A BUSY TWILIGHT MEETING FOR US AT SANDOWN

A big day for us on Wednesday with six runners on the Lakeside track at Sandown’s twilight meeting and hopefully some winners.

Bellows, Seminoles, Anything But, She’s A Thief, Rainbow Thief and Eagle Ridge are our runners after some abandoned meetings so it will be busy but we go there anticipating some good performances.

Rainbow Thief (pictured) is in race eight, the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1200m with Dwayne Dunn to ride from barrier eight.

It is the second start this preparation for Rainbow Thief who finished a luckless fourth at Caulfield over 1200m on Boxing Day.

“We’ve kept him at the 1200 metres thinking it will help him relax,” Moroney said. “We will look to ride him back and then get into some space in the home straight and let him finish off.

“He had no luck last start and it looks a similar sort of race. He’s done well since, looks great and with ordinary luck I can see him going close to winning.”

Eagle Ridge is in the last race, the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400m with Fred Kersley reducing his weight to 59kg from barrier 12.

The five-year-old ran well at this course last start when finishing second over 1400m on January 8.

“He’s got a bit of a tricky gate in a race that looks to have a bit of speed in it,” Moroney said. “He looks great and goes into the race in good form.

“From the draw I’d like to think he can get into a spot behind the speed and if he gets that then I’m sure he will run well.”

She’s A Thief is in race seven, the fillies and mares Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1300m with Michael Poy reducing her weight to 60.5kg.

She’s A Thief has raced well at her four starts this campaign and is in the weakest race she has contested today.

“We’ve claimed to help her and she has the best form in the race,” Moroney said. “She’s certainly fit enough and getting up in distance is a little bit of a query but if she brings anything near her best form she should be a bit too good for the opposition.”

Bellows is the first to go in race 2, the Maiden 3YO over 1300m with Jordan Childs to ride and drawn barrier 12 in a field of 14.

Bellows closed off well last time out when finishing second over 1000m at Echuca and Moroney believes the step up in distance today will be to the son of Zoffany’s advantage.

“He’s drawn wide but it’s early in the day,” Moroney said. ‘The start will be crucial and it looks as though there is some speed drawn with him so that might help him.

“It’s a stronger race for him but ideally he can get a spot midfield and relax and if he can do that than he’s there to run a good race.”

Anything But runs in race six, the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 1600m with Jake Noonan riding and with a gear change.

“We’ve added the blinkers to him to help,” Moroney said. “If he can do things right then I’d say what he’s shown us then he should be right in it.

“He’s run well enough at both his starts this preparation, the extra distance and the track should be in his favour so I’m expecting him to run well.”

Last start winner Seminoles is in race five, the Benchmark 64 Handicap over 2400m with Jake Noonan riding from barrier three.

Noonan and Seminoles led most of the way to score over 2000m at Mornington on January 1 and has pleased Moroney since.

“He’s done well and is racing well,” Moroney said. “Our intention when we got him back for this preparation was to try and pick our way through the grades with him and he’s won twice from four starts .

“He’s out in trip today but he finished second over the distance at Bendigo last preparation and he’s a stronger horse now so I can’t see that posing too much of a problem.

“He’s drawn to get the run of the race and I can’t see any reason why he will not go close to winning.”