Horse Racing

The elite spring racing action in Melbourne comes to a close this Saturday at Sandown, one of the major races of the day being the Sandown Stakes 2011 which has drawn 15 early entries.

Here De Angels is the 58kg topweight of the 2011 Sandown Stakes entries

Nominations for all of the Sandown features running this weekend were taken by Racing Victoria on Monday including those for the $125,000 Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m).

Topweight of the Sandown Stakes nominations this year is Wendy Roche’s known barrier rogue Here De Angels with 58kg.

Veteran eight-year-old Here De Angels was far from disgraced when running third to superstar sprinter Black Caviar in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day but was disappointing last start when finishing 14^th in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) on November 3 at Flemington.

Following Here De Angels in the Sandown Stakes weights is then the David Hayes-trained Largo Lad on 57.5kg who hasn’t been seen in the winner’s stall since September last year.

Hayes has also nominated for his Galileo five-year-old Spacecraft in the Sandown Stakes, the galloper last seen finishing a credible fourth to Woorim in the Group 3 tab.com.au Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

Also with multiple entries is Darley trainer Peter Snowden who has Lonhro gelding Launay and consistent Domesday mare Divorces nominated.

Four-year-old Divorces resumed form a five month spell on Melbourne Cup Day to run a close third in the Group 3 Herald Sun Stakes (1400m).

Other notable Sandown Stakes nominations for 2011 include eight-year-old grey Jungle Ruler last seen winning a mile feature at Mornington by two lengths on October 30 and Tony Vasil’s Mossman four-year-old Under The Eiffel who is two-from-two for the season.

Allocated just 54kg for the Sandown Stakes, Under The Eiffel is weighted for success having carried a hefty 59kg to victory on November 1 at Flemington over 1400 metres.

The Sandown Stakes is one of four Group races running in Melbourne on Saturday, the headline event of which is the $350,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) where former Melbourne Cup winner Americain has their next start.

Bookmark us here at Races.com.au to view the Sandown race fields released this Wednesday.

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Sandown Stakes 2011 Nominations