Heat forces earlier start to Sandown races

The earlier timed start to the Sandown midweek meeting on Wednesday will not require too much of a change for the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable.

Wednesday’s meeting has been brought forward five hours to combat the heat of the day.

Temperatures at Sandown are expected to hit 38 degrees on Wednesday and Racing Victoria has enacted their heat policy.

The first race will run at 10.30am and with 30-minute intervals, the meeting will finish by 2pm.

The meeting was previously a twilight fixture with the first race scheduled for 3.40pm.

Coleman said it would be business as usual for their two runners on Wednesday with Miss Passion running in the Sportsbet Bet with Mates Handicap (1400m) at 1pm followed by Zoughandi in the ive > Handicap (1300m) 30 minutes later.

“The change in times doesn’t change the routine,” Coleman said.

“What it will do is get them in and out before the heat of the day, which is most important.”

Coleman said the stable would go about preparing their runners as though they were running in an early race on a Saturday.

“It’s not unlike having an early start on a Saturday, and that’s the way we’ll treat it,” Coleman said.

“It varies on horse to horse, but most of ours go out for a light trot and canter just to make sure the riders are happy with their action and their breathing.

“They then came back in, have a shampoo, a walk to dry off then into their boxes until they head to the races.”

Coleman said the heat can be taxing on horses.

“On a hot day, in the afternoon at the stables, they’ll come out for a swim, which they enjoy on a hot day, but other than that we just try and leave them alone,” she said.

Both Zoughandi and Miss Passion enter their respective races as last start winners.

Zoughandi won on debut in maiden grade at Wodonga earlier in the month while Miss Passion is a last start Sandown winner.

“Miss Passion is just ultra consistent.” Coleman said.

“She hasn’t run out of the placings to date. She’s a mare that thrives off being in work and thrives off racing, so we’re really happy with how she goes into her race.

“Zoughandi has got to step up in town, but he seems to have improved off his win.

“His work has been good since, so we’re looking for him to take that next step.”