The $300,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas is one of six Group races that bring the Spring Racing Carnival to a close this weekend.
The Adelaide-based Lord Aspen is set to put his unbeaten record on the line for Mick Huxtable following his impressive victory in the Hilton Hotels and Resorts Stakes. That win stretched his winning run to four and Matthew Neilson will ride him from barrier six on Saturday.
He is still relatively inexperienced and connections are optimistic that there is still further improvement to come. Third home Ducal Castle re-opposes after finishing strongly but Neilson felt that the winner was dossing in front.
The favourite is Darren Weir’s Stratum Star who will break from barrier two in the hands of Kerrin McEvoy. The son of Stratum colt has been in the first three in all of his last six races and looked sure to win the Group 3 Carbine Stakes last time out. The race was run at a crawl and he virtually pulled his way to the front with two furlongs to go but was run out of it by Kermadec close home.
He had earlier won the Listed Yellowglen Vintage Stakes and Crown Lager Stakes and a faster pace on Saturday should suit him. The Godolphin-owned Careless stayed on into fifth place and has plenty ground to make up.
The David Hayes & Tom Dabernig duo of Zululand and Petrology have been done no favours by the draw. Zululand and Stephen Baster start from barrier 9 with Petrology (Nicholas Hall) widest of all in barrier 13. Petrology won the Listed TV Stakes on Crown Oaks Day from Chill Party but the form does not look the strongest on offer.
Paul Messara has been talking up the chances of the lightly-raced Rekindled Power after his easy win in a maiden race at Bendigo last time. He will start from barrier ten under Dwayne Dunn and is closely related to the smart Rekindled Interest. That horse won the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase and Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes as well as being placed in the Cox Plate. This race may just come a little too soon in Rekindled Power’s career but he looks a nice prospect.
Stratum Star is the form choice but Lord Aspen may just provide better value at around the 9-2 mark.
Lord Aspen @5.50 Sportsbet
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