Sandown Betting Tips for August 19, 2026 - Blake Can Break the Ice

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: Tue 18 Aug 2026 06:19

Alex Marsh 1 hour ago

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Sandown Lakeside runs midweek on Aug 19 with a rain-affected track
Top tips: Giggenbach (win, R4), Farcited (each-way, R7), Lake Vostok (win, R1), Gunado (value, R8)
Experts advise focusing on horses with proven wet-track form

Wednesday racing in Melbourne heads to Sandown Lakeside. (Getty)

Sandown Lakeside hosts the Melbourne midweek program on Wednesday, August 19, where the rail is true from the 400m to the winning post and out six metres for the remainder.

Sandown Tips August 19
Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap Tips (Race 1)
Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Lockettled.au Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap Tips (Race 8)

The track will be rain affected, with a Soft 7 reading on Tuesday afternoon and rain forecast on race day.

For wider betting angles, our Daily Racing Multi brings together leading combinations from multiple programs.

Sandown Tips August 19

Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap Tips (Race 1)

Sandown Favourite - Race 1 No. 2 Lake Vostok

An encouraging June 20 return came in a strong BM90 against her own sex, with Lake Vostok recording the second-fastest final 400m and 200m of the entire Flemington program in a race that has since produced six subsequent winners.

A drop in grade followed on July 18 and she was understandably respected as the third market elect, although the fifth-of-11 second-up performance was plain.

Lake Vostok then contested another mile race at Caulfield Heath on August 8, where she had excuses when restricted for room at key stages after again starting at single-figure odds.

This represents another drop in grade back to a midweek BM70 against her own sex, while she rises only 1kg with gun jockey Blake Shinn taking the reins.

There were some strong form lines throughout 2025, including a Saturday metropolitan win and consistent city performances before a third in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final, with that run and her prior form through Barbie'sdreamworld subsequently standing up at Group level.

Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Sandown Best Bet - Race 4 No. 2 Giggenbach

Still lightly raced for a five-year-old, Giggenbach worked through the grades nicely during her third campaign early last season, winning three races before culminating with a BM80 appearance at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

The 2026 campaign has not gone to plan, with the mare given time after two autumn appearances, although both winter runs have been more encouraging.

Her July 15 return on the Sandown Hillside circuit produced a third in a strong BM70, with the runner-up along with the sixth, seventh and eighth placegetters all winning at their next starts.

Giggenbach then stepped to this track-and-trip on August 2 and appeared to peak late after sustaining a wide run from back in the field, finishing fourth and beaten just over a length while the quinella both enjoyed much more economical passages.

Although up 2kg from that effort, the daughter of Ocean Park returns to her own sex and, with improvement expected third-up after a 2100m run under the belt, she looks to have found the right race to bring up career win number four.

Lockettled.au Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Sandown Next Best Bet - Race 7 No. 1 Farcited

Superbly bred, being by Farnan and out of Group 1-winning sprinter I Am Excited, Farcited showed good potential during his first campaign as a two-year-old.

He won the Black Opal Preview on debut when heavily backed before narrowly missing as a well-supported favourite in the Group 3 Black Opal, with that preparation ending after he finished down the track in the Golden Slipper.

Setbacks followed, including bone chips being removed from both fore knees, and he spent most of last season on the sidelines before returning gelded in a three-year-old handicap at Caulfield on June 27.

Farcited finished a well-held third there but recorded the fastest final 400m and 200m of the race, before another solid effort when fifth-of-13 at Caulfield last time in an event that favoured those settling closer to the speed.

Although he rises 3.5kg, this is also a decent drop back in grade and, with two runs under the belt following a long break, Farcited should be nearing peak fitness, while Mark Zahra takes the reins — he's striking at better than 30% for the Anthony and Freedman yard over the past 12 months.

Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Sandown Value Bet - Race 8 No. 9 Gunado

Race fitness and solid wet-track credentials come into play for Gunado, who was set a task under a big weight at Warrnambool last time but still made ground for a fourth-of-12 finish.

That followed a third-up Geelong run where he was beaten after being unable to get clear and reach the faster lanes, having previously returned to Sandown Lakeside second-up on June 3 with the fastest closing sectionals of the race when runner-up behind Lauberhorn.

That rival subsequently progressed to Listed company before winning a late-season Saturday three-year-old handicap at Caulfield on July 25, giving Gunado a strong form reference.

The gelding also produced several meritorious efforts during last spring on the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final path, with his best coming when runner-up over this distance on Heavy ground before later failing in the final at a big price.

John Allen knows the son of Trust In A Gust well after partnering him in seven of his 16 starts, including both victories, and while he is yet to win at seven furlongs, the step back to this journey looks suitable off his latest effort.

Verdict

Sandown- August 19

Our Sandown tips for Wednesday, August 19 are:

Giggenbach

To Win

$3.40 - 3 Units

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Farcited

Each Way

$6.50 - 3 Units

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Lake Vostok

To Win

$3.80 - 3 Units

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Gunado

Each Way

$31.00 - 1 Unit

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