Fast Five – Five things to watch for 9/3/17


With the group 2 Launching Pad and group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star match racing series on the horizon, racing at Sandown Park is starting to heat up. Here’s five things to watch for tonight at headquarters.

The hot hand
Jason Thompson had a career best night on Saturday, winning six races at The Meadows including the first three legs of the quaddie.

Over the last 12 months, Thompson has had 588 starters in Victoria for 243 winners – a phenomenal winning strike rate of 41.33%. Over the same period at Sandown Park he has had 40 winners from 141 runners at a strike rate of 28.37%, the second highest winning strike rate at the track behind Geoff Scott-Smith (8 wins from 28 starters, 28.57%).

Tonight he has five runners – Aston Selena (race 2), Aston Dee Bee (race 4), Extreme Magic (race 7), Invictus Rapid (race 8) and Nature’s Gent (race 11)

Eyes on the clock
As heard on RSN – Racing And Sport on Wednesday, Thompson rates his best winning chance as Aston Dee Bee (race 4 box 2).

Aston Dee Bee appreciated the steep drop in class at his last start – he was well beaten by Australian Cup winner Fanta Bale at his prior start – jumping to the lead and scorching around Sandown Park in 29.188.

That time rocketed him to the top of the Bill Collins Speed Star leader board and that time has all but assured him a berth in the match race spectacular. How does that time stack up? Aston Dee Bee is the sixth fastest time recorded at Sandown Park by a Jason Thompson runner behind Dalgetty (29.087), Classy Haze (29.142), Proven Nitro (29.145), Burn One Down (29.156) and Big Flood (29.178).

Second up blues?
Mepunga Blaze found a bit of trouble at his first two career starts but from box 1 at his Sandown Park debut, left his rivals in his tracks to win by 7 lengths in 29.29. He lines up in the maiden final (race 1) tonight but will have to overcome box 6 – statistically the most difficult box to win from at Sandown Park, with just 7% of winners over 515m wearing the green vest.

Sent from above
Allan Meyer landed his first Sandown Park winner last Thursday night when Mick’s Angel scored an impressive win in a slick 41.78 over the 715m. He’s started in single figures just once in his last 10 starts but can run exceptional splits and as he showed last week, is capable of running serious time if he can get a clear run. Meets a similar field tonight and is sure to be much shorter than the $19.70 price we went around at last Thursday.

Eminent potential?
He shares a birthday with Fernando Bale, but while Eminent Reality has a long way – a long, long way – to go to match the deeds of the great ‘Flying Fernando,’ he has earned a reputation as one of the country’s most exciting sprinters. He doesn’t turn 2 until Sunday but his Australian Cup heat win in 29.60 was sensational and his run in the final was enormous. After a moderate get away, he got squeezed on the rail and shuffled back to near last first time past the post. Showing tremendous chase and maturity, he railed through to finish second to Fanta Bale in the $250,000 to thte winner group 1 final. His trainer Kel Greenough has an huge opinion of the son of Barcia Bale and will go around at a very short quite but meets a pretty smart FFA field here. The former West Australian has won 8 of 13 career starts but just 1 from 4 starts from box 8.

While he may have trouble getting across in this field, he’s one to watch for the Speed Star in May. If he does find clear passage tonight – keep an eye on the clock!

Talking through the pocket

The good thing – Race 7 Extreme Magic (7)
Each way all day – Race 1 Nicky’s Gift (1)

Click here for your free Watchdog form guide for tonight’s meeting.
Click here for the latest odds from TAB
Click here for Jason Adams’ Sandown Park preview, as heard on Winners on RSN – Racing and Sport

Click here for the latest Bill Collins Speed Star standings

 

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Mick Floyd
About Mick Floyd - Mick is the Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Park and has 15 years of experience in the sport. He has a finely tuned talent for finding three legs of a quaddie. You can follow his ramblings on Twitter - @mickfloyd
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