Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Victoria · Saturday 27 September 2025
Our top pick won 1 of 8 races at Sandown Hillside. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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Coco Jen brings an impressive record of 3:2-1-0 to this race, including a perfect record at the distance. Though stepping up in class from BM58 company, she's shown progressive form and has a perfect first-up record. The 197-day break is offset by her trainer's ability to have horses ready fresh.
Gold Medallist brings a perfect 3:3-0-0 record including two wins at this distance. Though stepping up in class, she's shown progressive improvement with each start and comes off a strong win at Bendigo just 10 days ago.
Nepravda brings strong recent form with consecutive second placings in similar company. Though untested at 1400m, her racing pattern suggests the distance will suit, and the Hayes stable knows how to place their horses. With Daniel Stackhouse aboard, she represents solid each-way value.
Her recent form has been consistent with placings at her last two starts, and she should be suited by the likely fast tempo.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Gold Medallist | 2 | Emily Pozman | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57.5kg | $2.60 |
| 2nd | 8 | Coco Jen | 8 | Luke Currie | M M Laurie | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| 3rd | 12 | Happy Link | 11 | Beau Mertens | G Eurell | 57kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 6 | I Only Wish | 6 | Jye Mc Neil | R D Griffiths | 59kg | $16.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Double Pi | 5 | Luke Cartwright | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 55.5kg | $5.50 |
| 6th | 5 | Geffina | 4 | Declan Bates | Aaron Purcell | 59kg | $18.00 |
| 7th | 11 | Suntora | 1 | Jordan Childs | Nick Ryan | 58.5kg | $81.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Cavity Bay | 10 | Logan Bates | T & C McEvoy | 60.5kg | $16.00 |
| 9th | 10 | Nepravda | 9 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 10th | 3 | Hazel Baby | 3 | Blake Shinn | C Maher | 60kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Kirribilli | 12 | Luke Nolen | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 7 | All Kinds Of Folk | 7 | Teodore Nugent | J E & C Ledger | 58.5kg |
The mare is perfectly suited by the Sandown-Hillside circuit with a strong record of 1-1-1 from 4 starts here. Despite the class rise, she gets in with just 54.5kg and has a proven ability to handle the Good 4 surface (4-0-3 from 10 starts). Her improving form trajectory makes her the standout selection.
Al Duca brings rock-solid credentials with an impressive 38% win rate and 77% place rate from 13 starts. His recent form is excellent with two wins from his last three starts, including a victory at Caulfield just 7 days ago. While the top weight of 61.5kg is a concern, he's proven at this class level and has a strong record at Sandown. The wide barrier is mitigated by his forward racing pattern in a race with likely fast tempo.
Farhh Flung brings solid recent form with a win and a 3rd placing in his last two starts. He's drawn perfectly in barrier 2 which should allow him to secure a good position in the run. While unproven at the 1800m trip, his racing pattern suggests the distance should suit, and his record on Good tracks is solid with 4 wins and 9 placings from 22 starts. The 7-day backup is a slight concern, but he's proven at this class level.
His overall record shows a strong place strike rate of 67% (10 from 15 starts), suggesting consistency. While the class rise is a concern, he's well-drawn in barrier 5 and has an excellent record on soft tracks with 3 wins and 3 placings from 7 starts. The 42-day freshen-up is a slight query, but his record suggests he can perform well when fresh.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Farhh Flung | 2 | Blake Shinn | D T O''Brien | 59.5kg | $7.00 |
| 2nd | 6 | Rise To It | 12 | Luke Cartwright | C Maher | 56.5kg | $18.00 |
| 3rd | 8 | Makdane | 5 | Jordan Childs | M C Kent | 59kg | $4.80 |
| 4th | 1 | Al Duca | 11 | Mark Zahra | A & S Freedman | 61.5kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Prince Eric | 3 | Declan Bates | Archie Alexander | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 6th | 12 | Autumn Slide | 6 | M J Dee | Simon Zahra | 54.5kg | $3.60 |
| 7th | 11 | Jaykayann | 8 | Rose Hammond | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 54.5kg | $26.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Alma Rise | 9 | Emily Pozman | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57kg | $10.00 |
| 9th | 10 | Fine Future | 7 | Kayla Crowther | Stephen Theodore | 58kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Lincoln Rocks | 10 | Logan Bates | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 59.5kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Chasing Aphrodite | 4 | Harry Coffey | Henry Dwyer | 61kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Fengarada | 1 | Daniel Stackhouse | J Leek Jnr | 59kg |
Shining Smile brings the strongest form credentials to this race with an impressive record of 5 wins from 9 starts including 4 wins at this distance.
Odessa enters this race in excellent form with consecutive wins, including a dominant last-start victory. While this represents a significant class rise and she's been winning on synthetic surfaces, her raw ability and progressive profile suggest she can be competitive at this level.
While this represents a significant class rise, he appears to have the raw ability and progressive profile to handle it. The weight advantage over more established rivals is significant.
Aleppo Pine represents excellent value as a second-up runner from a top stable. His first-up 4th placing at Moonee Valley was solid, and he typically improves second-up. While untested at this exact distance, his form at 1100-1200m suggests the 1000m should suit perfectly.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Aleppo Pine | 6 | Beau Mertens | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 54kg | $3.30 |
| 2nd | 5 | Cannyworth | 11 | Luke Cartwright | Glen Thompson | 51kg | $19.00 |
| 3rd | 1 | Shining Smile | 2 | Logan Bates | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $3.20 |
| 4th | 3 | Blue Hotel | 8 | Luke Currie | Clayton Douglas | 54kg | $13.00 |
| 5th | 6 | Odessa | 4 | Harry Coffey | T & C McEvoy | 54kg | $3.50 |
| 6th | 10 | Olatunde | 1 | Lachlan Neindorf | T Fitzsimmons | 54kg | $7.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Sonofkirk | 10 | Jye Mc Neil | A & S Freedman | 54.5kg | |
| Scr | 7 | Angel Ladder | 12 | Declan Bates | C Maher | 54kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Star Trip | 9 | M J Dee | C Maher | 54kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Street Artist | 3 | Daniel Stackhouse | A & S Freedman | 54kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Oliveanotherday | 5 | Jordan Childs | Tom Dabernig | 54kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Vincetio | 7 | R J Meunier | 54kg |
King Zephyr brings exceptional credentials with a 63% win rate and perfect record at Sandown (2 from 2). Despite carrying top weight, he's proven capable under similar conditions and has drawn ideally in barrier 4 for a forward position. The class rise is offset by his consistent quality performances.
Justadeel presents as a progressive galloper with an impressive 38% win rate and 63% place rate. His recent win at Sandown-Lakeside was convincing, and he boasts a perfect second-up record. The inside barrier (2) suits his racing pattern, and Mark Zahra is a significant jockey booking. While facing a class rise, his weight advantage (56.5kg) and upward trajectory make him a genuine threat.
His barrier 1 draw is advantageous for his racing pattern, and Blake Shinn is a positive jockey booking. While his overall record is solid rather than spectacular (23% win rate), his recent track success and weight allocation (58.5kg) give him strong claims in this contest.
Her record at 1400m is solid (2-3-2 from 14 starts), and she's well-weighted with 57.5kg. The inside barrier (3) should allow her to secure a good position, and M J Dee is a capable jockey. While she lacks experience at this track, her consistency and current form make her an attractive each-way proposition.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | King Zephyr | 4 | Jordan Childs | G M Begg | 59kg | $1.95 |
| 2nd | 4 | So Risque | 8 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58.5kg | $41.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Justadeel | 2 | Mark Zahra | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 56.5kg | $4.40 |
| 4th | 6 | Sassy Boom | 3 | M J Dee | D T O''Brien | 57.5kg | $17.00 |
| 5th | 5 | Le Ferrari | 6 | Ben Allen | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $19.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Raikoke | 1 | Blake Shinn | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 58.5kg | $5.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Poppin'' Champagne | 5 | Beau Mertens | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 55kg | $51.00 |
| 8th | 2 | Liberami | 9 | Jye Mc Neil | R D Griffiths | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 9th | 8 | Nostringsattached | 7 | John Allen | T Busuttin & N Young | 56.5kg | $17.00 |
| Scr | 10 | Our Couver | 10 | Declan Bates | Jerome Hunter | 53.5kg |
The step up to 1400m looks ideal, and with just 51kg, this lightly-raced gelding has significant upside.
Bacash brings solid credentials with 2 wins and 4 placings from 8 starts. While untested at 1400m, his racing pattern suggests the distance will suit. The good track conditions align with his best performances, and he appears to be building toward a peak run.
Navy Pilot brings the strongest class credentials, having competed in Group 1 company. His recent second in Listed grade suggests he's returning to form, and the inside barrier should give him tactical options. While carrying top weight is a concern, he's a proven 1400m performer and is second-up today where he should be at peak fitness. The good track is less ideal than soft going.
Wise Inlaw represents excellent value given his recent third in Listed company at this track and distance. His record of 1 win and 2 placings from 5 starts shows consistency, and he's proven at 1400m. While the wide barrier is a concern, the spacious Sandown-Hillside track should mitigate this disadvantage. His good track record suggests today's conditions will suit perfectly.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Navy Pilot | 2 | Logan Bates | C Maher | 57kg | $5.00 |
| 2nd | 3 | Bacash | 5 | M J Dee | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 54kg | $4.20 |
| 3rd | 4 | Centu Cavaddi | 10 | Luke Currie | T Busuttin & N Young | 54kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 7 | Regal Award | 4 | Hannah Edgley | P Stokes | 51kg | $2.80 |
| 5th | 5 | Fastoso | 1 | Jordan Childs | G Eurell | 54kg | $17.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Hot Sand | 3 | Teodore Nugent | Bill Papazaharoudakis | 54kg | $81.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Fermoy | 8 | Ben Melham | C J Waller | 55.5kg | $4.60 |
| Scr | 8 | Romantic Encounter | 6 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 54kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Wise Inlaw | 9 | Lachlan Neindorf | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 54kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Duke Atreides | 7 | Jye Mc Neil | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 53kg |
With 2 wins from just 3 starts, she's dropping in class from a Listed race where she ran a respectable 5th. The wide barrier is the main concern, but her tactical speed should overcome this.
Ferivia brings strong credentials with 2 wins from 4 starts and a place. While she's rising in class, her consistency suggests she can be competitive here. Her soft track form is excellent (2 wins from 3 starts), though she's yet to prove herself at this distance. Lachlan Neindorf knows her well.
Custom comes off an excellent 2nd placing in a Listed race at Moonee Valley, suggesting she's ready to be competitive at this level. She draws perfectly in barrier 1 which should give her every chance to find a good position. While her overall win rate is modest (1 from 7), her consistency and recent form progression indicate she's ready to run well. The booking of Mark Zahra is a significant positive.
While first-up from a spell, her class and raw ability make her dangerous fresh. The booking of Jye McNeil is significant, and she's dropping in class from her previous runs. The main query is her lack of race experience.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Ferivia | 3 | Lachlan Neindorf | P Stokes | 58kg | $11.00 |
| 2nd | 5 | Ole Dancer | 11 | Blake Shinn | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 56kg | $2.80 |
| 3rd | 6 | Salty Pearl | 7 | Ben Allen | C Maher | 56kg | $9.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Ethereum Girl | 6 | M J Dee | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58kg | $20.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Bellazaine | 10 | Jett Stanley | G Waterhouse & A Bott | 57kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 14 | Mating Call | 13 | Ben Melham | D Clarken & O Macgillivray | 56kg | $16.00 |
| 7th | 11 | Amping Lass | 12 | Luke Nolen | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 56kg | $11.00 |
| 8th | 13 | Arizona Luck | 4 | Declan Bates | Symon Wilde | 56kg | $61.00 |
| 9th | 4 | Miss Celine | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 57kg | $19.00 |
| 10th | 12 | Biologics | 9 | Jordan Childs | G M Begg | 56kg | $12.00 |
| 11th | 10 | Celibate | 14 | Dean Yendall | M J Williams | 56kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 7 | Prestige Snitzel | 8 | Jye Mc Neil | M M Laurie | 56kg | |
| Scr | 8 | Custom | 1 | Mark Zahra | C Maher | 56kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Gisella | 2 | Luke Currie | Dan O''Sullivan | 56kg |
Transatlantic brings excellent credentials into this race, particularly his outstanding second-up record (3 wins from 4 attempts). His last start 2nd at Flemington in Listed company was full of merit, and he should be peaking fitness-wise today. The likely fast tempo will suit his versatile racing pattern, and the booking of Mark Zahra is a significant positive. Despite the wide barrier, he has the tactical speed to overcome it.
Evaporate brings strong credentials into this race with a consistent record of 5 wins and 5 placings from 15 starts. His second-up record is solid with 1 win and 1 placing from 3 attempts, and he's proven at the distance. The Hayes stable is in good form, and Blake Shinn retains the ride. The wide barrier and top weight are concerns, but his class should see him competitive.
Sav On Ice brings excellent recent form into this race, having won 5 of his last 10 starts including a last-start victory in Listed company at Balaklava. His versatility across different track conditions is a plus, and he's drawn well in barrier 6.
His record at Sandown is excellent with 2 placings from 2 starts, and he's drawn well in barrier 5. Daniel Stackhouse continues his association with the horse, which is a positive.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Evaporate | 10 | Blake Shinn | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 59kg | $3.70 |
| 2nd | 3 | Transatlantic | 13 | Mark Zahra | T J Gollan | 58.5kg | $2.60 |
| 3rd | 13 | Athanatos | 5 | Daniel Stackhouse | P Stokes | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 4th | 8 | Cote Atlantique | 4 | Beau Mertens | Henry Dwyer | 54kg | $10.00 |
| 5th | 11 | The Pendragon | 1 | Jordan Childs | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 54kg | $81.00 |
| 6th | 6 | El Rocko | 11 | Jett Stanley | John McArdle | 54kg | $19.00 |
| 7th | 7 | Von Hauke | 14 | Patrick Moloney | C I Brown | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 14 | Wonder Boy | 9 | Logan Bates | Jerome Hunter | 54kg | $11.00 |
| 9th | 12 | Foujita San | 3 | Jye Mc Neil | M, W & J Hawkes | 54kg | $61.00 |
| 10th | 9 | Sav On Ice | 6 | Lachlan Neindorf | D K Carrison | 54kg | $12.00 |
| 11th | 5 | Positivity | 7 | Harry Coffey | Andrew Forsman | 54kg | $81.00 |
| 12th | 10 | Shaiyhar | 12 | Luke Currie | T Busuttin & N Young | 54kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Rise At Dawn | 2 | M J Dee | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 58.5kg | |
| Scr | 4 | Another Prophet | 8 | Declan Bates | C Maher | 54kg |
Hard To Cross brings excellent credentials with a phenomenal record at Sandown-Hillside (5 wins from 8 starts). His recent form is strong with a win and second in his last two starts, and he gets in with just 52kg.
Globe brings a perfect record at Sandown-Hillside over 1800m (2 wins from 2 starts) and has been racing consistently with a 2nd and 4th in his last two starts. Blake Shinn knows the horse well and should give him every chance despite the wide barrier.
Wootton Verni brings strong European form credentials and has shown glimpses of ability in Australia with a solid 5th last start. The inside barrier draw is advantageous at Sandown-Hillside, and he's well-weighted with 55.5kg. While this represents a class rise, trainer Chris Waller is a master at placing his horses, and the removal of blinkers could help him settle better.
He's drawn perfectly in barrier 1, carries just 54kg, and has a strong second-up record. His 5th place finish at Flemington last start was encouraging, and he should improve second-up. The removal of the tongue tie is interesting and could be a positive gear change.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 10 | Charterhouse | 14 | Daniel Stackhouse | Gavin Bedggood | 55kg | $20.00 |
| 2nd | 2 | Globe | 11 | Blake Shinn | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 59kg | $2.70 |
| 3rd | 13 | Cadmus | 3 | Jye Mc Neil | A & S Freedman | 54kg | $19.00 |
| 4th | 9 | Wootton Verni | 2 | Jordan Childs | C J Waller | 55.5kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 6 | Pounding | 4 | Emily Pozman | P G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 54kg | $11.00 |
| 6th | 7 | Star Of India | 10 | John Allen | C J Waller | 56.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 11 | Hard To Cross | 12 | Rose Hammond | Patrick & Michelle Payne | 52kg | $4.80 |
| 8th | 5 | Torranzino | 16 | Thomas Stockdale | P A Preusker | 57.5kg | $26.00 |
| 9th | 15 | Ziryab | 1 | Luke Currie | C Maher | 54kg | $7.50 |
| 10th | 16 | Wonder Kid | 15 | Beau Mertens | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 53kg | $11.00 |
| 11th | 8 | Strawberry Rock | 8 | Ben Melham | C Maher | 56.5kg | $81.00 |
| 12th | 4 | First Immortal | 9 | Billy Egan | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 57.5kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Okita Soushi | 7 | Luke Cartwright | C Maher | 58kg | |
| Scr | 3 | Hezashocka | 5 | Logan Bates | M Price & M Kent Jnr | 56.5kg | |
| Scr | 12 | Sir Kingsford | 17 | Harry Coffey | G & N Searle & B Callanan | 54.5kg | |
| Scr | 14 | Plymouth | 13 | M J Dee | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 54kg | |
| Scr | 17 | Flash Feeling | 6 | Declan Bates | Dan O''Sullivan | 54kg |
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