Australian Racing: Maui Man eyes Sandown success

There’s plenty of racing action for punters on Wednesday, including from both Sandown and Eagle Farm.

Race 6 Sandown

Maui Man @ 12.00

Race 8 Eagle Farm

Valetudo @ 3.50

Race 7 Ascot

Masterly @ SP

Maui Man to salute at Sandown

They are set to race on the Hillside course at Sandown with the sixth race of the day a 1300m Benchmark 64 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with Grahame Begg’s Zloties expected to jump as favourite from barrier 10.

The five-year-old won her first two starts last prep, including when racing over 1300m in a Benchmark 70 handicap here in early September.

A good second in a similar contest over 1400m at this venue followed, with the mare tried in Group 3 company at Randwick in her final start of 2024.

Ultimately the step up in grade proved too much, with the daughter of Snitzel finishing down the field.

The mare resumed with a two-length third in a 1200m Benchmark 74 handicap held on the Lakeside track here last month and she holds obvious claims dropping in grade.

Thomas Nikolic-trained MAUI MAN ended his first prep in good form, registering a maiden victory in a 1400m contest at Sale in October.

Maui Man raced on a sound surface that day and, having been spelled subsequently, he had a couple of starts in jumpout contests at Cranbourne prior to returning to action at Pakenham last month.

The son of So You Think raced from mid-division prior to getting up to win by nearly a length when contesting a Benchmark 64 handicap at Pakenham.

While Maui Man steps up in grade here, he is expected to appreciate the extra distance, while he has a good barrier four from the rail.

Jockey Thomas Stockdale, on board for both of his previous victories, is again set to ride and his mount is taken to register his first metro success.

Valetudo for Eagle Farm glory

A heavy 10 track is expected at Eagle Farm with the eighth race of the day a 1200m Benchmark 65 handicap.

There have been a number of horses scratched from the race, with Vindicta expected to feature prominently in the betting.

Trained by Jack Bruce, the gelding showed good form last prep, including when two-and-a-half-lengths second in a 1200m event here just under a year ago.

The four-year-old was spelled following that effort and he returned to action with a ninth in a 1200m Class 1 contest at Doomben last month.

The gelding is expected to have improved for that effort and he looks likely to go well in this event.

Zoustar filly VALETUDO is selected here however, having registered some good efforts this prep, including when runner-up at Doomben on her penultimate start.

Valetudo was beaten just under two lengths when contesting a 1350m Benchmark 60 handicap held on a sound surface on that occasion.

A switch to a wet track for the first time saw her come from mid-division to get up to win by just under half-a-length in a 1200m Benchmark 70 handicap here last month.

The Northern Hemisphere-bred filly isn’t likely to have any issues with the testing ground expected for this event and she is taken to provide trainer Chris Waller with a winner.

Masterly to complete double

The finale on Ascot’s seven-race card is a 1400m Class 1 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

MASTERLY takes the eye for the Neville Parnham stable, having demonstrated improvement with racing this prep.

The son of Universal Ruler placed third in a 1200m maiden at this venue when making his return to action at the start of last month.

A close second when contesting a maiden held over 1400m at Belmont later that month, followed with the gelding going on to break through for his first win over the same track and trip a week ago.

Masterly won by nearly a length when racing on a sound surface last time and, with Laqdar Ramoly retaining the ride, he looks capable of following up.