A BUSY WEDNESDAY AT SANDOWN

A busy day for us on Wednesday with four runners at Sandown on the Lakeside course.

Alburq (pictured), Bianco Nuovo, Meteor Light and The Delphi represent the stable on a track listed as Good (4) but with a 90 percent chance of rain in the afternoon.

Scratchings have reduced Alburq’s opposition in race one, the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Plate over 1200m, to six with Damien Oliver riding from barrier four.

It is the second start this preparation for Alburq and Mike Moroney has fitted blinkers to the son of Rubick who finished fifth behind Condo’s Express over 1000m at Moonee Valley on August 3.

“He’s a lot fitter for this and the blinkers should focus him,” Moroney said.

“We’ve worked him in them at home and he’s pleased us. It’s his first time at Sandown but I don’t think that will be a problem, the scratchings have reduced the field and he comes in from a better barrier now.

“He has improved a lot for the first-up run, it’s still a handy looking race but I’m expecting him to run well.”

Bianco Nuovo resumes in race five, the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400m with Michael Poy reducing his weight to 55.5kg.

“He raced really consistently last time in - the only poor race he ran was his last when he’d come to the end of the preparation,” Moroney said.

“This looks a nice race to kick off in although I’d say it will be on the short side for him but he is pleasing me at home.

“He’s had a jumpout leading into this and he’s run well at his three previous first-up runs. I’ll be happy to see him have a trouble free run and I expect him to run well.”

Meteor Light runs in race six, the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 2400m with scratchings reducing the field to 10 and Michael Poy reducing Meteor Light’s weight to 58.5kg.

Meteor Light has been up a while and Moroney has a slight concern about the drying track.

“It’s come up a Good (4) and I was hoping it would be soft as he is better on a track with some give in it,” Moroney said.

“The forecast is for rain later this afternoon so if it does come then that will help him.

“He’s racing well but hasn’t had the best of luck at his last two starts at Sandown with stop-start races so ideally we will get a truly run race here and give him his chance.”

The Delphi starts a new campaign in the last race, the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1600m with Michael Poy reducing his weight to 59.5kg.

“He showed us he has the makings of a handy stayer last preparation winning three races and he’s come back in good order,” Moroney said.

“The barrier is less than ideal but after scratchings he will jump from nine in a field of 10 and it’s a good run to the turn from the 1600m start.

“He’s up against some hard fit horses and he’ll be better for the run but like Bianco Nuovo this is a good place to start him off and get him going again.”