Are There Any gets a great opportunity to re-enter the winner’s circle in the Benchmark 84 Schweppes Handicap at Sandown on Wednesday.
The Peter Moody-trained mare has been prominent at the finish of all four runs in her spring preparation however doesn’t even have a minor placing to show for it.
Are There Any could prove hard to beat though in Wednesday’s Schweppes Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m) at Sandown.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel drops marginally in class and distance off a last start fourth to Precious Gem at Flemington over 1700m.
She possesses form around some above average types over her past two campaigns including Bonaria, Text ‘n’ Hurley, The Quarterback, Suavito and Precious Gem.
Are There Any has held her own at stakes level and on Wednesday finds an easier race which looks perfectly suited to the mare.
In a field of 11 after the early scratching of Tallatt, Are There Any is prominent in both 50 day weight adjusted ratings of the field and 12 month weight adjusted ratings.
Also in her favour is the addition of leading apprentice Regan Bayliss who claims 3kg.
This allowance sees the five-year-old carry nothing on her back while Bayliss himself has an impressive record for the Peter Moody stable.
The young hoop has ridden 24 winners for the stable at a strike rate of 25%.
From barrier 3, Bayliss should have Are There Any settled handy, ideally behind the leading pair either on the fence or in the one and one.
After being caught behind some smart ones so far this campaign, she looks poised to claim a deserved win as a reward for her consistency.
Aurum Spirit shapes as a key player after a closing second to Sadaqa at Flemington last start.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding should be approaching peak fitness at this point of his campaign and has recorded career best figures in his past two outings.
The Schweppes Handicap features a number of runners dropping back in grade in search of a win.
Magnapal drops back to a mile after a solid fourth at Flemington over 1800m behind You Rock last start.
He was ridden more positively than usual on that occasion and the result was an encouraging one.
It gives jockey Dwayne Dunn options from barrier 6 aboard another horse in the field who is likely approaching peak fitness fourth run from a spell.
Black Jet was found to be lame after a disappointing effort at Flemington last start in the same race as Magnapal.
The Liam Birchley-trained gelding was found to be lame post race though so forgiving the run may be advisable.
The five-year-old prior to that had held his own over 1500m at Moonee Valley.
He should enjoy a soft run in transit from barrier 1 courtesy of Craig Williams and profiles as a value player.
The Darren Weir-trained Taiyoo has attracted support in early betting.
Taiyoo’s two runs back from a spell have been just fair however the stable must be respected and on Wednesday, the gelding rises to a mile which is much closer to the five-year-olds optimum distance.
Early betting has Are There Any as favourite for the event, marginally ahead of nearest rivals Aurum Spirit, Magnapal, Black Jet and Taiyoo.
The Schweppes Handicap (1600m) shapes as one of the more competitive events on the program but despite this, near even money about Are There Any as of Wednesday morning appears well worth taking in Race 5 at Sandown.
