A competitive midweek meeting awaits, with several progressive gallopers looking well placed to continue their preparations in a strong card.
Sandown Tips July 29
I've Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Sandown Roughie - Race 4 No. 3 Both Sides Now
The last campaign fell away late, but there were excuses for the Warrnambool defeat on May 7 before a spell, where Both Sides Now pulled up lame.
Prior to that, she was sixth-of-nine over 2100m, a distance the jockey was of the belief she didn't quite run, and four winners have since come from that race.
Her prep for the Shane Jackson yard began in style, with back-to-back victories recorded in March, the first of those a fresh win over this distance under Declan Bates, who's back aboard for Wednesday's assignment.
She also moved well when taking out a June 10 jump-out after leading throughout, with those tactics expected again after drawing wide, where she's predicted to cross forward with Eleanor Dumont early, who she's also drawn alongside.
While the record is a bit hit or miss on paper, she's still very lightly raced for a rising six-year-old, and we saw plenty of ability during her second prep with a dominant win over Barbie'sdreamworld, who was subsequently Group 3 placed, along with a metro victory in this grade.
Evergreen Turf Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Sandown Best Bet - Race 6 No. 3 Missapprehend
Her first campaign culminated with a third-up victory over this distance as favourite, taking out a January 8 event that produced good form, including the placegetters Miss Miranda and Mystery 'N' Drama, two fillies who have subsequently saluted at metro level.
When resuming on a Heavy 8 at Sale on June 28, Missapprehend just lost a late duel to Beechworth, with that winner then Saturday metro placed at the next start, while third-placegetter Jenni Multabella was an impressive Sandown winner last Wednesday.
Missapprehend then had excuses at Flemington last time out when covering ground via a brave third-place finish.
Despite the tougher run in that July 18 contest, the daughter of Wootton Bassett still got the better of Licentious, who did no work, and that rival is one of four runners at a single-figure quote for this affair.
Not only is the drop back to midweek company a positive, but the three-year-old also draws kinder with Jabez Johnstone staying in the saddle, and the talented apprentice is striking at better than 26% for the Ciaron Maher stable this season.
Tile Importer Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Sandown Value Bet - Race 7 No. 6 Godtfred Kirk
His only two previous tries at 1400m have resulted in a maiden win earlier in the season, beating Autumn Mystery and Miewa, both of whom have subsequently earned Group references, while third-placegetter Rock Then Jewels is now a dual winner.
The last attempt at this distance resulted in a two-and-a-half-length defeat over summer with Godtfred Kirk, now in his first campaign for young trainer Reece Goodwin, who often thrives with these tried horses.
There was merit to the runner-up finish on stable debut at Pakenham, a race taken out by Next Stop Iowa, who then saluted in style at Mornington before being Saturday metro placed twice, while third-placegetter Off Their Perch bolted in at her next appearance.
It hasn't been exactly smooth sailing since, with a scratching at the gates before going back to the jump-outs, then covering ground with a space between runs on the Pakenham Synthetic.
His latest effort at Cranbourne, where he remained at 1200m, indicated the rise in trip will suit now.
Sportsbet More Places Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Sandown Next Best Bet - Race 8 No. 1 Taka Speed
With three runs completed over winter since a freshen-up, Taka Speed will be at peak fitness for Wednesday's assignment, where the son of Savabeel drops in grade from a Saturday BM84 to contest this midweek BM74.
From his fourth-of-11 finish at Caulfield on July 11, the form has been excellent, with winner First Chorus bolting in at BM100 level last Saturday.
The placegetters were both competitive on that same program, including Beach Pad, who recorded another third in BM84 company, while Taka Speed also beat home Snoopy Now, a Saturday Adelaide winner at his previous start and a Listed winner as a three-year-old.
When kicking off winter, the gelding was beaten just over a length on a Heavy track on June 6 before being unsuited in an on-speed dominated race during a Sydney campaign.
He handles all conditions, and his only try over the Hillside 1800m resulted in a victory over Mr Bannock, who was a Pakenham winner in March over an in-form Houdini before being Saturday placed at Caulfield.