Sandown Guineas – 2021

Track: Good Weather: Fine

Twelve three year olds have accepted for the $300,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas.  Seven are geldings, four are colts and there is one filly.  Two met in the Springtime Stakes at Flemington, while three are last start maiden winners.  Trent Bussutin & Natalie Young have three runners.  The current favourite for the race is the loan filly of the field, Festival Dancer.  She has been impressive progressing from maiden grade four starts ago to become a dominant Group 3 winner at Newcastle last start.  Next in the betting is Brigantine.  He is a very consistent son of Astern and was Group 3 placed at his last start.

Port Louis is one of the most talented maidens in Australia and is looking to break through here at start nine.  Cardinal Gem was an eye catcher charging up along the fence last start in the Springtime Stakes.  Blushing Tycoon is one of the Bussutin & Young runners, while Chartres was a dominant last start winner over 1200m on wet ground.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Brigantine

Godolphin colt.  Has finished in the placings at his last four starts.  Latest was second behind Fangirl in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.  Damian Oliver sticks with him.  One of the chances.

2. Port Louis

One of the better maidens going around.  Was Group 2 placed in the Sires Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm in May.  Narrow second in the Springtime Stakes last start.  Barrier the knock.  Probably has to go right back?

3. Blushing Tycoon

Drops back in trip from 1800m to 1600m for this.  Was second  in the Springtime last start.  In the mix again here.

4. Chartres

Was a dominant winner second up over 1200m on Cranbourne Cup day.  Faces a firmer track here and  jumps from 1200m to 1600m but is clearly talented and is likely to be open to further improvement.  Each way claims.

5. Mister Me

Has one win from six starts.  Blinkers go on but he looks to be lacking the class to win here.

6. Cardinal Gem

Loved his second up effort at Flemington where he charged home into fourth.  Well drawn here getting back onto his home track.  Ready to run a huge race third up!

7. Blazerro

Pattern against at Sandown last start but didn’t think he did enough to be recommending him as a bet in this.  Prefer others.

8. Yaphet

Has had five starts for no wins and two placings.  He was a good run behind Burning Power at Moonee Valley last start.  Drawn well.  Consider for multiples.

9. Blue Army

Was heavily backed first up in a Warrnambool maiden where he needed every bit of the 1400m to reel in Typhoon Moon.  1600m will be to his liking and he gets Damian Lane.  Rough hope.

10. General Firepower

Saved from Pakenham on Thursday night to run here.  Impressed winning his maiden at start number two.  Wouldn’t shock to see him run well.

11. Reigate

Was excellent winning a Pakenham maiden on debut on November 11.  Blinkers go on for this second up assignment.  Untapped!

12. Festival Dancer

Sydney sider who is attempting to make it five wins in a row here.  Was dominant winning by 5.5 lengths in a class 2 at Goulburn two starts ago, then an easy winner of the Group 3 Spring Stakes.  Should find the lead again here.  Rates highly.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
12. Festival Dancer	12. Festival Dancer
2. Port Louis	6. Cardinal Gem
6. Cardinal Gem	4. Chartres
3. Blushing Tycoon	2. Port Louis

Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes 2021 (Ascot 1200m)

Group 2 Zipping Classic 2021 (Caulfield 2400m)