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A look at some of the minor races from the meeting at Sandown on Saturday.
Tycoon hums in return win
Rain overnight on Friday and again on Saturday morning dulled the prospects of Tycoon Humma in The McCafe Handicap (1000m), or so her trainer John Mcardle thought.
In fact, McArdle told the owners of the mare to not back her, especially after the track was downgraded to a Soft 6 before the opening race.
But it mattered little as Tycoon Humma tracked the speed and overpowered the leaders in the straight to score a comfortable win.
"Right up until this morning I thought we would come here and run well," McArdle said.
"I actually told the boys not to back her as she's a complete duffer, so the boys have probably halved their bets, so sorry about that, boys."
McArdle said there was no grand plans with Tycoon Humma during the autumn.
"She's a stakes winner as a two-year-old, so we'll try and pick off a few more races with her," he said.
"But she's likely to be entered for the Chairman's Sales or the Magic Millions broodmare sales and be sold later in the year."
Inundation to undergo heart examination
Inundation again flopped, this time as the $1.55 favourite, finishing last in The McCafe Handicap.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained sprinter was beaten at Sandown as a $1.40 favourite on January 7 when the hot weather was blamed for his defeat.
But Price said there was something wrong with Inundation after Saturday's flop.
"It's a beautiful day, he's in good order, he's sound," Price said.
"Jamie (Kah) said 100 metres after the line the horse is wobbling like he's going to lose all co-ordination.
"It's very abnormal for a jockey report like that. She's a good judge Jamie, she knows what's going on, she said he's losing all co-ordination like he's light-headed after the line.
"We have to get a heart specialist and go right over him, because we have to rule out everything else."
Racing Victoria stewards said Inundation had pulled-up with heart arrythmia post-race.
Inundation will require an ECG for 60 seconds while resting and a further ECG within 15 minutes of completing a satisfactory 1000m gallop before being able to race again.
Moody quandary with Hennessy Lad
Peter Moody may give Hennessy Lad a short break before looking towards the South Australian Carnival following his win in the Robert Hunter Handicap (1800m).
Hennessy Lad has won two of his four starts this campaign and the win at 1800m on Saturday suggested to Moody the three-year-old could stretch out further in trip.
"He keeps improving and where do we end up, I'm not sure," Moody said.
"We may have to reset now and give him his chance in South Australia.
"We could send him down the beach for a couple of weeks as I don't think he's a Guineas horse, unless it falls away, which is unlikely.
"He might be better going through to the Port Adelaide Guineas and the Chairman's Stakes over in Adelaide and see whether he can get a trip."
Three on the trot for Benedetta
Trainer Jason Warren said he would not be rushing on making a decision on the immediate future of Benedetta after her win in the John Moule Handicap (1300m).
After breaking her maiden status at Cranbourne in December, Benedetta has gone back-to-back at Sandown, both times at 1300m and both times defeating Discerning.
"Both fillies have run well, and you have to keep raising the bar with these types of fillies. She looks progressive and is heading in the right way," Warren said.
'We'll probably let the dust settle from today and have a look at her, but we'll talk it over with Eales Racing and see where we head.
"It would be nice to get some black type for her while she's racing well, but there's a rich Inglis race, which might be worth having a look at."
Banged up Carlisle lands the prize
Trainer John Moloney thought Carlisle was well tuned after a Cranbourne gallop to run well first-up in The Graham Archibald Girdwood Classic (1300m).
However, the four-year-old played up in the float on the short trip enroute from his Cranbourne to Sandown, so much so Moloney asked for a veterinary examination when the gelding arrived on course.
"I was a bit worried about it," Moloney said.
"I said to the lady owners, 'I think I'm more worried than anyone else'.
"He marked his face and took a bit of skin off, but the vet passed him, and he doesn't usually have the red earmuffs in the mounting yard, but we covered it up and brought him in."
Moloney said he is a 'pleasing horse' with six wins from 16 starts, so he knows how to win.
The trainer may now have to rethink initial plans, having considered taking Carlisle to Flemington for another benchmark 84 at Flemington in two weeks' time.
"I might have to rethink that now," Moloney said.
Quote of the day
"He goes missing under pressure. He's not a bleeder, he's a good winded horse, I can only think that we get a heart specialist onto him and have a look a look at him, along with me and Junior as well", Mick Price after Inundation, a horse he co-trains with Michael Kent Jnr, finished last in the McCafe Handicap as the $1.55 favourite.
