Track: Slow? Weather: Possible Showers

One 8 year old, one 7 year old, three 5 year old’s and two 4 year old’s make up the field for the $200,000 Group 3 Sandown Stakes.  Two had their last run in the Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley while two others had their last start in the Tontonan Stakes at Flemington.  The early favourite in the betting is the lightly raced five year gelding Elephant.  He has finished first and second in his two Australian runs and gets Damian Lane in the saddle for this third up assignment.  Next in the betting is Cherry Tortoni.  He ran well first up and has a very strong record on soft ground.

Harbour Views returned from a spell with a terrific first up win in the Tontonan Stakes.  Ziegfeld has gone close with out winning a number of times this preparation.  Romancer is on the quick back up after having little luck in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last week.  Worsfold is sharply up in grade, while this years Australian Guineas winner Lunar Fox steps out to a more suitable trip second up.

1. Lunar Fox

Scored at huge odds ($301-1) in the Group 1 Australian Guineas in May, then ran well in the All Star Mile where he finished fourth.  Wasn’t disgraced over 1200m first up and is much better suited here out to 1500m.  Prebble sticks.  Don’t discount.

2. Elephant

Dominant winning first up at Caulfield, then first try Group level was nabbed right on the line in the Feehan Stakes.  Gets a big jockey change with Damian Lane taking over from an out of form Luke Currie.  Rates highly.

3. Harbour Views

Was back to somewhere close to his best defeating Cherry Tortoni and Ayrton over 1400m at Flemington first up.  Strips fitter here.  Can feature in the finish.

4. Romancer

Is on the quick back up after a luckless run in the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes at Caulfield last weekend.  Won’t shock to see him run well.  Consider for multiples.

5. Ziegfeld

Has three wins and four placings from eleven starts.  He ran well in an on pace dominated Heatherlie but was only fair last time out at Flemington.  May be suited getting back onto softer ground.

6. Cherry Tortoni

Looked the winner of the Tontonan Stakes first up before Harbour Views mowed him down over the concluding stages.  Has strong three year old form and has a terrific record on slow ground.  Patrick Payne stable is flying.  Expecting him to run really well here second up.

7. Worsfold

Five year old gelding who is fit and racing well.  He was luckless at the Valley last start behind Mr Brightside but is up significantly in class here.

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

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings:  7. Worsfold