On The Punt: Gilbert Gardiner’s Sandown-Lakeside tips for Wednesday

Racenet and The Herald-Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner analyses the eight-race card on the Lakeside track at Sandown on Wednesday, where he’s keen on a Mark Zahra mount.

Gilbert Gardiner

@gilbertgardiner

less than 2 min read

August 14, 2024 - 6:00AM

Sparkling, ridden by Ethan Brown, won at Cranbourne last start. Picture: Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

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Racenet and The Herald-Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner analyses the eight-race card on the Lakeside track at Sandown on Wednesday.

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BEST BET
Race 5 No.7 SPARKLING – $4.40
Travelled strongly outside the leader last start at Cranbourne and booted clear for a comfortable win. Drawn to be prominent again and Mark Zahra aboard.

Sparkling makes a winning return to racing! âœ¨

The mare by The Autumn Sun provides @Brown_ethan8 with a double âœŒï¸@mattlaurierace pic.twitter.com/mm3hoTcvyv
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 1, 2024

NEXT BEST
Race 1 No.1 DELIVERING – $2.20
Nine start maiden bursting to win a race. Placed on six occasions including runner-up the past two starts.

Race 6 No.5 HONOR GALORE – $5.50
First-up after a long break but trialled up a treat and has Blake Shinn aboard. Honor Galore won her first two starts last year, including one at Sandown, then competed honourably in stakes company.

The well-fancied Honor Galore makes it two from two for Cliff Brown ðŸ”¥@LaneDamian pic.twitter.com/5KLZiRPAWV
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 20, 2023

VALUE BET
Race 4 No.6 SHE SMASHES – $19
Back in the ruck first-up and never a factor at Caulfield. Better than that performance, back in grade and drawn low.

It's a dead heat at Pakenham! ðŸš¨

She Smashes & Barbaric Lad share the prize in R3. pic.twitter.com/uR7jwxx8DR
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 22, 2024

THE JOCKEY
Mark Zahra has a book of five rides, with four of them priced at single-figure odds. WAGGA WAGGA (Race 3 No.5 – $12), NOSTRINGSATTACHED (Race 4 No.4 – $5), SPARKLING (Race 5 No.7 – $4.40), STARIANNE (Race 7 No.1 – $6) and HARTMAN (Race 8 No.10 – $7).