Racing: Weir confident filly will handle track

MELBOURNE - Darren Weir will take the punt on Shiny And New handling the soft track at Sandown today, 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 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) yesterday.

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 raceday.

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

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

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 A$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.

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. She 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 4-year-old mare, has won three of her past 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 in October, resumed with a 14-length ninth to Georgia's Boy at Bendigo last month.

- AAP