best at Sandown: Karalee Rocks
The way the Lindsey Smith-trained Karalee Rocks won on her Victorian debut at Geelong on Good Friday suggests she is a mare worth following. The four-year-old gave her rivals a start and a beating over 1100m when storming home late in BM64 company. The step up to BM78 looks like nothing to be concerned about, as this girl seems capable of winning races better than this. From barrier 15, Beau Mertens will have the Flying Artie mare settled at the rear of the field once again, and when asked for an effort, look for Karalee Rocks to blouse her rivals once again and send us home a winner.
Next Best
Race 10 – 
#6 Karalee Rocks (15)
4yo Mare | T: Lindsey Smith | J: Beau Mertens (58.5kg)
$3.30 with Ladbrokes
Best Value at Sandown: Castillian
One of the more intriguing runners on Saturday’s card is Patrick Payne’s Castillian. The three-year-old gelding simply has been racing at unsuitable sprint distances in his two runs this campaign, and the step up to 1400m, third-up from a spell looks to be the recipe for success. During the spring, he managed to defeat subsequent Australian Derby winner Major Beel over 1500m and the start prior he was nosed out by Virtuous Circle, who would then go on to run second to Major Beel in the Derby last month. With speed drawn both directly outside and underneath him, Billy Egan should gain a nice cart across the field, and if he can hold a spot around midfield with cover, Castillian should enjoy the long straight on the Hillside track. This guy can give us a sight at a big price with online bookmakers.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#2 Castillian (9)
3yo Gelding | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (55.5kg)
$13 with Neds
Saturday quaddie tips for Sandown races
Sandown quadrella selections
Saturday, April 29, 2023
- 3-6-10
- 1-2-5-12
- 1-2-3-6-12
- 6-8
Investment: $120 for 100%
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