3 minute read
Punters are faces with what looks an incredibly tough day at Sandown today, with some big and very open fields.
The final race on the seven race card, the Ladies In Racing Magazine Handicap, is a 1400m race for mares and despite a several scratching looks a strong field to finish the day.
The Mornington trained mare, Lady Rum Dum, has earned a shot in town after three straight wins and there looks no reason why she won't measure up to midweek grade.
Prepared by Jason Warren, Lady Rum Dum made her debut over 1000m at Donald late last season and after settling off the pace loomed up and ran away with an impressive 3.3 length win.
She went for a spell before returning over 1021m on her home track as favourite. There she settled last but ran on hard to score her second win, this time by a comfortable 1.5 lengths.
Last start, again at home at the end of last year, she again got well back in the field and turned second last but powered home for a half length win.
That was in an RB72 so today she rises not only in class but the weights as well.
But she will be fitter again and looks ideally placed over the 1400m journey.
On what she's shown to date, there's little doubt she's capable of winning in this grade.
The bottom two gallopers, Go Katrina and Rock Of Ages, are both also progressive mares who appear the biggest dangers.
Rock Of Ages, in the Peter Moody yard, made her debut over 1200m at Cranbourne and was green when fourth, then stepped up to 1300m at Geelong on the all weather and was only fair when fourth as a short priced favourite.
Stepping up to 1400m at Ballarat, and strike a heavy track, she sat just off the pace but loomed up turning and sprinted clear, scoring a six length win before going for a spell.
After a break she resumed on top of the ground over 1200m at Cranbourne and would have pleased Moody no end to prove she wasn't just a wet tracker.
Settling midfield, she put herself into the race at the right time and scored a head win.
Today she rises sharply in grade but drops significantly in the weights after the claim for in form apprentice Daniel Stackhouse, down 4.5kg on the win.
She will be fitter and looks well suited by the longer trip.
Greg Eurell's Go Katrina is racing well and should give a sight.
The mare resumed over 1200m at Traralgon and carried a big weight from an awkward gate but after sitting fourth cruised away to win by almost three lengths.
She then raced here over 1200m and again drew wide, sitting midfield and working into the race before holding fourth, beaten 2.2 lengths behind Del Palio.
Today she drops to the minimum weight but perhaps more importantly has drawn ideally in gate three.
From there she should be on the speed throughout and will give a big sight.
Sweet 'N' Keen is the query runner of the race, making her Australian debut for the Nigel Blackiston stable.
The former Kiwi has won two of six runs and both wins have been at this distance.
She is seemingly yet to be prepared by win fresh but if the stable have her ready she can measure up to this class.
Furline is a very honest South Australian mare who can feature in the finish at odds again.