Gilbert Gardiner's Blackbook: Horses to follow from Sandown
Form analyst Gilbert Gardiner wraps up Saturday's meeting at Sandown-Hillside, revealing his horses to follow and forgive from horses to follow and forgive from the nine-race card.
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FIVE TO FOLLOW
DETONATOR JACK (3.2-length 6th of 13, race 9): Not won for a while but raced consistently in stronger company the past 18 months. First start since the Big Dance in Sydney on Melbourne Cup Day last year and worked through gears nicely late after being forced to settle last from the wide barrier. Not as sharp at 1400m as the Sandown opposition but should bridge the gap second-up at 1600m.
MANOLO BLING (1.1-length 3rd of 14, race 8): Matched motors with the seasoned sprinter KATSU (2nd) and refused to shirk the contest late albeit forced to settle for third place as stablemate CHINQUI box-seated and swept past the leaders late. Manolo Bling should be hard to beat third-up next start.
TALBRAGAR (2.8-length 7th of 14, race 8): Raced closer to the rail in the straight and probably not the best ground late on the card. Urged along at the 400m and up for the fight to run seventh, beaten less than three lengths. Only second-up last Saturday and scope to improve, especially on genuine rain-affected ground.
EAGLE EXPRESS (1.1-length 3rd of 11, race 2): Unlikely to get $41 again but should be hard to beat next start, preferably up slightly in distance. Enjoyed an economical ride, well back on the rail and jockey Teo Nugent saved ground around the bend, and finished off accordingly. Liked her last 75m.
MILFORD (3.2-length 7th of 13, race 7): Long way off a strong pace and restrained off heels around the home bend. Picked up again, largely under own steam in restricted room, and yet recorded the third fastest last 200m in the 1800m Open Handicap. Could third-up 2000m at Caulfield or Flemington be a successful formula?
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FORGIVE
AHHA AHHA (3.3-length 7th of 10, race 3): End of preparation. Travelled well in the run but failed to quicken. Assistant trainer Ali McDonald said Ahha Ahha would be spelled. Ahha Ahha has raced consistently previously, won two of her past four before last Saturday, and should benefit from a break.
SAYEDATY SADATY (2.5-length 3rd of 13, race 7): Not sure suited by the solid tempo he chased through the early and middle stages but endurance clicked into gear and stuck to the task late, as the other runners on speed faded out of contention.
OCEANSPRINT (6.9-length 10th of 11, race 1): Stride slow out and settled in an awkward rearward position. Tried to work into clear air around the bend and at the top of the straight but could only slide off heels and denied any true momentum. Previously unbeaten in three trials and 1000m Ballarat debut. Something under the bonnet.
FORGOT YOU (14.5-length 12th of 13, race 7): Inconclusive. The six-year-old has raced solidly in two starts back from a break and poised to run a cheeky race last Saturday but clobbered around the home bend, jammed up between LAVISH THINKER (11th) and TEMPESTI (13th) as the latter rolled out on the turn.
SUANCES (5.6-length 9th of 15, race 5): Got all the right brakes the start prior when victorious at Sandown but none last Saturday. Tightened for room at the start and then held up from the 500m to 300m. A post-race examination revealed the mare to be lame in the near foreleg.
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Gilbert Gardiner
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Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun.
@gilbertgardiner
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