A change of tack will see the Aaron Purcell trained Black Sails head towards the Group 2 $250,000 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on the Ladbrokes Park Hillside track at Sandown on Saturday.
Leading trainer Darren Weir, above, has nominated three horses for the 2017 Sandown Guineas at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Purcell had originally planned to bypass the Sandown Guineas but when Black Sails pulled up so well after running second to All Too Huiying in the Listed $150,000 Seppelt Wines Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Kennedy Oaks Day, the Caulfield trainer decided to give the Savabeel colt another Spring Carnival run.
“The plan wasn’t to go to the Sandown Guineas but he ran really well and pulled up super so while he’s so fit and well we thought we’d race again,” Purcell told AAP.
Black Sails has been working his way up through the grades and even though he hasn’t won since breaking through for his maiden win five starts ago at Echuca, he has raced consistently with three seconds from his last three starts.
Purcell has also nominated Villermont for the Sandown Guineas after the All Too Hard colt was given a short freshen up following a tough run last start that saw him finish fourth to Temple Of Bel in a 1600m three year old BenchMark 70 Handicap at Caulfield on October 18.
“He was dug up to hold his spot and got over-racing on a strong tempo,” Purcell said.
“He peeled out and got there too soon, was left a sitting shot and weakened late.
“We gave him a few days off after his Caulfield run.
“He looks a million dollars, his work since has been great and I’d expect him to work good again tomorrow.
“Ridden a little quieter, I’d be expecting him to be hard to beat.”
The lightly race Villermont has only been to the races on three occasions and broke his maiden status at his second start over 1606m at Benalla on September 29.
Nineteen three year olds have been nominated for the Sandown Guineas with the Darren Weir trained Tamasa being installed the early favourite at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au while Black Sails and Villermont are both marked at $9.
Early betting for the 2017 Sandown Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Tamasa, $6 Beau Geste, $6.50 Snitzepeg, $9 Black Sail, Icon Of Dubai, Irish Vega, Villermont, $11 Gaulos, Octabello, Peaceful State, Vinland, $17 Paseeto, $21 Almighty, Hypnotist, $26 I’ll Have A Bit, $41 Fulton Street, $67 Bluebrook, $81 Give, $101 Mojos.
Nominations for the 2017 Sandown Guineas
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x31x97462 | I’LL HAVE A BIT | F | 3 | John McArdle | 1 | 55kg | 74 |
| 2 | 150×524115 | SNITZEPEG | C | 3 | Darren Weir | 2 | 57kg | 80 |
| 3 | 1×31374 | BEAU GESTE | C | 3 | James Cummings | 3 | 57kg | 76 |
| 4 | 32x321x218 | GAULOIS | C | 3 | James Cummings | 4 | 57kg | 73 |
| 5 | 48×14222 | BLACK SAIL (NZ) | C | 3 | Aaron Purcell | 5 | 57kg | 70 |
| 6 | 4x353x110 | PASEETO | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 6 | 57kg | 72 |
| 7 | 1×11549 | HYPNOTIST | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 7 | 57kg | 70 |
| 8 | 6425×217 | ICON OF DUBAI | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 8 | 57kg | 63 |
| 9 | 1×187 | OCTABELLO | C | 3 | Mick Price | 9 | 57kg | 67 |
| 10 | 3231×60 | ALMIGHTY | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 10 | 57kg | 62 |
| 11 | 143 | IRISH VEGA | G | 3 | Anthony Freedman | 11 | 57kg | 68 |
| 12 | 116 | TAMASA | C | 3 | Darren Weir | 12 | 57kg | 68 |
| 13 | 56×1 | VINLAND | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 13 | 57kg | 62 |
| 14 | 49×6417090 | GIVE | C | 3 | John Moloney | 14 | 57kg | 60 |
| 15 | 314 | VILLERMONT | C | 3 | Aaron Purcell | 15 | 57kg | 63 |
| 16 | 31 | PEACEFUL STATE | C | 3 | Darren Weir | 16 | 57kg | 62 |
| 17 | 52 | BLUEBROOK | G | 3 | Todd Balfour | 17 | 57kg | 60 |
| 18 | 52 | FULTON STREET | C | 3 | John Sadler | 18 | 57kg | 59 |
| 19 | 0x645 | MOJOS | C | 3 | Ray Besanko | 19 | 57kg | 53 |