The Henry Dwyer Racing stable has two runners today with PAPER DRAGON and ART DEALER running at Sandown.
Sandown – Good (4)
Racing is on the outer Hillside track which has a long, 490m home straight and generous runs into all bends. Race 2 is from the 1000m chute which is off the top of the home straight; horses can sit deep and win with barriers being of little consequence. The track will likely be a Good 3 later in the day with fine weather forecast and the rail is out 10m, having been out 7m at the most recent meeting.
Race 2 (1.35pm) Ive Print Plate
No.11 PAPER DRAGON – Michael Poy (Barrier 5)
PAPER DRAGON heads to Sandowntoday where she will contest a 1000m 2YO Maiden. She has drawn gate five and Michael Poy will ride.
PAPER DRAGON only had the one quiet trial this preparation leading into her Ballarat debut and she moved nicely in that bit of work. She struck a heavy track on debut and went out too hard out in front, so it was no surprise to see her tire late. She will be better with that experience under her belt and getting back on top of the ground could well prove a plus. She will be ridden quieter today so she can having something to chase, there are a lot of unknowns in this race with plenty of first starters but she has the class to be competitive today.
She’s in good order, today’s race is going to be another step on the road with her education and will tell her where she sits, she should be thereabouts and can finish somewhere in the top four with some luck in running.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $16 (as at 8am)
Race 3 (2.10pm) Clanbrooke Racing Handicap
No.3 ART DEALER – Damien Thornton (Barrier 9)
ART DEALER also heads to Sandown today where he will contest a 1300m Class 1. He has drawn gate nine and Damien Thornton will ride.
ART DEALER jumped-out nicely prior to his last start outing at Colac where he subsequently showed good improvement to break his maiden. He was home the best last 600/400/200m splits of the meeting off a moderate tempo there to win well. This is tougher but the blinkers go on and he is on an upward spiral. Whatever he does today he will improve even more throughout this campaign, he could suprise again today with another win but indications point to him peaking in his next run or two. The wide barrier and blinkers on first time will mean we look to go back with him, the long straight he will have a chance to wind up but there doesn’t look like a lot of speed in the race which means it might not suit his pattern.
He will run a really nice race and be running on, with luck he can run into the money, but a few of these might be a tad sharp for him with how it might pan out in running and he will improve off whatever he does today again.
TAB WIN Fixed Odds – $7.50 (as at 8am)