Mick’s Mail: Sandown 1/2/2025

R1- We kick off with my top pick being the Enver Jusufovic trained New York Lustre. This stable is flying, Enver is a very good trainer, the horse is also airborne, winning its last 3 on the bounce and should prove tough to beat here. The price is a concern and not value to my eye.

The NZ mare It’s Business Time is a massive query, she has an outstanding record back over the ditch and Mark Walker is very astute, she wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t up to this level.

Material Dreams has good ability and will be competitive, and Subliminal is better than a $27 chance.

No Bet

R2- First Immortal is ready to peak here, his last run had good merit and was in a better grade than this. He wasn’t fully tested there and picked off a few late under his own steam, there would be unused energy there that I like going into these types of races.

Fame finds it hard to win although he has shown enough to compete at the highest level earlier in his career, is also a winner forth up which he finds here.

Night Endeavour has now had 3 runs in Oz, he finds both a winnable race and his right trip, a forward showing wont surprise.

Beltoro has been around the money recently and is a rough chance.

Backing #2 First Immortal

R3- Goldenstatewarrior has always had a bit of a spruik around him and his return to the winning list last start was an indicator that he is ready to repay that faith. He won very nicely, and I see a repeat here, as a result he is my best bet on the card.

Samuel Langhorne is hard fit now and will be the danger if there is one, he draws to have a lovely run and loves the 2400M.

The lightly raced Romans Luck is another who is looking for a step out in distance, he has undeniable ability, his query is if he is seasoned enough against a few of these hard heads.

Mi Rock Ally is an honest mare who can fill a place.

Backing #1 Goldenstatewarrior

R4- Just a race this with most of these having had plenty of convictions. Not a race I want to get involved in.

Belthil is on top, he is suited at this trip and will benefit greatly from Tom Prebble’s claim.

Quebeck has been good this prep, and could get a soft lead here, if so he will prove tough to run down.

New York Scandal goes well after a couple of runs back and is a good chance at double figure odds.

Russian Meteor can pull out a good run and should go into the exotics.

No Bet

R5- Most of these runners are having their first trip to the races, so it’s a watch race for me.

Keen to look at Hot Sea, Boa Vista and Inkaruna.

No Bet

R6- This is an open affair with many of them having good winning chances.

The resuming Winnasedge is my top pick, he is a winner at his only fresh run, which coincidentally was at 1000M. I have him mapped midfield, just off a very solid speed and getting over the top of them late.

Don’t Hope Do, loves the 1000M, he can reel off nice sectionals which assists in these short events, my concern is the potential of a breakneck speed.

Mighty will settle back in the field and could also be the beneficiary of an above average pace, look for her late.

Trapeze Warrior has had a freshen since his last run and he races best this way.

Backing #5 Winnasedge

R7- A very even lot here, I’ve settled on Mr Verse. He should get a few favours from the draw and Shinn steering; he has been gradually building to this trip and will prove hard to beat.

His Finest Hour was very good on debut over the mile at Pakenham, the increase in distance is perfect, I won’t be losing if he wins.

Emphasize improved to win when stepping up in distance last start, he is drawn perfectly and gets Williams to ride.

Garnacho is also a hope as is Saltburn who can improve markedly here at massive odds.

Backing #6 Mr Verse and #3 His Finest Hour

R8- Revelare is in a rich vein of form, and I can’t see any reason why it won’t continue here. He’s lightly raced, drawn perfectly, and the distance looks ideal for him at this stage.

Nana’s Wish has been progressing nicely for this journey and gets in under the limit after the claim. She will just need Jaylah to pilot her well early to get some cover from the barrier.

Dragoon is flying at present, draws the rails and gets Shinn sticking with him, he won’t be far away when they call a halt.

Desperado has ability and whilst he would appreciate it further he shouldn’t be dismissed, at $51 he is worth a small ticket.

Backing #6 Revelare

R9- My best value pick of the day is Fancify. This girl flies fresh, is unbeaten at 1200M, Bowditch comes over to ride and Michael Hickmott doesn’t bring them over for fun n games. A great bet at $9.

She’s Bulletproof is ultra-consistent and maps nicely here, she will be in the finish somewhere.

Quintessa goes like a bomb first up (3 wins and a 2^nd from 4 attempts), she is ridiculous odds at $18 and is a definite winning chance.

Miraval Rose was a nice winner on New Years Day, she has had a good freshen into this, gets a gun rider and a good draw.

Backing #3 Fancify

R10- First up winner Name Dropper did us a massive favour and he can go on with it here. He will get a soft run and look to charge through them at the 200M, I have him marked favourite.

Lethal Thoughts isn’t a world beater but gets a few ticks here – map, barrier, trainer, and jockey, he won’t be far away.

Umgawa can pull out a big run on his day, catching that day is the tricky part but he can win this.

Watadeel will benefit a lot from his first up run and can improve significantly.

Backing #11 Name Dropper

R2-2

R3-1 best of the day

R10-11

R9-3 Best value play

R1-7x,1 big watch,5,6 not hopeless

R2-2xx,3,5,6

R3-1xxx best/day,2,10,6

R4-average race 2,9,11,5

R5-hard to assess, watching 3,8,9 (unraced)

R6-open race 5x,2,13,10

R7-6x,3,2,1,7 improver?

R8-6x,9,4,3 knockout?

R9-3xx best value,9,1,4

R10-11xx,7,4,8

Best of luck if you’re playing.