The remnants of a memorable Melbourne Spring Carnival will be given one final shake when the Sandown Guineas meeting takes place amid local celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the racetrack located 20km south-west of the city.
The remnants of a memorable Melbourne Spring Carnival will be given one final shake when the Sandown Guineas meeting takes place amid local celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the racetrack located 20km south-west of the city.
It has been a long Carnival, stretching from the first weekend in October to mid-November. But, that six-week window has been used to maximum effect by the industry.
Australia annually embraces racing in Spring, and thankfully, there are no signs that will ever change.
It is a tribute to the Melbourne racing scene that a nine-race card such as the one programmed for Sandown Park on Saturday can feature such quality.
The Godolphin runner Demonstrate has a solid each-way chance in the G2 Sandown Guineas. The son of New Approach has been very consistent, and drawn well in barrier 3, he gets a good opportunity to follow up his last start when he finished second to Palentino at Flemington on Emirates Day.
It is a very open race, with the Darren Weir-trained Mahuta trying to follow up his win in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes, and Don't Doubt Mamma also looking for a repeat victory following her recent Flemington success. Patch Adams is another likely improver.
Rising Romance takes on the G2 Zipping Classic, over 2,400m, a consolation race, of sorts, for those who have run in the top races at the Carnival.
David Hayes and Tom Dabernig have done a very good job with the mare Rising Romance, who would only need to repeat last year's G1 Caulfield Cup form (she finished 2nd) to be the one to beat.
Godolphin have several other runners of note, both at Sandown in Melbourne and Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, but perhaps the best of them is Generalife in the G3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown.
At his best, Generalife will go very close. His fifth in the G2 tab.com.au Stakes at Flemington last time was an eye-catcher in which he had no luck in running. He has excellent prospects again this time. Godolphin's Java also runs.
Another Godolphin runner with a chance is Malice in the G3 Eclipse Stakes. This Teofilo gelding will again relish the trip, 1800m, and should be running on.
In the opening race at Rosehill, the John O'Shea-trained Nemrud makes his debut, over 1100m. He is a half-brother to the well-regarded Ottoman.
