Group 1 Australian Cup runner-up Fernando Bluey has been firing on all cylinders since returning from a break and he’ll be striving to continue that form when he headlines The Watchdog’s Must Watch race of the day at Sandown Park.

Fernando Bluey (22 from 41 – 4 of past 5) will need to be ‘on song’ from Box 8 when he faces Invictus Rising (4 from 5 Box 1 – 4 from 9 Trk/Dst), Earn The Answers (14 from 40 – 3 from 5 Box 4) and Nikoli Bale (10 from 31).

After a run of exceptional middle distance form, Andrea Dailly’s Gypsy Wyong (11 from 19 – 5 of past 8) made a seamless transition to the staying ranks when winning the G3 Top Cat Video Cup at The Meadows last Saturday.

She’ll face another stern test at her 715m Sandown debut, facing G1 Sale Cup placegetter Bobby The Brute (15 wins), winner of his past 2 over the 595m circuit.

Weblec Blazer (6 from 22 – 29.36PB) ran third in the G3 Speed Star (525m) at The Meadows behind superstar duo Aston Rupee and Tiggerlong Tonk last month and looks ideally placed to make amends for two subsequent unplaced efforts.

Mirror Illusion (8 from 16 – 4 of past 5 – 3 from 3 Box 1) is looking to continue her purple patch of form against multiple Group finalist Mepunga Warrior (11 from 38)

Classy stayer Aston Ulysses (15 from 40) has finished ‘top 2’ in 5 starts since resuming from a spell and looms large in the 595m Grade 5 final.

Warrnambool’s meeting features the Grassroots Western sprint semi-final, where in-form Yellow And Black (4 of past 6 – 4 from 6 Trk/Dst) could prove hard to catch, while Blazer Glory looks a standout in the Distance heat.

Other prominent Warrnambool runners include last start G2 Healesville Cup finalist Barooga Smoke (14.from 34) and Osprey Rose (7 from 19).

Shepparton is staging the Grassroots Northern sprint semi, with Avenger Lass (5 from 12) the testing material.

Here’s an extensive analysis of today’s Must Watch Race, and be sure to scroll down further for ? The Watchdog’s $10 spend…

? MUST-WATCH RACE: TAB Melb. Cup – November 26

INVICTUS RISING ? EARN THE ANSWERS ? NIKOLI BALE ? FERNANDO BLUEY

? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? 515m ⏱ 5:10pm

Form ? https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/8

The Watchdog says ?: Group 1 Australian Cup runner-up FERNANDO BLUEY (8) has been enormous since returning to the track, having won four of six with a further two seconds. Being a keen railer, he would prefer an inside draw, however he has unrivalled early speed and with an even getaway he should be able to cross at the first bend. He was run down at The Meadows last time, but it did take a rising star in Lala Kiwi to reel him in and the winner did carve out a scintillating 29.82sec, so if he can reproduce something similar today, he can go one better. INVICTUS RISING (1) has gone to another level in recent months. He has not been showing a lot of early pace in his races but he has been charging to the line and producing amazing times when coming from off the pace. From the good draw, he should be able to settle in the top four early and if the leaders happen to bump, he will be there to pounce as they turn for home. EARN THE ANSWERS (4) has been lighting up The Meadows of late and must be respected, however he is poorly drawn in the middle and with the abundance of pace drawn out wide, he is going to need a few things to go his way. Kennel mates XAVIEN BALE (2) and NIKOLI BALE (7) may be the value runners. Both are racing with extreme confidence and are capable of carving out serious time, so if any of the big guns happen to make a mistake, they will be there to capitalise.

Selections:  8 – 2 – 1 – 7

? THE WATCHDOG’S $10 INVESTMENT ?
? Thursday 16 September

? $1 Win – KENNY THE BRUTE         ? Lucky Longshot ?
? $1 Win – DRAKO BALE                    ? Lucky Longshot ?
? Sandown Park ? Race 4 ? Boxes 7 & 8 ? 715m ⏱ 3:44pm
TAB fixed odds: $6 Win (Kenny The Brute)
TAB fixed odds: $6 Win (Drako Bale)
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/4

The Watchdog says ? : GYPSY WYONG (4) was just enormous at The Meadows in the G3 Top Cat Video Cup and she is a star stayer on the rise, however with BOBBY THE BRUTE (5) making his staying debut today, she is likely to cop pressure from the outset and she may be a sitting duck for some of the stronger types in the race. KENNY THE BRUTE (7) has had little luck of late and if he can find the rail early, he will prove hard to hold out, whilst DRAKO BALE (8) continues to race well in this company and he will be suited by the smaller line-up.

? $2 Win – NIHARI BALE
? Sandown Park ? Race 5 ? Box 3 ? 515m ⏱ 4:07pm
TAB fixed odds: $4.60 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/5

The Watchdog says ? : NIHARI BALE (3) was just brilliant when placed here last week in quick time and he appears ideally drawn today. With JUNK FOOD JUNKIE (1) and BLACK ROBIN (2) expected to match motors for the first 300 or so metres, he should get a nice run through at the bend and be ready to launch in the middle stages. He is so versatile and at the price today he is great value.

? $2 Win – ASTON ULYSSES
? Sandown Park ? Race 7 ? Box 3 ? 595m ⏱ 4:54pm
TAB fixed odds: $2.60 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/7

The Watchdog says ? : After two enormous wins at Bendigo, he did not have a lot of luck here on Sunday and he is expected to make amends today. There is a fair bit of early speed drawn inside, so if they can hold their spot through the bend, ‘Ulysses’ should be able to follow them through and settle in a stalking position. The last 200m is the best part of his race and he has won here previously in a breathtaking 33.81sec, so if he gets a look at them, he should prove too strong in the run home.

? $2 Win – FERNANDO BLUEY
? Sandown Park ? Race 8 ? Box 8 ? 515m ⏱ 5:10pm    ? Must Watch Race ?
TAB fixed odds: $2.20 Win
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/8

The Watchdog says ? : The Group 1 Australian Cup runner up has not been hitting the line as strongly since returning but he has still been enormous winning four of six and he has produced some blistering times on the provincial circuit. He was run down at the Meadows last time, but the winner is a genuine rocket and they carved out serious time. With a clean getaway tonight, he should be able to get a cheap lead and with his main rivals expected to bunch behind him at the bend, he should be off and gone with the prize.

? $2 Place – ANNIE ROSE
? Sandown Park ? Race 11 ? Box 6 ? 515m ⏱ 6:12pm
TAB fixed odds: $4.40 Place
Form ?  https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/700269243/race/7

The Watchdog says ? : She is one of my favourite place prospects. ‘Annie’ is always a price in these types of races and she is just as talented as any of her rivals. This race features quite a few front runners who are suspect over the journey, so if she can avoid early bother and find the rail initially, she will hit the line hard and can sneak into the minor end of the money.

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