Careless’ Sandown Guineas Odds Shorten

The 2014 Sandown Guineas odds of Careless have shortened in the past 24 hours and Godolphin Racing Manager Jason Walsh is confident that the Exceed And Excel colt will be more than competitive in the Group 2 event this weekend.

James McDonald has been booked to ride Careless in the 2014 Sandown Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

James McDonald has been booked to ride Careless in the 2014 Sandown Guineas this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Careless opened at a quote of $13 when the Sandown Guineas field was released yesterday before drifting out to $15, but there has been plenty of support for the Godolphin colt this morning and is into a price of $10.

The three-year-old has generally raced at Group level since he made his racing debut in November last year, but he has been unable to record a race win despite producing consistent performances in all five of his race starts this preparation.

Careless resumed with two placings in restricted company in Sydney before he was sent to Melbourne and finished third in the Listed Crown Lager Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18 and fifth in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 1.

Walsh said that the Godolphin team were happy with the performance of Careless in the Sandown Guineas, with the colt running some very quick closing sectionals, and he believes that the maiden will produce another strong effort in the Sandown Guineas.

“He is very well and we are very happy with him,” Walsh told Racing Ahead. 

“We can’t fault the horse, he is very fit and the mile is no problem whatsoever.

“We were very pleased with his run on Victoria Derby Day and he hit the line very strongly off an unsuitable tempo.

“We are expecting him to be very competitive again on Saturday.”

Jockey James McDonald elected to settle Careless at the tail of the field in the early stages of the Carbine Club Stakes, but the promising galloper has shown plenty of tactical versatility during his racing career to date.

Walsh said that he does not expect Careless to take up the running in the early stages of the Sandown Guineas, but hopes that McDonald will be able to settle Careless in a forward position with cover.

“A couple of his early starts this campaign in Sydney he was right on the speed and we do think that he is best when he gets cover and the chance to get cover,” Walsh said.

“From that gate we certainly won’t be conceding our advantage there and he can bounce out into the bridle and hopefully he won’t be too far away.”

The Godolphin team has an excellent record in the Sandown Guineas after taking out the race with Caymans in 2008, Kidnapped in 2009, Tatra in 2012 and Paximadia last year.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.