Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Wednesday 16 July 2025
Our top pick won 3 of 8 races at Sandown Hillside. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
top pick wonanother tip wonno tip won
Ad Vitam stands out with recent strong form and proven ability on heavy tracks. The gelding's class edge is evident from carrying top weight, and the experienced Blake Shinn in the saddle is a significant advantage. While the wider barrier and weight are concerns, the overall profile suggests a strong winning chance.
The advantageous barrier draw and Jamie Kah in the saddle enhance her chances. While unproven on heavy tracks, her overall profile suggests she's a strong contender, albeit with slightly less confidence than the top pick.
The advantageous barrier draw and Ben Melham's riding skills are positives. However, being unproven at the distance and limited soft track experience introduce some uncertainty, placing him slightly behind the top two selections.
Her soft track experience is a plus in these conditions, and Craig Williams is a significant jockey booking.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Ad Vitam | 8 | Blake Shinn | T Busuttin & N Young | 59.5kg | $2.35 |
| 2nd | 9 | Enchanted Jenni | 6 | Jamie Kah | Alexander Rae | 57.5kg | $4.20 |
| 3rd | 3 | Ask The Captain | 2 | Thomas Stockdale | E P Francese | 59.5kg | $151.00 |
| 4th | 5 | Kastun Star | 1 | Jye Mc Neil | Jason Warren | 59.5kg | $17.00 |
| 5th | 8 | California Flyer | 4 | Jamie Mott | Gavin Bedggood | 57.5kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 2 | Alpine Fox | 10 | Brad Rawiller | Ms C Alderson | 59.5kg | $16.00 |
| 7th | 6 | Smother | 5 | Ben Melham | C Maher | 59.5kg | $8.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Oraqua | 9 | Craig Williams | C J Waller | 57.5kg | $7.00 |
| 9th | 7 | Welcometodetroit | 7 | Luke Cartwright | Mark C Webb | 59.5kg | $18.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Kaazi | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 59.5kg |
The filly is well-weighted and drawn favorably for soft conditions. Despite being unplaced in her only start, the 157-day break suggests targeted preparation for this race. The combination of these factors makes Exit a strong contender.
Savannah Chill brings solid recent form, having won her last start over the same distance on a soft track. Her consistent performance at this class level and proven ability on soft going make her a strong contender.
Life After Love has shown consistent form recently, including a 3rd place finish last start. However, she's stepping up in class and is yet to break her maiden, which places her behind our top two selections.
Yule Point presents as a speculative value selection. The combination of being gelded and wearing blinkers for the first time could lead to significant improvement.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 9 | Exit | 4 | Blake Shinn | C Maher | 55.5kg | $2.50 |
| 2nd | 8 | Expulsion | 10 | Ben Melham | A & S Freedman | 56kg | $13.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | Lope De Lardo | 3 | Craig Williams | Gavin Bedggood | 59kg | $3.10 |
| 4th | 10 | Cosmic Shower | 1 | Daniel Moor | P Stokes | 55kg | $41.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Yule Point | 9 | Jye Mc Neil | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Poor Ol'' Johny Ray | 8 | Lachlan King | Denis Pagan | 57kg | $101.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Life After Love | 5 | Jamie Kah | C Maher | 56.5kg | $7.50 |
| 8th | 4 | Wolves'' Den | 2 | Jamie Mott | Julius Sandhu | 58kg | $17.00 |
| 9th | 2 | Savannah Chill | 7 | Logan Bates | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 55.5kg | $9.50 |
| 10th | 3 | Regal Definition | 6 | John Allen | T Busuttin & N Young | 58kg | $26.00 |
With a win on soft going and a favorable weight, she looks well-placed to overcome the slightly wide barrier. Her last start win in similar company suggests she's ready for this step up in class.
Regal Secret brings consistency and a good record at this distance. The favorable barrier draw and competitive weight are positives, but the soft track is a question mark. Her recent form suggests she's capable of handling the class rise.
It's A Yes has shown consistent form and performs well on soft tracks. The slight rise in class is offset by his consistent performances.
The drop in class and competitive weight make him an interesting prospect, despite some inconsistency in recent form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Dapper Darri | 1 | Logan Bates | Shea Eden | 58.5kg | $9.00 |
| 2nd | 13 | Don''t Russia | 9 | Craig Newitt | Craig Blackshaw | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Sun Setting | 10 | Craig Williams | M M Laurie | 59kg | $2.20 |
| 4th | 4 | Volatile | 8 | Thomas Stockdale | Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor | 60kg | $13.00 |
| 5th | 12 | Forever With Ned | 6 | Thomas Prebble | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 54.5kg | $15.00 |
| 6th | 10 | Mrs Archibald | 7 | Ben Melham | Jason Warren | 58kg | $13.00 |
| 7th | 5 | Regal Secret | 2 | Daniel Stackhouse | P Stokes | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
| 8th | 3 | Stormbourg | 13 | Jordan Childs | J F Moloney | 60.5kg | $19.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Furrina | 12 | John Allen | Tom Dabernig | 57kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 2 | It''s A Yes | 11 | Luke Cartwright | L Smith | 58kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Winchester | 5 | Jamie Mott | Ms L Enright | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Yes We Are | 4 | Brad Rawiller | Charlotte Littlefield | 59kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Aqueduct | 3 | Ms J Kennedy | T & C McEvoy | 56.5kg |
Dreamzel presents as the top selection with consistent form, including 3 wins from her last 5 starts. She has a strong record on soft tracks and carries a favorable weight of 57kg. While drawn slightly unfavorably in barrier 3 and rising in class, her overall profile suggests she's well-positioned to win.
Nasraawy is a solid second pick with consistent recent form, including a 2nd place finish just 9 days ago. He has a good record on soft tracks and is drawn favorably in barrier 6. While his win strike rate is lower than some competitors and he's carrying slightly more weight, his overall profile and recent performances make him a strong contender.
Martial Music is an interesting third pick, with a strong first-up record and good performances on soft tracks. He's drawn well in barrier 8 and is dropping in class, which is advantageous. However, it's been 38 days since his last run and his recent form has been inconsistent. The 57kg weight is manageable but not ideal. His overall profile suggests he could surprise.
Carrying only 54.5kg is a significant advantage, and he has experience on soft tracks.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Rattle And Bang | 10 | Sheridan Clarke | D Binaisse | 57.5kg | $11.00 |
| 2nd | 10 | Nasraawy | 6 | Blake Shinn | Gavin Bedggood | 58kg | $5.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Charmed Run | 4 | Craig Williams | Luke Oliver | 60kg | $7.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Martial Music | 8 | Logan Bates | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 5th | 11 | Brave Action | 11 | Daniel Stackhouse | Aaron Purcell | 57.5kg | $16.00 |
| 6th | 12 | Go To Hollywood | 14 | Luke Cartwright | John R Allen | 54.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 8 | Dreamzel | 3 | Jordyn Weatherley | Tom Dabernig | 57kg | $12.00 |
| 8th | 13 | Laura''s Gold | 9 | Thomas Prebble | Mitchell Leek | 52kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 4 | Herbert Park | 2 | Ms D Keane | A W Noonan | 57.5kg | $6.00 |
| 10th | 3 | Latin Lover | 12 | Emily Pozman | Angus Townley | 58kg | $21.00 |
| 11th | 6 | Big Watch | 1 | Jamie Mott | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 60kg | $14.00 |
| 12th | 1 | Ravalli | 7 | Ms J Kennedy | T Fitzsimmons | 60kg | $11.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Along The River | 5 | Ryan Houston | M & L Cerchi | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Harmonett | 13 | Vincent Hall | 54kg |
Ten Deep presents as the standout selection with consistent form, a strong soft track record, and a significant class drop. The mare's 63% place rate and two wins from five soft track starts align perfectly with today's conditions. Carrying an ideal weight of 59kg and dropping significantly in class, Ten Deep is well-positioned to overcome the slightly wide barrier draw.
Kira shows promise with consistent placings and a favorable weight-to-barrier combination. The mare's lightweight of 56kg from barrier 2 gives her a tactical advantage. While unproven on soft tracks, her good form and the booking of top jockey Blake Shinn suggest she can handle the conditions. The class rise is a concern, but her consistent performances indicate she's ready for the challenge.
Sirius Statement brings proven class and a solid soft track record to this race. With a 22% win rate and consistent recent form, she's well-equipped to handle these conditions. The mare's experience at this class level is a significant advantage. While carrying top weight is a challenge, her proven ability suggests she can still be competitive from a slightly tricky barrier 3.
With a solid soft track record and consistent recent form, she's well-suited to today's conditions. The mare carries a suitable weight of 57.5kg and has drawn well in barrier 6. The unproven distance on soft is a concern, but her overall profile makes her an intriguing value proposition.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13 | Kira | 2 | Blake Shinn | A & S Freedman | 56kg | $6.50 |
| 2nd | 8 | Ten Deep | 7 | Craig Williams | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 59kg | $2.35 |
| 3rd | 11 | Dubai Dancer | 10 | Jordyn Weatherley | Tom Dabernig | 55kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 7 | Justdoit | 4 | Ben Melham | Luke Oliver | 59kg | $14.00 |
| 5th | 4 | Impending Shadow | 1 | Rose Hammond | Ms G Johnstone | 56.5kg | $41.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Sirius Statement | 3 | Logan Bates | Gavin Bedggood | 59kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 10 | Maisy | 8 | Jye Mc Neil | M, W & J Hawkes | 58.5kg | $7.00 |
| 8th | 6 | Hazel Baby | 9 | Jamie Kah | C Maher | 59kg | $19.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Autumn Slide | 5 | Jordan Childs | Simon Zahra | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 10th | 9 | Gamegirl | 12 | Jamie Mott | R W Harrison | 58.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Queen Of Tuscany | 13 | Sheridan Clarke | R D Griffiths | 58kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Silver Cliff | 14 | Luke Cartwright | P F Ryan | 58kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Walk Of Fame | 6 | Daniel Stackhouse | D T O''Brien | 57.5kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Snick | 11 | Hannah Edgley | J D Sadler | 51kg |
Her soft track ability and good barrier draw are positives, but she faces a slight class rise. Her midfield running style could be a concern if the predicted fast pace eventuates.
The long spell is a major concern, but his overall form and weight allocation are positives. The lack of soft track form introduces some uncertainty, but his ability suggests he could handle the conditions.
New Sovereign presents as the top selection with an impressive win rate and consistent recent form. The 185-day break is a concern, but his first-up record (2 wins from 2 starts) is excellent.
The class drop is a significant positive, although the wide barrier is a concern.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 16 | Vienna Vixen | 12 | Jamie Kah | C Maher | 58kg | $6.00 |
| 2nd | 4 | Justadeel | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 61kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | Prevailed | 6 | Brad Rawiller | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 61kg | $16.00 |
| 4th | 11 | Eugenius | 10 | Jordyn Weatherley | S P Nichols | 56.5kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 1 | Anahita | 1 | Logan Bates | Gavin Bedggood | 58.5kg | $18.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Boltsaver | 8 | John Allen | Rhys Archard | 60kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 18 | Artistic Genius | 11 | Craig Williams | P Koumis | 59kg | $18.00 |
| 8th | 10 | Darts Daly | 13 | Thomas Stockdale | Symon Wilde | 59.5kg | $12.00 |
| 9th | 13 | Miso | 7 | Jamie Mott | Daniel Bowman | 59.5kg | $81.00 |
| 10th | 9 | Sasqualah | 5 | Luke Cartwright | Symon Wilde | 57kg | $31.00 |
| 11th | 15 | Il Cubo | 15 | Jacob Noonan | Reece Goodwin | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 12th | 12 | Free To Move | 3 | Thomas Prebble | K & K Keys | 57.5kg | $61.00 |
| 12th | 17 | Sacramental | 4 | Ben Melham | Mitchell Freedman | 59kg | $9.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Strike Gold | 20 | T Fitzsimmons | 61.5kg | ||
| Scr | 3 | Flying Mikki | 18 | Jack Hill | D M Noonan | 61kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Simeon | 2 | Craig Newitt | T Busuttin & N Young | 60.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Highland Harley | 17 | E Jusufovic | 60kg | ||
| Scr | 14 | New Sovereign | 19 | Blake Shinn | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 19 | Broken Hill | 16 | Melissa Julius | D M Noonan | 59kg | |
| Scr | 20 | Gwan So | 14 | L & T Corstens & W Larkin | 58kg |
Bluestone presents as the top selection with consistent form, proven soft track ability, and a favorable weight. While facing a class rise, the gelding's recent performances and suitability to conditions make him a strong contender. The inside-mid draw (barrier 6) is ideal for soft going.
Jennivamoose comes off a last-start win over this course and distance, demonstrating strong form. While lacking extensive soft track experience, her overall consistency and proven ability at Sandown-Hillside make her a solid contender. The inside barrier (2) is advantageous on soft ground.
St Vincents Garden is showing an improving form trend, culminating in a last-start win. With proven soft track ability and a competitive weight, he's well-placed to feature. The wider barrier (9) is a slight concern, but his recent performances suggest he can overcome this challenge.
While carrying top weight is a concern, his experience and proven ability in similar conditions make him an attractive each-way proposition. The wider barrier (5) is less of an issue given his running style.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | Jaykayann | 3 | Neil Farley | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 57kg | $13.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Bluestone | 6 | Luke Cartwright | M C Kent | 56kg | $6.50 |
| 3rd | 15 | Fisherman''s Beach | 10 | Thomas Prebble | A & S Freedman | 52kg | $5.50 |
| 4th | 9 | Jennivamoose | 2 | Blake Shinn | C Maher | 57.5kg | $3.90 |
| 5th | 12 | The Storyteller | 8 | Daniel Stackhouse | J Leek Jnr | 57kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 13 | Privileged Son | 11 | Ms J Kennedy | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 54.5kg | $51.00 |
| 7th | 1 | Golden Crusader | 7 | Logan Bates | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 59.5kg | $20.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Mathew | 5 | Ben Melham | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 61kg | $8.50 |
| 9th | 4 | Port Philip | 13 | Jye Mc Neil | Alexander Rae | 60kg | $61.00 |
| 10th | 5 | Almairac | 12 | Jacob Noonan | C I Brown | 59.5kg | $14.00 |
| 11th | 7 | Wisaka | 1 | Tom Madden | Aaron Purcell | 58.5kg | $101.00 |
| 12th | 14 | Jenny The Beaver | 15 | Jett Stanley | Ben O''Farrell | 54kg | $91.00 |
| 13th | 8 | Romans Luck | 4 | Jamie Mott | K & K Keys | 58kg | $17.00 |
| Scr | 3 | I Am The Empire | 14 | Ryan Houston | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 58kg | |
| 10 | St Vincents Garden | 9 | Craig Williams | M W Walker | 57.5kg |
Well-weighted and from an in-form stable, he presents as a solid chance despite being unproven at the track. The wide barrier is a concern, but his racing style should allow him to overcome this disadvantage.
Makdane presents as the top selection with strong recent form, including two wins from his last three starts. His soft track record is impressive, and he's proven at both the distance and class level. The combination with in-form jockey Craig Williams further enhances his chances. While the wide barrier is a concern, his overall profile suggests he can overcome this challenge.
Eye For An Eye is showing consistent form and improvement with each run. The lightweight and in-form jockey Jye McNeil are significant positives. While unproven at the track and distance, and facing a class rise, his recent performances suggest he's capable of handling these challenges. The wide barrier is a concern but may be mitigated by his racing style.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 13 | Juja Kibo | 5 | John Allen | C Maher | 58kg | $4.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Ruakaka Raider | 14 | Jamie Mott | Ms C Alderson | 60kg | $4.60 |
| 3rd | 6 | Flossing | 10 | Ms J Kennedy | T Busuttin & N Young | 58kg | $20.00 |
| 4th | 10 | Navy King | 11 | Daniel Stackhouse | Symon Wilde | 59kg | $19.00 |
| 5th | 14 | Valley King | 6 | Neil Farley | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 58kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 2 | Sir Atlas | 16 | Luke Cartwright | L Smith | 59kg | $3.60 |
| 7th | 11 | Bogues | 17 | Thomas Stockdale | Liam Howley | 58.5kg | $19.00 |
| 8th | 9 | Goliotus | 8 | Thomas Prebble | R C Bruhn | 57kg | $31.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Station One | 3 | Rose Hammond | Liam Howley | 59kg | $61.00 |
| 10th | 15 | Albanian I Am | 2 | Blake Shinn | E P Francese | 57.5kg | $7.00 |
| 11th | 18 | Mr Tadashi | 7 | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 56kg | $101.00 | |
| 12th | 12 | El James | 19 | Jordan Childs | Symon Wilde | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 13th | 5 | Colleagues | 12 | Patrick Moloney | Ms K Durden | 61kg | $71.00 |
| 14th | 4 | Ulysses | 18 | Logan Bates | Julius Sandhu | 58.5kg | $201.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Astradeel | 9 | Tom Madden | Adam Chambers | 62.5kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Makdane | 15 | Craig Williams | M C Kent | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 16 | Blistering | 4 | Jason Maskiell | John Pascoe | 56.5kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Idon''tgetit | 1 | Jordyn Weatherley | P A Chow | 54kg | |
| Scr | 19 | Eye For An Eye | 13 | Jye Mc Neil | J Leek Jnr | 55kg |
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