| What | Sandown Lakeside Races |
| Where | Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 |
| When | Wednesday, December 14, 2022 |
| First Race | 3:40pm AEDT |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing returns to the Lakeside track at Sandown for the first time since November 23 on Wednesday afternoon for an eight-race twilight meeting. With a bit of rain forecast in Melbourne’s southeast throughout the start of the week, we expect to be racing on a rain-affected track, and it would appear the current Soft 6 will be more like a Soft 7 or Heavy 8 come the opening race. The meeting gets underway at 3:40pm AEDT with the rail in the true position for the entire circuit.
SANDOWN BEST BET: Vermentino
The undefeated Vermentino returns to the Sandown Lakeside 1200m on Wednesday and looks a clear best of the day. The four-year-old gelding resumed off a near 12-month layoff with a comprehensive 2.5 lengths romp in BM64 company at this track and trip on November 23. The Extreme Choice gelding steps into BM70 grade which looks well within his grasp considering he will be up on speed throughout. Ben Melham sticks on board which is only a positive and as long as he handles the step up in class, Vermentino looks to have plenty of upside about him and should be making it three wins from as many starts.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#11 Vermentino (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Ben Melham (59kg)
$3.10 with Bet365
NEXT BEST AT SANDOWN: Ima Shelby
We will be looking to make our impact known in the quaddie and it kicks off in the opening leg of the quaddie with the Ben & JD Hayes-trained Ima Shelby. The four-year-old gelding was a disgusting watch at Moonee Valley on December 2 where from barrier one, he saw nothing but backsides the entire race and went to the line hard held when beaten 2.5 lengths in fourth. Having drawn barrier nine on Wednesday, getting held up for a run should not be an issue and with Laura Lafferty on board claiming 3kg, he looks well-weighted in this BM64 affair. Look for Lafferty to use her claim to her advantage and have Ima Shelby bounding along out in front over 1600m, where he should prove too hard to run down.
Next Best
Race 5 – #3 Ima Shelby (9)
4yo Gelding | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Laura Lafferty (a3) (60.5kg)
$2.45 with Neds
SANDOWN VALUE BET: Thornycroft
This may seem a bit of a throw at the stumps, but the Chris Waller-trained Thornycroft looks to be over the odds with online bookmakers in the opener. The three-year-old Preferment gelding managed to finish midfield beaten five-lengths by Flying Temptress and Rackermann. He meets Rackermann once again on Wednesday but getting back to a track with the sting out of it might just suit this bloke a bit more. Based on his debut run at Geelong, he looks like he will improve stepping out to 1400m third-up from a spell. Damien Oliver sticks on board and if he can find the one-one, Thornycroft will have a tactical advantage on Rackermann and might prove too hard to gun down.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#9 Thornycroft (6)
3yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Damien Oliver (58kg)
$12 with Unibet
Wednesday quaddie tips for Sandown races
Sandown quadrella selections
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
- 1-3
- 1-4-5-8-10
- 1-2-7-9
- 11-12
Investment: $80 for 100%
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