Sandown Mid-Week

We have a busy day at Sandown on Wednesday where we saddle up five runners in four races.

Kicking of our midweek action is Red Cliffs (pictured) who strips all the fitter third up in the Polytrack Handicap over 1600m.

Ridden forward when finishing out of the placings (although hardly disgraced) second up at Bendigo, Red Cliffs will be ridden more quietly this time.

“The wide gate is a concern,” Michael Moroney admitted, “but it does give us the opportunity to see how he goes ridden back.”

“His last couple of runs have been encouraging,” he added, happy to have engaged the services of in-form rider Steven Arnold.

Also good at both outings back from a spell, Nordic Duke is suited up to the 1800m of the Guinot Skincare Handicap.

Game in the placings at two recent Sale runs, the Viking Ruler five-year-old would be “suited by a bit of rain” according to Moroney but another honest showing is expected.

“He should prove competitive in this sort of race.”

Walloon Region ran nicely when resuming in late April and has been kept fresh for his second up run in the Deadly Design Plate.

“He has had a couple of jump-outs since that run and has gone well,” Moroney reported.

“He is another who would be suited with some rain but he too should prove competitive.”

We have two runners in the ninth event, the BMW Handicap and Moroney is expecting bold showings from both Picture Editor and Space.

Top-weight with Jordan Childs aboard, Picture Editor is having his fourth run this time in and will find this easier than his most recent assignment – the Warrnambool Cup.

“This is a big class drop for him,” Moroney said, “and that last run should have him nicely primed for this.”

Moroney was pleased with Space’s latest run at Warwick Farm “in quite a good field – stronger than this one.”

“Both horses should prove hard to beat,” he enthused.

On Thursday we take debutant Yesterday’s Songs to Bendigo – hoping that this time he actually starts!

A late scratching after playing up in the gates recently, the son of Henrythenavigator has regained his barrier certificate in a recent jump-out in which he performed well.

“It was unlike him to play up,” Moroney said, confident that the three-year-old can finish in the thick of things.

“It would have been nice to draw a bit better at debut, but he just needs a bit of luck to feature.”

Later in the day we have the in-form Sunset Magic looking to make it two Bendigo wins in a row.

“She won really nicely last time. Small fields can prove tricky and she has drawn out but she has trained on well.”