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Australian Racing: Miss Celine to prove to be Sandown gem

There are no fewer than ten meetings scheduled on Saturday, with Sandown taking centre stage, where the highlights are a pair of Group 3 contests, the Blue Diamond Preview and the Manfred Stakes.

They also race at Bowen, Gold Coast, Kilmore, Launceston, Moonee Valley, Murray Bridge, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan and Randwick.

Race 4 Sandown

Miss Celine @ 9.00

Race 9 Sandown

Ndola @ 4.40

Race 8 Randwick

Headley Grange @ 3.00

Celine goes for Blue Diamond glory

The first of the Sandown Group 3’s is the fourth race of the day, the fillies Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview over 1000m.

A good 4 track is expected for the race and, while there are a number of intriguing newcomers, Jason Warren’s Palm Angel is expected to jump as favourite.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner was sent off at $12 when making her debut in the Listed Henley Homes Merson Cooper Stakes over 1000m at Caulfield on debut at the end of November.

The filly demonstrated good speed in making all the running on a soft 6 surface that day and she had nearly a length to spare at the line.

MISS CELINE is preferred on this occasion, however, having also made the perfect start to her racing career when debuting with a win at Caulfield in October.

The pick came home a length clear of her rivals when contesting the Magic Millions Debutant Stakes, a Listed contest over 1000m held on a good 4 track.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the 9.00 selection was ridden cold on that occasion, finishing strongly to pass all 12 of her rivals in the final 200m to record a debut success.

The daughter of Magnus had Bubion, who reopposes here, in second that day and jumping from an inside barrier she is taken to maintain her unbeaten record.

Ndola looks good for Manfred win

The second of the two Group 3 races at Sandown is the 1200m Manfred Stakes, which comes up as the penultimate contest on a ten-race card.

Dominic Sutton’s Band Of Brother’s won at this level at Caulfield in August and is expected to prove popular with punters as he bids for his third win in six career starts.

That previously mentioned Caulfield success came in the Vain Stakes held over 1100m on a good 4 track.

The gelding went on to finish fourth of eight in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes over 1200m at the same venue subsequently and he returned from a spell with a second at Geelong earlier this month.

While he holds obvious claims in this field, NDOLA is preferred on his return from a spell.

The Justify colt debuted with a win on the synthetic track at Pakenham in June and registered his first turf success over this course and distance two starts later.

The 4.40 pick won on a good 4 track that day and, having finished seventh down the straight in Listed company at Flemington next time out, he returned to winning ways on the Hillside course here.

The youngster won by a length when stepped up to 1400m for that latest success and he arrives here on the back of a third in a jumpout at Werribee recently.

Regular rider Luke Currie is again set to ride and his mount looks up to registering his first success at this level.

Grange to impress at Randwick

There’s a nine-race card scheduled for Randwick, with the penultimate contest a 1400m Benchmark 78 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected, with HEADLEY GRANGE taken to register his second win of the season.

The four-year-old resumed with a half-length second in a 1300m Benchmark 72 handicap held on a good 4 surface here just under a month ago.

The 3.00 selection began awkwardly and was held up at a crucial point that race, however, he made amends when taking out a similar event over the same distance at Wyong two weeks ago.

The gelding raced on a soft 5 track that day and the slight step up in distance is no issue here, having won over further in the past.

Adam Hyeronimus, on board at Wyong, is again set to ride and jumping from barrier three the pair look up to completing a double.

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