MONDAY'S race meeting at Sale, the third of five Monday dates for the 2008-09 season, illustrates again why the Sale Turf Club is one of the most successful clubs in the state.
Monday's are, in the most part, not that popular within the racing industry, yet huge numbers have been received for Sale's eight race-card.
This meet kicks off with the Super Vobis two-year-old maiden over 1400m and it looks the ideal race for Collusion, a Niello youngster prepared by the Alderson training partnership.
He covered ground on debut at Seymour before catching the eye here on April 30 when a closing short head runner-up over 1200m. The extra 200m is in Collusion's favour and he's the one to toss with Cassini Contest, fifth in the same Sale race last start, the danger.
Keep an eye on any market moves on the Tony Vasil-trained Bertrand, this colt by Vasil's Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem is sure to improve on his unplaced debut.
Thirty-two entries were received for the 1200 three-year-old maiden with local trainer Kevin Milham entering the unraced March Miss, a three-year-old filly by Group 1 winning sprinter Strategic. It is hard to spot the winner of this race, perhaps Casual Friday, this filly was a pleasing third on debut at Ballarat on May 1.
Sale-based trainer Colin Butcher lines up Zaccheus in the open maiden (1200m), in his first outing for the stable on Anzac Day at Moe, three-year-old came from a wide gate to finish an encouraging third and should be fitter for the run, his first for 10 weeks.
Another local in Cliff Murray's High Rocken resumes in her first outing since Moe Cup day last October.
The 1700m maiden plate is a difficult affair with 33 nominations lodged.
The Luke Oliver stable has been in good form of late and its lightly-raced four-year-old Gold Red is well placed over this distance. Include Irish Rhapsody and Ishant, three-year-olds from the Hayes and Moody stables respectively, in the mutliples.
The 1400m of the rating 62 handicap should suit Cartesian, the Galileo mare stormed home late at Wodonga last start in her first start for Eric Musgrove.
Last start Sale winner Emerald Poacher and Lee Freedman's Grand Couture also hold claims in a tough race while Loftus (from the Sale stable of Chris Clavarino) will also appreciate the longer journey of this event.
David Hayes brought Washington to Sale to break his maiden status last month prior to tackling a Flemington three-year-old last Saturday where he finished midfield. Back to rating 62 class over 1700m on Monday, he should be one of the major players along with recent Moe winner Carneggan Dasher.
Toss in roughies Dark Note and Whatsourgo (two wins have been at Sale) to complete the chances.
The rating 68 (1200m) attracted 39 entries with impressive last start Ballarat winner Flower Power and the lightly-raced pair Thundering Spur and Sandusky City among the better prospects.
Jagger Crow, from the Michael Kent yard, scored on debut at Kilmore late last year and is a big watch, along with Frank Doderico's Danger Dash, first-up since mid-November.
The most interesting race on the program is the rating 72 (1700m) with four last start winners entered. The Lloyd Williams-owned Module was a super winner in maiden grade last start at Bendigo while Robdon Flyer circled the field to land an emphatic rating 62 victory at Cranbourne on May 2.
Scenic Find loves racing at Sale and lasted to score narrowly at Pakenham last Saturday while Tony Noonan's Royal Inquest overcame a slow start to collect the rating 68 by a widening three lengths.
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