A Lotta Love is a mare in form against plenty that aren't heading to Sandown on Saturday.
At first glance the seventh race on the Sandown card is a competitive race full of evenly matched mares, most of which would be capable of stepping up and winning the race under the right circumstances - but where is the winning form?
Jinx has been racing well but her 20-1 quote in early markets seems a fair representation of the jump in class she faces. Timeform ratings suggest she has a fair step to make if she is to continue her good run of results in this company.
Danestroem put a couple of good wins together last preparation and her first up run is probably best forgiven, punching up into the wind before dropping away which was fairly understandable given she was first up into a less than ideal scenario.
Far more appealing than that pair is A Lotta Love, twice a winner is as many starts last preparation and a winner (albeit shared) three starts back at Mornington.
Since then she has been without a clear run at Caulfield and terrific in a competitive Group 3 contest in Adelaide last time.
The Proud Miss was just six lengths slower than a strong Goodwood over the same course and distance 40 minutes later and that solid overall time resulted in the first four runners pulling clear. Around the third-placed A Lotta Love sat a trio of mares that have established themselves as fairly smart performers - the collateral form makes for good reading for A Lotta Love.
There's good substance to what was a new peak performance from A Lotta Love and it's a performance that stands out against her evenly matched rivals at Sandown - particularly in terms of recent form.
Better than 2/1 looks healthy odds about a mare with that profile.
We will keep looking towards form from the Adelaide carnival for our each way play in race three.
War Legend was rock solid in the lead-ups to the South Australian Derby. His limitations were probably exposed but the option to switch back to handicaps now looks a smart one and those limitations still have him sitting in a strong winning position at this level.
Early prices around $7.50 look to undersell his chances against the market leaders who look no better placed than him.
THE MELBOURNE MAIL
Bet Of The Day: Race 7 #5 A Lotta Love @ $3.20
Each Way Play: Race 3 #4 War Legend @ $7.50
