A change of tack will see the Aaron Purcell trained Black Sail head towards the Group 2 $250,000 Sandown Guineas (1600m) on the Ladbrokes Park Hillside track at Sandown on Saturday.

Leading trainer Darren Weir, above, has nominated three horses for thee 2017 Sandown Guineas at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Leading trainer Darren Weir, above, has nominated three horses for the 2017 Sandown Guineas at Sandown. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Purcell had originally planned to bypass the Sandown Guineas but when Black Sail pulled up so well after running second to All Too Huiying in the Listed $150,000 Seppelt Wines Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Kennedy Oaks Day, the Caulfield trainer decided to give the Savabeel colt another Spring Carnival run.

“The plan wasn’t to go to the Sandown Guineas but he ran really well and pulled up super so while he’s so fit and well we thought we’d race again,” Purcell told AAP.

Black Sail has been working his way up through the grades and even though he hasn’t won since breaking through for his maiden win five starts ago at Echuca, he has raced consistently with three seconds from his last three starts.

Purcell has also nominated Villermont for the Sandown Guineas after the All Too Hard colt was given a short freshen up following a tough run last start that saw him finish fourth to Temple Of Bel in a 1600m three year old BenchMark 70 Handicap at Caulfield on October 18.

“He was dug up to hold his spot and got over-racing on a strong tempo,” Purcell said.

“He peeled out and got there too soon, was left a sitting shot and weakened late.

“We gave him a few days off after his Caulfield run.

“He looks a million dollars, his work since has been great and I’d expect him to work good again tomorrow.

“Ridden a little quieter, I’d be expecting him to be hard to beat.”

The lightly race Villermont has only been to the races on three occasions and broke his maiden status at his second start over 1606m at Benalla on September 29.

Nineteen three year olds have been nominated for the Sandown Guineas with the Darren Weir trained Tamasa being installed the early favourite at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au while Black Sail and Villermont are both marked at $9.

Early betting for the 2017 Sandown Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Tamasa, $6 Beau Geste, $6.50 Snitzepeg, $9 Black Sail, Icon Of Dubai, Irish Vega, Villermont, $11 Gaulos, Octabello, Peaceful State, Vinland, $17 Paseeto, $21 Almighty, Hypnotist, $26 I’ll Have A Bit, $41 Fulton Street, $67 Bluebrook, $81 Give, $101 Mojos.

Nominations for the 2017 Sandown Guineas

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 2x31x97462 I’LL HAVE A BIT F 3 John McArdle 1 55kg 74
2 150×524115 SNITZEPEG C 3 Darren Weir 2 57kg 80
3 1×31374 BEAU GESTE C 3 James Cummings 3 57kg 76
4 32x321x218 GAULOIS C 3 James Cummings 4 57kg 73
5 48×14222 BLACK SAIL (NZ) C 3 Aaron Purcell 5 57kg 70
6 4x353x110 PASEETO C 3 Tony McEvoy 6 57kg 72
7 1×11549 HYPNOTIST C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 7 57kg 70
8 6425×217 ICON OF DUBAI C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 8 57kg 63
9 1×187 OCTABELLO C 3 Mick Price 9 57kg 67
10 3231×60 ALMIGHTY C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden 10 57kg 62
11 143 IRISH VEGA G 3 Anthony Freedman 11 57kg 68
12 116 TAMASA C 3 Darren Weir 12 57kg 68
13 56×1 VINLAND C 3 Tony McEvoy 13 57kg 62
14 49×6417090 GIVE C 3 John Moloney 14 57kg 60
15 314 VILLERMONT C 3 Aaron Purcell 15 57kg 63
16 31 PEACEFUL STATE C 3 Darren Weir 16 57kg 62
17 52 BLUEBROOK G 3 Todd Balfour 17 57kg 60
18 52 FULTON STREET C 3 John Sadler 18 57kg 59
19 0x645 MOJOS C 3 Ray Besanko 19 57kg 53

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.