The Watchdog believes the $262,500 Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup Final (715m) at Sandown Park this Thursday night is one of the best editions of the world’s premier distance race.

The expert form analyst is adamant that Group 1 winner Mepunga Ruby (Box 2) is a deserved TAB fixed odds favourite, but she is too short at $2.40 (price at time of recording) in a stellar line-up.

“She was disappointing last week, but she did have excuses. (She) hadn’t had a run for three weeks, so she will strip fitter and (be) definitely better for the run.”

Click HERE  for TAB’s latest RSN Sandown Cup Final market

Collinda Lady (Box 3) was “huge last week” after a couple of unlucky runs prior to that and The Watchdog is confident that the Geelong 680-metre track record holder can improve on her winning heat time of 41.56 seconds.

“We know she can go a lot faster than that. She got held up a couple of times in the run last week.

“She will find the fence early, she can run the hands off the clock and I think that if the ‘one’ (Orca) and the ‘two’ (Mepunga Ruby) can punch up … she’ll get that nice run through and give us a great sight.”

“Collinda Lady will find the fence early, she can run the hands off the clock … and give us a great sight.”

– THE WATCHDOG

Even though Jarick Bale was “enormous” as the fastest of the five heat winners in 41.29 seconds, The Watchdog is running the risk of the dual Group 1 winner making him look very silly once again.

“I know he exits Box 8 again on Thursday night, but it’s a different speed map, so there’s every chance he might be posted wide through that (first) turn and he’s not going to get things his own way.”

The Watchdog’s $20 spend

$10 on Orca to place at $3.80
$5 Exacta on 3 / 1,2,4 (166.66% return)
$5 Trifecta on 3 / 1,2,4 / 1,2,4,6,7,8 (33.33% return)

Dual Group 1 placegetter Untapped (Box 7) “was brilliant last week”, but The Watchdog is concerned that Golden Quest (Box 6) “could punch up” inside of her and leave her vulnerable if she has to work hard early.

Gypsy Wyong (Box 4) was “a tad disappointing” when beaten in her heat, but the four-time Group 1 champion must be respected.

The Watchdog believes Orca (Box 1) is an attractive proposition, particularly to run a place.

“We know he’s up to this level. He’s already been Group 1 placed. He’s racing with confidence, he picked up Mepunga Ruby last week and he can lead or come from off the speed, and he scrapes the paint.

“Everything points to him being a great value bet.”

Group 1 RSN SANDOWN CUP FINAL (715m)
Sandown Park Race 8, Thursday 8:34pm
First prize $175,000
1 ORCA (Steve Nagy, Traralgon VIC) ?
2 MEPUNGA RUBY (Jeff Britton, Anakie VIC)
3 COLLINDA LADY (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale VIC)
4 GYPSY WYONG (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
5 ASTON VELVET (Michelle Mallia, Avalon VIC)
6 GOLDEN QUEST (Michelle Mallia, Avalon VIC)
7 UNTAPPED (Dustin Drew, Dennington VIC)
8 JARICK BALE (Mark Delbridge, Balliang VIC)
Reserves
9 COLLINDA PATTY   SCRATCHED
10 ROHAN BALE   SCRATCHED

WATCH: COLLINDA LADY (2) navigated a passage through the field to win her heat of the Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) at Sandown Park in 41.56 seconds on May 12.     Results

RELATED
RSN SANDOWN CUP FINAL: ARMCHAIR GUIDE
DELBRIDGE DOUBLE DELIGHT?
NEVER ENDING STORY
DELBRIDGE CHASES SUCCESSIVE SANDOWN CUPS