David Braithwaite
SALE Turf Club will host a nine-race program this Sunday.
The Greenwattle track was rated “good four” on Friday morning.
Three horses stand out in race one, a maiden over 2200 metres, at 12.25pm.
Silk Jacket, from the Cumani stable, has finished second in her previous two starts.
Before a four-week break, Stannary had back-to-back third placings, including one at Sale.
Vuni has finished second at Pakenham and third at Moe this preparation.
In race two, a 1200m maiden, Rubick Kingdom finished second earlier this month in his first run for the Hawkes stable, while Akaka Falls returns to Sale, where he finished second on debut earlier this month.
Godolphin runner Pitjara, trained by James Cummings, finished either second or third in her previous five runs, so could be due to taste victory in race three over 1200m.
For race four, the 1600m maiden, punters are gravitating towards Holster, from the Hawkes stable, and Alcides, trained by Danny O’Brien.
In race five, the 1400m maiden, Ironedge returns after an 18-week spell, before which he finished second at Flemington in the Anzac Day Stakes.
Infinite Matrix showed promise in finishing second last month at Geelong in similar conditions to this Sunday’s race.
Entered in race six, the 1400m benchmark 64 handicap, The Great Hans has won and placed third at Cranbourne in his past two runs, while Excelman showed good form in the city before a 16-week spell.
In seven runs since March, Vladivostok has won twice and finished second five times over a similar distance.
Areyoulistening won over 1000m on the Pakenham synthetic last start, and will contest race seven, 1000m benchmark 64 handicap.
Punters will be best to forget Magnajet’s previous run, finishing last a Cranbourne in May, having won at Cranbourne and Ballarat during the previous preparation.
In race eight, the 1200m benchmark 70 handicap, that scratching of Barocha has seen the money go to Sierra Sue and emergency National Choice.
After finishing 11th at Sandown four weeks ago, Somerset Maugham comes back in distance for race nine, the 1717m benchmark 64 handicap at 5pm, at a track he finished second on his previous visit last month.
For some value, look at Slick Back and Fighting Whiskey.
