Stoner Bale To Smoke ‘Em At Sandown Tonight
The talented Stoner Bale will look to continue his impressive rise through the grades in Schweppes Melbourne Cup Prelude 11 at Sandown Park tonight.
Stoner Bale endured a chequered run in Free For All company at The Meadows on Saturday night, but returns to the Lightwood Road venue where he has won three consecutive starts in impressive time.
Stoner Bale's biggest challenge may come from the superbly bred Bo Frazier, who will attempt to overcome a frustrating run of minor placings as well as the awkward box 6. Alpine Way has drawn box 2 – the same alley he drew when running down the talented Velocette in the recent Traralgon Cup.
Bounding Billy is inline for a third win in top grade in the night's opening leg of the quaddie, the Schweppes Melbourne Cup Prelude 9. Bounding Billy has shown an ability to overcome poor box draws and can carve out impressive sectional times. Excellerator won well for the third consecutive start last week but meets much stronger company this week, while noted wide runner Amelia Bale has drawn ideally in box 8.
Bliksem will look to recapture his impressive winter form in race 7, Schweppes Melbourne Cup Prelude 10. Though he lacks early speed, he is as strong as any in the race and boasts seven wins from his 16 Sandown Park starts. Phoenix Shiraz was an impressive winner over Bo Frazier in the recent Traralgon Cup Consolation before being narrowly defeated in Free For All company at the Meadows on the weekend. Amity Bale is another that has talent, but will need luck from box 7.
Vintage Octane will have most of the punter's attention in the Multicam Routers Twin Cities Victorian Final. An impressive heat winner by 6.5 lengths in 29.64, Vintage Octane was second in a grade 5 final at Cranbourne on Monday, however he does boast three wins in excelent time in five starts at Sandown Park and with some early luck should be thereabouts again. Pure Elle has impressive ealry speed and scored an impressive all-the-way win in her heat last week. She is the likely early leader from box 1 and will be well placed to capitalize on any interference in the pack.