Sandown Racing Tips for September 2 – Ciaron Maher galloper is the Educated pick in Race 6

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which is one of the major meetings from around Australia that we are previewing in our daily tips. 

Boys Bounce can get the job done in the opener at Sandown. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy has had the one start for a 3rd placing behind Somethings Burnin’ at the Lakeside circuit over the 1200m. That form should hold up with the likes of Zambales only managing a runner-up as favourite, while Boys Bounce clocked the fastest last 200m to go just 0.7 lengths slower than standard benchmark, which is nearly five lengths better than what any horse in this race has produced in their careers to date. The son of Wooton Bassett should benefit from that run and gives the impression that the step up to the 1500m should suit. 

This looks to be a suitable assignment for Almost An Angel. The filly drops from Group 3 level after a luckless Quezette Stakes (1100m) run at Caulfield that saw her place 8th. She settled well back in the big field and had little hope on what was a very slow tempo but looked to be working into it as they approached the turn but was badly held up until the 300m before catching the eye late with the fastest last 200m, despite being well beaten. This is much easier and she produced some respectable performances in the Blue Diamond series at her autumn prep before placing in Group 3 company in Adelaide. Ethan Brown rides and the pair draw ideally in barrier 5. 

Ecucated is a clear top pick in Race 6. The four-year-old has won three of five career starts and resumed with a runner-up podium at Caulfield in Saturday grade on August 15. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper was posted wide no cover then went for home in the straight but narrowly went down behind Fundamental Nature. He went a very healthy nine lengths faster than standard benchmark, indicating that he has returned in promising fashion as a gelding. Second up at his last preparation, the son of Zoustar improved nearly eight lengths on benchmark figures when an impressive winner at Flemington, while he should enjoy the run of the race from barrier 3 with Jabez Johnstone to ride.