Zipping Classic Day brings the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival to a close with some top class racing. The Listed Sandown Cup should satisfy Australian racing fans who enjoy a good staying contest with 10 set to go to post for race 4 on the card.
Top weight for the $150,000 event is Shoreham, trained by Saab Hasan. Craig Williams rides the five-year-old who will start from barrier 2 but there is little else to recommend him. He has not won since the Listed Sofitel in September 2013 and his best effort since was fourth in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes behind Unchain My Heart.
That was way back in May for the Hayes and Dabernig team and the mare was never a factor in last week’s Melbourne Cup, eventually trailing home in 16th place. Craig Newitt takes the ride on her and will start from barrier five.
The favourite is Robert Hickmott’s Massiyn following a find run in the Bendigo Cup behind Bring Something. He stuck on well after chasing a fast pace that day and the winner went on to run well in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend.
UK racing fans will remember Massiyn being beaten a head by Royal Diamond in the Irish St Leger back in 2012. That was a vintage renewal with Brown Panther third, Aiken fourth, Simenon fifth and Fame And Glory in sixth. He was then bought with the intention of having a tilt at the Melbourne Cup in the famous Lloyd Williams colours. Providing that recent race has not taken too much out of him, he looks the one to beat on Saturday.
Like A Carousel finished sixth behind Signoff in the Lexus Stakes last time and was also third in the Geelong Cup. He won the Listed Harry White Classic in September and should not be far away. Renew ran poorly in the Caulfield Cup but bounced back to his best when second to Grand Marshal at Flemington last time. He is another familiar name to UK punters having worked his way up the handicap with Marco Botti as a three-year-old.
Staying on behind Renew in fifth spot was Aggregator who only had a couple behind him on the home turn. He could run into a place here if kept a little closer to the pace. He was only fifth in the Geelong and is unlikely to be improving at the age of seven.
Massiyn @3.20 Sportsbet
