3 minute read

We head to Sandown for Saturday racing with big fields and good betting opportunities.

Sandown takes its first Saturday meeting of many throughout the winter period, a role it does so well and one that (hopefully) isn't given away.

I'm looking to Race 4 for the best of the day where the topweight Fasuto just needs to replicate what he did fresh to be winning this.

He posted a big rating of 105 there with the 62kg at Mornington, smashing Title Fighter by three lengths who then came out and won a three-year-old open race at Caulfield over some handy types.

Consistency has been Fasuto's problem so he's no sure thing to go and repeat his rating but we're getting a good price again in what doesn't look a particularly strong benchmark 78.

Even with 61kg, our weight-adjusted ratings have him a few pounds clear of the next best last start rating, and I like the fact he's over a month between runs with Luke Nolen sticking.

The wide draw won't be an issue from the chute start and he can probably just get a similar run to his win first up off a strong speed. $5 in the market looks more than fair.

For the value play I'm heading to the last where Showmanship gets to 1400m second-up having done more than enough on resumption in the Wangoom at Warrnambool, getting back on a day where it was near impossible to make ground and running on well.

The tempo was strong there but even still, he was first-up on testing ground on an unfavourable track and came home in the second-fastest last 600m and equal fastest last 200m.

His splits were near identical to Nicolini Vito, who was fitter and finished a length ahead of him. He's come out and run second in the Straight Six but is ¼ of the price of Showmanship here, who draws to sit much closer and is 4/5 at 1400m.

Happy to take the double figures about Showmanship, who can easily improve 10 pounds here off his 98 rating first-up. At his best, he's close to the best horse in this race and there was nothing in the first-up run to suggest he hasn't come back healthy.
 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL

Bet of the day: Race 4 #1 Fasuto at $5
Each-way play: Race 10 #3 Showmanship at $13/3.9