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Weir taking a punt with Shiny And New

Tuesday 9 March 2010
By Mark Ryan

Darren Weir will take the punt on Shiny And New handling the soft conditions at Sandown on Wednesday when the filly contests the Chaise Plate.

The daughter of stakeswinner and 2005 Newmarket Handicap third placegetter Foreplay, also the sire of Black Opal Stakes winner Decision Time, made an impressive winning debut when she scored by 2-3/4 lengths in a Bendigo Two-Year-Old Maiden (900m) last month on a dead track.

Following the heavy rain over the weekend, Sandown was rated a heavy (9) on Tuesday.

A total of 56.8mm of rain had fallen at the track since Saturday's storm including 6mm overnight.

However track manager Dane Hunt said the going could improve to "closer to slow" come race day.

"We've had a good drying day today (Tuesday). A couple of horses will gallop on the track in the morning and we'll reassess the track after that," he said.

Cosmic Challenge and Trisara, runner-up to Koala Bear in the Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Monday, were both scratched on Tuesday.

Bendigo trainer Brendon Hearps said Umgeton, who made it two wins from two starts at Echuca on Saturday, would not back up leaving Shiny And New as the only winner in the nine-horse field.

"It wasn't a strong race at Bendigo," Weir said.

"I think she'll win in town. Where she gets to I'm not sure but she's a nice filly."

Among Shiny And New's opposition is $500,000 yearling purchase Belle Chantecler, a daughter of champion sire Redoute's Choice and Brief Truce mare Grace And Power.

Prepared by Lee Freedman, Belle Chantecler is making her debut in the 1000m event.

Apart from Shiny And New, the only other filly with race experience in the event for non-metropolitan winners is the David Hayes-trained Divine Choice.

The Rock Of Gibraltar filly was runner-up to Sweet Cheeks on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in October.

The filly resumed with a fifth to Rambuka over 1000m at Morphettville last month.

Sebastian Murphy has been engaged to ride Shiny And New and one of Weir's two runners, Keep Control, in the St Jude Hcp (1500m) while stable apprentice Jacob Rule rides the in-form Itsanonna.

Itsanonna, a four-year-old mare by Honours List, has won three of her last four starts on provincial tracks and is unbeaten in two tries on dead going.

Three-year-old Keep Control, who won the Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville three starts back in October, resumed with a 14-length ninth to Georgia's Boy at Bendigo last month.

"The soft going will help Itsanonna as she's had a knee operation," Weir said.

"Keep Control is only just going (fairly). He wants racing and to get up in distance."