3 minute read

A look at some of the items of interest from the support races at Sandown.

Mott successful after New Year break

Damien Oliver claimed the day's riding honours with a double at his first meeting of 2023 and he was not the only rider successful at their first meeting for the year.

Jamie Mott also returned a winner when he partnered So You See to victory for Mike Moroney in the Laura Cole F&M BM70 Handicap (1600m).

The Sandown card was the first meeting since The Valley on Christmas Eve that Mott had ridden at and the popular hoop said it was great to have some time away after a breakout spring, during which he won Group 1s aboard Callsign Mav and Roch 'N' Horse.

"I had a massive spring and rode light and even just the excitement of winning a couple of really big races it takes its toll on you," Mott said.

"So that was the reason we had a little freshen up and I've come back in good health and ready to rock and roll.

"I came here with a nice book and I'm glad to be back winning."

Gaudray lands first Saturday city winner

Celine Gaudray reaped the benefits of putting in hard work with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace when she guided No Way Ever to a milestone win in the final event.

The victory was the Saturday city winner for apprentice jockey.

"It's been really good, I've started riding trackwork for them and they've been giving me opportunities, which I'm really appreciative of."

Gaudray and No Way Ever ($7.50) finished too strongly for favourite Unflinching ($4 fav) to score by three-quarters-of-a-length in the 1000m event.

Hayes Stakes beckons for Bistro

Hopes have been revived that Bistro may yet be able to get a lucrative Group win before her career is out after the Street Boss resumed with a win at Sandown on Saturday.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained three-year-old posted a dazzling win in the 1000-metre 3YO BM70 that kicked off the card.

It was the third win from seven starts in a career that has been highlighted by victory in the Listed Cinderella Stakes and stable representative Brad Taylor suggested it was the first step in a plan aimed at cashing in early in the year.

He identified the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1100m) at Sandown on February 11 as a good target or the filly.

"With her racing style she might be hard to run down in a Kevin Hayes," Taylor said.

"In Stakes grade, we'd have to stretch her out to 1100 (metres), so we might give her a run in between and have a fit horse taking on those horses resuming."

The win was a milestone of sorts for in-form apprentice, who celebrated his win in the Godolphin blue.

"It's a privilege to ride in these colours," Cartwright said after his eighth city winner of the season.

Unusual path to Tassie after win

Tourism Tasmania and organisers of that's state's Summer Racing Carnival would be hoping Tony and Calvin McEvoy embark on the campaign the Ballarat stable's racing manager Rayan Moore hinted at after So Unusual won the Shaun Morris Handicap.

The Kiwi-bred stayer was responsible for the most raucous reception of any of Saturday's nine winners when he won the 2400m event in front a big group of MyRacehorse owners.

Many of them would be sure to descend on the Apple Isle if the Unusual Suspect four-year-old, who has now won three of his six starts, heads south for the Launceston Cup (2200m) and Hobart Cup (2400m).

"There are a couple of Cups down in Tassie we could have in mind, but I think next preparation we'll see an even better horse," Moore said.

So Unusual, who was ridden to victory by Dean Holland, dug deep to narrowly defeat Wahine Toa with longshot Sous Les Nuages third.

Early end for Kah due to injury

Jamie Kah partnered So Si Bon to victory, but Melbourne's leading rider had a premature end to her day when stood down by the doctor after Race 6.

Kah complained of foot soreness after guiding $4.20 chance Micro into sixth placing in the race won by Netanyahu with the Racing Victoria doctor deeming her unfit to take her final ride for the day.

Kah was replaced by Linda Meech aboard the Matthew Smith-trained Credit Crunch ($10) in the 2400m Shaun Morris Handicap, in which they finished 12th.