The 2015 Sandown Guineas field has been released and both Dal Cielo and Mahuta have drawn outside barriers for the Group 2 event that will be held at Sandown on Saturday.
Dal Cielo has performed well without winning since he arrived in Australia, but his Sandown Guineas chances took a hit when he was allocated barrier 12 this morning.
The Per Incanto colt made his Australian racing debut with a close third behind Bon Aurum and Tulsa in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) on September 26, but he did not have a great deal of luck when 11th in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10 and he was only plain when sixth behind Japonisme in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
Mahuta has been one of the most consistent three-year-olds of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he will be forced to cross the field from barrier 14 in the 2015 Sandown Guineas.
The Flying Spur colt made his racing debut with a second place finish at Seymour on September 9 and he finished fourth at Echuca on September 25, but he stamped himself as a horse to watch with a dominant six lengths victory in the Winning Edge Presentations Maiden (1450m) at Kyneton on October 8.
Mahuta made his black-type debut in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 17 and he led from start to finish to record an impressive victory before he proved that win was no fluke in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 31.
The Carbine Club Stakes is always a key lead-up to the Sandown Guineas and Patch Adams, He’s Our Rokki, Flying Light and Gredington will have the chance to turn-the-tables on Mahuta in the Group 2 event.
Another filly that is set to take winning form into the 2015 Sandown Guineas is talented filly Don’t Doubt Mamma.
Don’t Doubt Mamma finished fourth behind Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 5 and she took out the MRC Foundation Plate (1400m) at Caulfield on September 19 before she failed to fire in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 4.
The Not A Single doubt filly returned to winning form in the Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and she will take on the colts and geldings for the first time in the Sandown Guineas.
The 2015 Sandown Guineas field is rounded out by Marky Mark, Demonstrate, Sea Of Tranquility, Ngarimu, Shockaholic, The Grey Flash, Maysam and Zafiki.