The Sandown Guineas has a habit of producing a decent horse capable of winning a G1.

It is run after the main part of the carnival is over and as we saw last year a Derby winner ensued. The mile over the big course allows good horses to balance up and get home. Let's find the winner.

• 2006 – SENDER 3g (Keeper x Oh Sister) ($61)

Jockey: Darren Gauci, Trainer: Rodney Douglas

Barrier: 12, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:34.87, 600m Sectional: 34.46

Margin: 1.3L, Track: Good, Starters: 16

2nd: Flame of Sydney (53.0kg), 3rd: Wordsmith (55.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 118

Nothing like a wild outsider to annoy the punters. This horse hadn't shown a great deal on the track at his first prep and only just won his maiden two runs before the Guineas. However a 3rd in the 1800m Listed race on Oaks day was a sign of improvement. With the fillies holding sway in the market, the Gauch was happy to sit on the speed in a fast run race. He was however three wide for much of the trip making the run even better. As it turned out it was a track record with the son of Keeper holding off al challengers including the filly Flame of Sydney who rattled home.

• 2007 – SCHILLING 3g (Bianconi x Meet My Sis) ($8)

Jockey: Damien Oliver, Trainer: Mick Price

Barrier: 4, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:38.69, 600m Sectional: 34.42

Margin: 0.2L, Track: Good, Starters: 16

2nd: Masked Assassin (55.5kg), 3rd: Wind Shear (55.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 115

While his form was better, Schilling was a similarly inexperienced horse to Sender last year. He ran well as fav but was just touched off in the Carbine Club Stks on Derby day. This was a cracking ride by Damien Oliver. While it didn't turn out a star studded field, you can't judge that at the time. Schilling was just in front of midfield but Damien kept improving him slowly to the point where he was to 4th straightening up. It took him the whole straight to get Masked Assassin down but he did so in the last 50m. He was immediately thought of as an Australian Guineas contender but didn't fire in the Autumn. Like others, his Sandown Guineas win was the last to date.

• 2008 – CAYMANS 3g (Secret Savings x Easy Out) ($3.25 fav)

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy, Trainer: Peter Snowden

Barrier: 5, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:38.04, 600m Sectional: 35.87

Margin: 1.8L, Track: Dead, Starters: 11

2nd: Marveen (53.5kg), 3rd: Lucky Thunder (55.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 120

Caymans was a big gangling kangaroo. His Ming Dynasty run was extraordinary first up and he needed a month off to get over it. The Caulfield and Carbine Club runs were unconvincing and showed signs of immaturity. With a tongue tie on and a move down in grade, this was his chance to show off. Added to this they race this race quickly early bringing a few undone. There were four across the track when Arjuna eventually got there from Stokehouse. McEvoy was midfield watching the madness. Before the turn Caymans pulled out to avoid a pocket but it took him a long while to wind up. Marveen went back inside for a late split and looked a chance but the big boy drew away. Lucky Thunder was checked and stiff. He slightly disappointed albeit at the elite 3yo level in the Autumn and now is part of the Godolphin team in Dubai.

• 2009 – KIDNAPPED 3g (Viscount x Youthful Presence) ($2.10 fav)

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy, Trainer: Peter Snowden

Barrier: 4, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:36.27, 600m Sectional: 35.04

Margin: 0.2L, Track: Good, Starters: 7

2nd: Majestic Music (53.5kg), 3rd: Turf Express (55.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 113

Here was another case of the Snowden yard having many of 3yos to play with and targeting the right race with the right horse. Of course he had horses the ilk of Denman and Demerit but they saw this one as the right type for the Sandown Guineas and so took him down the traditional path into the Carbine Club where he won easily. Strangely, whether it was the Sandown hill or over the top, but he wasn't as impressive here. He left well to be right on speed compared to his most recent runs. Stablemate Khas Kura led setting a genuine tempo. Into the straight and Kidnapped bumped into Majestic Music and looked somewhat vulnerable but fought back confidently to win. He would show he had some class by returning in the Autumn and winning the G1 SA Derby.

• 2010 – PRESSDAY 3c (Domesday x Kaaptive Empress) ($4.50 fav)

Jockey: Nash Rawiller, Trainer: Chris Waller

Barrier: 1, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:42.71, 600m Sectional: 38.71

Margin: 0.5L, Track: Heavy, Starters: 9

2nd: Chasse (55.5kg), 3rd: Bigelow (55.5kg)

Timeform Rating: 115

From the Brisbane Winter, Chris Waller thought he had a leading 3yo contender in the next season. Having won the 2yo triple crown up north, Pressday came back for a crack at the late Spring races. First up in the Coolmore he bombed the start and it was annoying to the stable as he was set to fire that day. It was a great training effort to back up a fortnight later, go from 1200m to a mile on the heavy going in the Guineas. He jumped well off the inside but let Territory go. Still tracking them up turning, Rawiller got him out and widest in the straight and while looking in some trouble, he eventually picked his opponents off to win by a ½ length. The resultant Autumn was terrible.

RACE PROFILE

o Barriers haven't really played a role.

o The old Woodlands operation to now have won 5 of last 12.

o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <1-4> - 5 times

o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $12.40

o Breakdown of winners – 6 geldings, 1 colt & 3 fillies

o Last 10 Years Hilton Itnl Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Binding ('04)

o Last 10 Years Myer Spring Fashions Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Pay Keys ('03)

o Last 10 Years Arrow Training Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Dextrous ('02)

o Last 10 Years Lexus Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Moon Dragon ('01)

o Last 10 Years Carbine Club Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Kidnapped ('09)

o Last 10 Years TJ Smith Stks / Sandown Guineas double – Pressday ('10)

SUMMARY & SELECTIONS

For the first time in a few years, the Guineas has a good sized field. It will generate pace in of itself.

And given many of these are coming off good solid Spring campaigns, there will be no holding back here.

You'd think the obvious go forward horse here is Niagara off an interesting prep back from the Derby. Whether he has enough pace to get there is another question.

But with the long back straight, a few might want to be up there. They include Instinction, Mental and Mahisara all out of the Listed Race last week and First Course.

You would have to think Peter Snowden would not be running Galah again if he wasn't sure he was over the top.

While it looked that way with his nose win in the Carbine Club, his previous runs would have him winning this easily on best.

And set weights also has him so well placed. Kidnapped two years back took nearly the same formlines in and he scored in the Guineas.

Saint Etienne was very brave in the Carbine Club and if we gave Galah the big hope, this horse fought on perhaps in the worst part of the track. He'll be better again and a dry track would be preferential.

One of those who won't be near the top of the markets with a chance is So Swift. He bolted in first up in an infinitely easier race at Hamilton.

But prior to a spell he ran creditably in the Gibson Carmichael over this very trip. Craig Williams is no drawback from a good gate either.

Selection: (1) GALAH

Hardest to Beat: (11) SAINT ETIENNE

Best Roughie: (13) SO SWIFT