| What | Sandown Races |
| Where | Sandown Racecourse – 591-659 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171 |
| When | Saturday, February 4, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:35pm AEDT |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Metropolitan racing in Melbourne heads to the Hillside track at Sandown on Saturday afternoon for a nine-race program. Highlighted by the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes, the meeting is littered with plenty of good horses as the Autumn Carnival inches closer and closer. We expect a firm track despite intermittent showers forecast for Melbourne’s south-east in the lead-up, meaning we should be on a Soft 5 at worst. The rail comes out 3m the entire circuit for the meeting commencing at 12:35pm AEDT.
Chairman’s Stakes Top Tip: Pacific Ruby
A traditional lead-up to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes is the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and we’re hoping Serasana can remain unbeaten through two starts. The two-year-old filly has not been seen since a dominant debut win at the track and trip on December 10. Despite being eight-weeks between runs, what we saw on debut suggests she is a filly with above average ability. Dean Yendall sticks on board and from barrier seven is sure to gain a perfect run in transit, lobbing in the one-one. She showed on debut that she is armed with a blistering turn of foot and despite race favourite Veecee showing similar ability, we’re happy to side with Serasana in the first of the features at Sandown.
Chairman’s Stakes
Race 2 – 
#3 Serasana (7)
2yo Filly | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Dean Yendall (57kg)
$2.90 with Palmerbet
Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes Tip: Snapped
The Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes has produced several Futurity Stakes runners in the past and despite this year’s event not having the depth of years gone by, Snapped looks a deserving favourite. It was a horror watch for those who took the odds-on quote for this mare at Rosehill on January 14, but we anticipate she will bounce back in a big way on Saturday. The jockey was lucky to stay on board when Snapped ran into the running rail on that day and considering she saw nothing but backsides in the home straight, she did well to be beat by a half-length and was arguably a good thing licked. Mark Zahra hops on board this time round and from barrier six, getting boxed in should not be a concern. She was a smart winner her over 1000m first-up and the 1300m third-up looks ideal for Snapped who looks to be a mare capable of rising through the grades quickly.
Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes
Race 7 – 
#11 Snapped (6)
4yo Mare | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (56kg)
$4.20 with Unibet
Best Bet at Sandown: Detonator Jack
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Detonator Jack wasn’t suited by the sit and sprint nature in a BM100 at the 1700m here at Sandown on January 7 and if we get a race run at a genuine tempo this time round, he looks a class above this lot. With the likes of Nerve Not Verve, Nancho and Don’t Doubt Dory engaged, we are sure to get a genuinely run event which should suit a backmarker like Detonator Jack down to the ground in the penultimate event of the day. His want to settle at the rear of the field offsets barrier 11 and considering he has not finished outside of the top three in eight career starts, Detonator Jack brings an element of class to this BM100. He has the best turn of foot in the race and as long as he does not get too short with online bookmakers on race day, Detonator Jack is a clear best bet of the day.
Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#5 Detonator Jack (11)
4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: John Allen (56.5kg)
$2.40 with Bet365
Next Best at Sandown: Benedetta
Benedetta has been nothing short of impressive since debuting and following two dominant wins, we expect the Jason Warren-trained filly will bring up a third win in a row on Saturday. The three-year-old Hellbent filly settled midfield at the Sandown 1300m last time out and when asked for an effort put her rivals to the sword in convincing fashion. She steps up to BM78 grade, but she certainly looks to have some untapped potential behind her and should be winning races better than this. From barrier 10, Daniel Stackhouse will look to have her settled midfield with cover once again and with a strong finishing burst, Benedetta should prove too hard to hold out once again.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#1 Benedetta (10)
3yo Filly | T: Jason Warren | J: Daniel Stackhouse (58kg)
$2.40 with Ladbrokes
Best Value at Sandown: No Way Ever
The progressive Inundation may be a deserving odds-on favourite but based on the way No Way Ever won over the Sandown 1000m on January 7, we’re happy to side with her at a double figure quote in the opener. The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained mare deadset flew home on the back of a breakneck speed on that occasion and managed to overhaul subsequent Moonee Valley winner Unflinching in doing so. She looks set to gain a perfect run in transit just off a similarly run speed behind the two market fancies Inundation and Fire. With even luck from barrier one and a whopping 6kg weight advantage over the favourite following Celine Gaudray’s claim, the $10 on offer with online betting sites is simply too hard to ignore.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#4 No Way Ever (1)
4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Celine Gaudray (a3) (58kg)
$10 with Neds
Saturday quaddie tips for Sandown races
Sandown quadrella selections
Saturday, February 4, 2023
- 3-11
- 4-10-11
- 5-6
- 2-6-9
Investment: $36 for 100%
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