Early Oil: Sandown Hillside best bets and preview for Saturday February 4

A smart Mornington-trained filly can continue on her winning way while a shock result is not beyond a former WA mare at Saturday’s Sandown races.

Benedetta and jockey Daniel Stackhouse will chase a third straight win together at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday’s Sandown Hillside meeting.

BEST BET

BENEDETTA (Race 4, No.1)

Benedetta has looked a stakes-class filly in the making at her last two outings. She can take another big step at Sandown on Saturday.

VALUE BET

UNUSUAL CULTURE (Race R5, No.12)

She hit the line hard when narrowly beaten on the Lakeside course first-up. She’ll only be improved for that and any rise in trip will suit.

EARLY QUADDIE

2, 3/1, 2, 3, 8/1, 5/5, 6, 10, 12

$100 flexi for 156 per cent

BIG6

1, 5/5, 6, 10, 12/3, 7, 11/1, 3, 10, 12/5, 6/1, 2, 6, 9

$100 flexi for 13 per cent

QUADDIE

Race 6: 3, 7, 11

Race 7: 1, 3, 10, 12

Race 8: 5, 6

Race 9: 1, 2, 6, 9

$100 flexi for 104 per cent

Impressive debut winner Serasana will attempt to stay unbeaten in Saturday’s Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Sandown. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 1: 12:35PM THE MCCAFE HANDICAP (1000m)

Interesting start to Saturday’s Sandown meeting, which should be run on a perfect track. MILLANE (5) could fire fresh for the Peter Moody stable. He wasn’t far from Giga Kick first-up last time in and has had more time to develop. INUNDATION (1) has returned in terrific order this time in and will be one of the hardest to beat. ZORRO’S DREAM (2) ran on steadily down the straight first-up and has a solid second-up record. FIRE (3) is a talented sprinter that also commands respect here.

SUGGESTED BET: Millane to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Fire $3.90 – $3.70.

RACE 2: 1:10PM GROUP 3 LAMARO’S HOTEL CHAIRMAN’S STAKES (1000m)

A couple of smart youngsters will clash here but giving a slight edge to SERASANA (3), who was a class above her rivals on debut on this track in December. VEECEE (2) looked terrific when winning on debut down the straight at Flemington and should be a tough challenge for the filly. ZULFIQAR (1) was a first-up winner at Flemington in the spring and has an experience edge. EXTREMELY WICKED (7) was solid on debut at The Valley and should measure up.

SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 7.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Perilous Fighter $21 – $18.

RACE 3: 1:45PM ROBERT HUNTER HANDICAP (1800m)

Only nine runners after scratchings but this is a tricky little race. FIELD THE MOMENT (8) did a good job when leading and running second to the smart Shuffle Dancer at The Valley. She’ll be in this for a long way as well. MICHELOTTI (3) comes out of the same race and won’t mind the 1800m. HENNESSY LAD (1) was stiff not to beat the older horses at The Valley last start and will be around the mark. BLAKMAX (2) is lightly raced but has the talent to perform well here.

SUGGESTED BET: Field The Moment.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Blakmax $4.40 – $3.80

Wrote To Arataki will have a crack at a Group 3 win in Saturday’s Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes at Sandown. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

RACE 4: 2:20PM JOHN MOULE HANDICAP (1300m)

BENEDETTA (1) could be an exciting filly on her way to harder races and I’m happy to back her to continue her winning run at Sandown on the strength of dominant wins at her last two starts. BELMIA (5) is a promising filly and can continue to develop if she can learn to begin better. COLORADO CRUZ (9) is racing consistently and has drawn to have every chance. DISCERNING (4) chased home Benedetta last start and will perform well again.

SUGGESTED BET: Benedetta to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Benedetta $2.90 – $2.40.

RACE 5: 3:00PM MAL SECCULL HANDICAP (1400m)

One of the harder races of the day but UNUSUAL CULTURE (12) can build on a promising first-up second when she gets up to 1400m. She’ll be fitter for that and will be thereabouts. EURO DANDY (5) is racing in terrific fashion and must be considered again on the bigger Sandown track. GALACTIC FURY (6) improved to score at Cranbourne and could go on with it now he’s found form. MARLION’S DREAM (10) ran on soundly at Flemington and is worth thought.

SUGGESTED BET: Unusual Culture to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Rheinberg $16 – $9.50.

RACE 6: 3:40PM THE GRAHAM ARCHIBALD GIRDWOOD CLASSIC (1300m)

Another even race but giving FOUJITA SAN (11) a chance to beat the older horses first-up. He was solid in this distance range early in the spring before struggling at Group 1 level. DAYTONA BAY (3) has done nothing wrong in his career to date and will be one of main threats again. CONQUEROR (7) ran on steadily behind a smart mare at The Valley first-up and another 100m will suit. MORRISSY (8) was sound at Warrnambool and could be one for multiples on his return to the Corstens camp.

SUGGESTED BET: Foujita San to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Daytona Bay $3.30 – $2.80.

Talented galloper Right You Are will shoot for a hat trick of wins when he has his first run of the year at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 7: 4:20PM GROUP 3 LAMARO’S HOTEL GEOFFREY BELLMAINE STAKES (1300m)

This is the hardest race of the day with most of these runners having some sort of winning chance. Going throw a Hail Mary and have a tiny bet on WATCH ME DANCE (3) second-up. Nothing went right for her when back, wide then held up first-up at The Valley. She had a strong record in WA before joining the Lloyd Kennewell camp and might be on her way back to top form. WROTE TO ARATAKI (10) deserves a crack at stakes class and could measure up. SONORA (12) steps up in class but is going well. EXCELIDA (1) hasn’t won first-up but is the class runner of the field.

SUGGESTED BET: Tiny bet on Watch Me Dance to place.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Snapped $6.50 – $4.20.

RACE 8: 5:00PM LADBROKE IT! HANDICAP (1800m)

Good race but going with RIGHT YOU ARE (6) after two excellent efforts in December. He’s up in class but a 5.5kg will make him hard to beat again. DETONATOR JACK (5) was solid in defeat when rising in weight last time out but drops 3.5kg for this and will go close. BELTORO (9) impressed when breaking through at Flemington and could go on with it. AMADE (1) resumes from a long spell but his last jumpout was promising.

SUGGESTED BET: Right You Are to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Riot And Rose $4.80 – $3.70.

RACE 9: 5:40PM CATANACH’S JEWELLERS HANDICAP (1700m)

SO YOU SEE (9) is a talented mare on the way up and proved far too good for a couple of consistent types last time out. She’ll handle a step up in class on Saturday. RIVERPLATE (6) impressed with his last start win and has drawn perfectly. ST LAWRENCE (2) is talented and could stay unbeaten with luck from the tricky gate. GLORY DAZE (1) ran on steadily at his local debut and will be much fitter.

SUGGESTED BET: So You See to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Glory Daze $9.50 – $6.

So You See and jockey Jamie Mott will again combine at Sandown on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images