Simon Baker Mdn

With the rail in the True position, the track should play fairly. However, on sand surfaces, an inside draw is often a significant advantage as it allows horses to save crucial ground. Horses drawn wide who cannot cross will be forced to cover extra territory, which is particularly taxing on this surface. This gives a distinct advantage to on-pace runners drawn in barriers 1-5.

The track is rated a Good 3 on the Fibre Sand, indicating a standard, dry, and fast surface. This will suit horses with natural speed who can travel comfortably. Kickback will be a factor for those positioned behind the leaders, so horses and jockeys that can navigate this will be advantaged. The strong predicted pace on a firm surface will make it a true test, and those who over-race early will find it very difficult to finish off.

The 1275m start at Bunbury on the Fibre Sand provides a fair run to the first turn, allowing horses with gate speed a chance to cross from wider barriers. However, the sand surface itself is a key factor; it can be tiring and often favours horses that can travel on the pace and handle the kickback. A strong tempo on this surface will test the stamina of all runners, particularly those who do extra work early.

As a Maiden for 2yo and upwards at Set Weights, the race is open to inexperienced horses whose racing patterns can be unpredictable. This can sometimes make speed maps less reliable. However, several runners in this field have established on-pace patterns, providing a solid foundation for the pace prediction. The key factor is how these inexperienced runners handle the pressure of a strongly run race on a specialist sand surface.