Tips, suggested bets and feature race preview for the Sandown Classic at Sandown 14/11/2026.
We know that the feature race is the C.F.Orr Stakes at Group 1, but this has always been Sandown (Zipping) Classic day to end the spring, so we will cover that as the feature race this week. Finally returned to Sandown because of track renovations at Caulfield, but hopefully back to stay now under the new MRC administration and their commitment to racing at Sandown.
Note that we are racing on Sandown Hillside with a cutaway rail, with Race 7 being run over the 1200M on the Sandown Lakeside. That means a big roomy track and they haven’t raced at Sandown for some time now, and plenty of room to make inside runs and the leaders are very exposed here and end up in the middle of the track, so racing is likely to favour those running on late. Some rain around leading into race day and again during the day, and if it rains Sandown always get the worse of it – and of course we wake up Saturday morning to a unexpected HEAVY(8) track and a stack of scratchings and we need to hastily redo the form.
This is always a tricky punting day, a lot of these are going for consolation prizes at the end of spring after missing their main targets, so it is always preferable to look at fresher horses today. Wet track and a stack of scratchings have taken out most of the main horses we were interested in unfortunately and limited value options today.
We finally struck some form on Champions Stakes day finding long shot roughie SUN GIFT at $40. This will be the last week of Spring Campaign 2026, but we will continue to post summary tips and selections on Saturday mornings from now on. Thank you for everyone who played along this spring and stuck with us through a rough form patch – much appreciated. Feature race preview at the bottom of this post.
BEST WIN: Race 6: 8-BRED ‘EM ALL $5 WIN
QUINELLA: Race 6: 8-BRED ‘EM ALL#7-THANK GORGEOUS, 9-SALUTED x $2= 100%
This one has been racing extremely well and he just failed to run down a leader down the Flemington straight last start. Might be a slight query on a genuine heavy track, but he has much more upside than most of these and gets a good weight pull from the more established horses at the top of the weights. Back straight out at around $3 and try and eek some value out of this race with a standout quinella with the 7-THANK GORGEOUS who hopefully may return to form with two runs in and the very consistent wet track Sandown specialist the 9-SALUTED.
BEST WIN: Race 8: 2-PERICLES $5 WIN
QUINELLA: Race 8: 2-PERICLES#5-BEIWACHT, 7-SPLASH BACK x $2 = 100%
Don’t quite understand why this one is so consistently under-rated. First two runs this time in were promising, he was working home nicely over shorter distances, and then he has gone around $17 last start and got the perfect run to win. Almost won the Champions mile last spring, been around the money in feature Group 1 miles, yet he always seems to start each-way odds and often double figures. Excellent wet track form and he can sit second here behind the speed and he is good enough to win this. Back straight out at around $5 and not worth backing each-way in a small field with NTD, so anchor in a quinella with the leader the 5-BEIWACHT who loves it wet and the value runner the 7-SPLASH BACK who may improve as the fresh horse in the this field.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 2: 2-SKIPPERS CANYON $4 EW
Over half the field scratched here so this one wasn’t even in our top three to begin with. Horse with a stack of ability, he can be slowly away and give them a big head start, but he has a really strong finish. Won first-up this track and distance on a wet track at his first Australian start and he generally goes well fresh. Small field and long straight and tough conditions and not sure about the rest of this field so he may run over the top of them late at around $10.
BEST EACH WAY: Race 5: 11-CONSULATE $5 EW
This one was ridiculously unlucky last start when held up for runs behind runners and to switch to get clear running and finished on really well – probably would have been in the finish with a clear run. $61 last start to $6 today is a fair change in market expectations, but he has won on heavy ground before and looks the fresh horse here. Each way at around $6.
BEST ROUGH: Race 7: 5-CALAMARI RING $2.50 EW
QUINELLA: Race 7: 2,5,9,14 boxed x $3 = 50%
This one has had a bit of a disastrous spring so is looking for a consolidation prize today. Ran on really nicely first few runs this time in, including on a heavy track here first-up, and really good at Caulfield two starts back against a leaders pattern, and then she didn’t fire in Sydney last start. Scratched at barrier here during Cup week. Big field and she should get her chance today to run on and see what she is capable of and looks to handle the wet track. Rough at $21 and in an even field there is a nice quinella with the 9-AFFARI who was massive flying home late last start, the 2-NATURAL FLING who is back in this on a wet track even if she is right at the end of her spring and the roughie 14-NISHIOKA who has been strong at the end of her races and may appreciate the long Sandown straight.
BEST ROUGH: Race 9: 8-TORRANZINO $2.50 EW
Surprised at the odds on offer about this one, last spring he was flying winning the Geelong Cup on a wet track and finishing top five in the Melbourne Cup. Had a full year off so obviously had some issues, but he thrives on consistent racing and he finally showed some form last week in a solidly run 2500M race at Flemington. Looks ready to return to form, wet track is no issue and he is going to settle just behind the speed here and get every chance. Looks ridiculous odds at $61.
LAY OF THE DAY: Race 3: 5-PORTER at around $3.30
This is going to hurt as he is a horse we normally follow, but his best form is running along on dry tracks at Flemington, and think the wet track is a major issue here. He doesn’t have much opposition today though, but still prefer to be on something running on late over the top of him. Sorry.
TURF DELI WONDER BET: Here we try and turn $5 into a tropical Xmas holiday to sunny Sandown.
$5 ALL UP
PLACE Race 6: 9-SALUTED
PLACE Race 7: 5-CALAMARI RING
PLACE Race 9: 8-TORRANZINO
PLACE Race 10: 7-TERILEE
Let’s finish spring with a Poor Man’s Quaddie and the consistent wet tracker should kick us off safely in the Race 6: 9-SALUTED before dabbling in some value runners, and coming home on the consistent Race 10: 7-TERILEE.Ambitiously looking at around $2000 for a $5 outlay, though note no third dividend in the last leg so if you can go Top 3 with a corporate than take that instead (which is a still a tidy $1200 return)
SUGGESTED QUADDIE:
Races 7,8,9,10: 2,5,7,8,9,14 / 2,5 / 5,6,8,10 / 4,7,12 x $20 = 13.88%
Small fields and might not be much value in the quaddie today. Go wide in the first leg, pretty confident we just need the top two selections in the second leg and not impossible the short-priced favourite gets beaten in the last leg if she gives those on-speed too big a start on a wet track.
Feature Race Preview: RACE 9: SANDOWN ZIPPING CLASSIC 2400M GROUP 2 WFA
The Zipping Classic is always an interesting form race, stayers right at the end of their spring, but since 2000 there have been 12 winners of this race come through the Melbourne Cup as their lead-up run - and 5 of those have finished 10th or worse. So don’t be scared off from backing horses coming off poor Melbourne Cup runs here. We have a clear leader here in the 4-SMOKIN' ROMANS with the 2-KINGSWOOD sitting just off him and the 3-VAUBAN, 8-TORRANZINO next in line with the 9-TRAVOLTA not far off them. Not sure there is that much pressure up front here though and can’t see any of these really running them along in front to ensure a genuine tempo. Track has come up a genuine heavy which means we can further filter down the chances here.
Runner by Runner comments:
1-KNIGHT'S CHOICE still hasn’t won a race in 9 starts since his 2024 Melbourne Cup win, but he did seem to be running into form earlier in the spring and he probably should have won the Herbert Power with a clear run at them. Was never going to figure in the Caulfield Cup dropping back to last, and then not suited in a slowly run Melbourne Cup out the back of the field and working home well enough late. Jockey jumped off and said he is going well. WFA may be the question mark here, prefer him in a staying handicap and he is one who needs a genuine firm track to show his best and there may be some rain around. He is going better than his form suggests though, and the big spacious Sandown track will suit. Rough place. SCRATCHED
2-KINGSWOOD got under everyone’s guard a bit in the Caulfield Cup, he had winning form, he had WFA form, he was going to roll on-speed and got missed by many punters (including ourselves). Won first-up this time in so he can race well off a freshen-up. He will roll forward here and sit on the speed and get every chance, and will handle a bit of give in the ground. Pretty rare to have a Caulfield Cup winner back up into this race. Not quite sure what to do with this one, he definitely has the class to win this and the Caulfield Cup win was really strong, wide all the way, but just wonder if he has reached his targets this spring. Left as the only leader now with scratchings and he prefers a track on the firm side of soft. Still a winning chance though. Chance.
3-VAUBAN ticks the all-important box of coming off a poor Melbourne Cup run (something he is particularly good at) and has done multiple times now. Although he just didn’t run poorly in the Melbourne Cup – he dropped out to run a clear last. Wet form is only OK.. Dropping back in trip helps and he is fresher than these with only the two runs this time in, but he mixes form even at the best of times and hard to make a case for him. No.
4-SMOKIN' ROMANS has been struggling for form recently, but he is a tough on-speed stayer when he hits his best form. Freshened into this race, but his previous two runs weren’t much and he has been racing since May this campaign with a few breaks here and there. Has placed 3 from 6 this track. Can go forward here and help with the speed but form just isn’t good enough at the moment. No. SCRATCHED
5-JUJA KIBO has had a sensational spring and looks an extremely promising stayer. Has an excellent win strike rate and place rate and has flown through spring winning the Metropolitan, really nice finishing burst from last to win the MV Cup, and then he probably just didn’t run out the 3200M when right in the finish of the Melbourne Cup. He is a winner and most of these are not – again the question is how much does he have left to give this spring? Wet track is no issue with this one. He is racing in peak career form and far more reliable than these though who only ever turn up now and then. Wet track no issue. Strong wining chance.
6-MIDDLE EARTH is a hot and cold horse who is extremely hard to catch. Struggled through last spring and then he ran a great race for third in the Melbourne Cup last year, and again this spring he has been thereabouts without really getting into a finish. Cox Plate run was excellent running on late from well back and he looked to be primed for the Melbourne Cup. His run there was actually not too bad, he wasn’t suited dropping back in a slowly run race and he was weaving through the pack and passed quite a few in the straight. Should handle it wet. The big Sandown track here and uphill run home will suit this one. His last two runs suggest he is some chance to pick up a spring consolation prize here. Rough chance and think he will run a race today.
7-ASTERIX was famously a late scratching for the Melbourne Cup after he was caught moisturising when he shouldn’t have been. He had been going along OK this spring, without really getting into the finish. Worked home OK in the Caulfield Cup, but hard to get really enthused about his form this spring. Passing.
8-TORRANZINO had a great spring last year winning the Geelong Cup and making a top five finish in the Melbourne Cup. Had the full year off and he has taken a few runs to find his form this time in, which is to be expected off a year off. Settled more forward last week in the Queen Elizabeth and they did run along in front there, and he stuck on well to the line. He might be ready to do something today and he is bit fresher than many of these. Probably better form on wet tracks as well.He can go forward again here and get a good run and his best form is good enough to win this. Rough chance.
9-TRAVOLTA burst through the pack to win last start and he is a very consistent stayer on his day and looks like he is back to form. Usually keeps his form once he finds it as well. Can settle handy here from a good barrier, and he is always competitive in these sort of races, and although he was won over 2600M most of his wins have been over 2000M. Just not sure about a Sandown WFA 2400M with this one. Handles it wet. Seems well under the odds too at $8 in a field with some stayers going pretty well. Have to respect the jockey and stable, but he is poor value. Prefer place.
10-SMALL FRY ran a massive race in the Geelong Cup, he chased the impressive Melbourne Cup winner to the line and he was sticking with him and they were hoping to get a run in the Melbourne Cup where he would have been a genuine chance. This is a prime consolation prize and that last run is definitely good enough to win this. International stable has had a below par spring and they probably want this win. Only query is sometimes these internationals can put in one good run and then flop, but he is definitely the one to beat here off the last start, even at the short odds. Strong chance.
11-DARKBONEE hasn’t quite got to the level he wanted to this spring, but he has been racing pretty consistently and he was right in the finish his last two starts. He doesn’t like racing inside horses so the big Sandown track and the cut away rail is going to be a big plus here as he has drawn inside again. Probably should have won last start if he had got out earlier. First try at 2400M at WFA in a likely solid staying contest is going to be a challenge here. Place at best.
12-SHE'S A HUSTLER is another who hasn’t quite got to the level expected this spring. She has had a very light spring, looked good late first-up, didn’t handle the heavy track second up and then she was even enough in the Caulfield Cup. She was really strong winning this race last year at Caulfield, but she came into that race with much better form. Prefers a drier track. She is a lot fresher than these and well in the betting market, and we haven’t see the best of her yet this spring. Rough chance.
13-STRICTLY BUSINESS has been really struggling for form this spring after stunning everyone with a start number three VRC Oaks win last year. Will drop back from outside barrier, but just hasn’t shown anything this time in. No.
Summary:
Good field to go through the form for and we just need to try and work out who still has enough in reserve to show their best once more this spring. Not sure we are going to get a solid staying contest here, can’t see any of the on-speed runners running along, but the big Sandown Hillside 2400M will allow them to run on and run out the distance. We have to put the international the 10-SMALL FRY on top, the Geelong Cup run was sensational and he could have been factor in the Melbourne Cup, but hard to know if these internationals will keep their form and he is going to start pretty short. Main danger on form is the 5-JUJA KIBO off a great Melbourne Cup run, but the two we are most interested in at odds here are the 6-MIDDLE EARTH and the 8-TORRANZINO, both at rough odds who we think are going to run a race here. We will squeeze the 8-TORRANZINO in for third just because he is more genuine when he strikes form and will get a good run here just behind the speed and best roughie in the erratic 6-MIDDLE EARTH.
Race 1: 11-MR O’REILLY, 12-ICHNUSA, 8-FIOROWNGOOD
Race 2: 2-SKIPPERS CANYON, 5-BACASH, 12-KARREN
Race 3: 4-FUNDAMENTAL NATURE, 1-EL ROCKO, 9-OAK BEACH
Race 4: 1-OCEANA DREAM, 17-THE MUFFIN MAN, 12-KILLENAULE
Race 5: 11-CONSULATE, 2-STAR OF MACEDON, 6-STRONG TEMPO
Race 6: 8-BRED ‘EM ALL, 9-SALUTED, 7-THANK GORGEOUS
Race 7: 9-AFFARI, 2-NATURAL FLING, 5-CALAMARI RING
Race 8: 2-PERICLES, 5-BEIWACHT, 7-SPLASH BACK
Race 9: 10-SMALL FRY, 5-JUJA KIBO, 8-TORRANZINO
Race 10: 12-SUPERFABULISTIC, 4-CONCORD CONNIE, 7-TERILEE
