Sandown double

Sandown is proving a happy hunting ground for the stable of late with Land of Freedom and Street Sharp the latest to register a mid-week metropolitan success.

The pair, who combined on Wednesday to complete a double for the Kavanagh stable, were preceded by Honourable Tycoon the previous week and Egypt and Tears of Joy who combined for a double of their own a fortnight earlier.

Street Sharp put the first win on the board when he scored a come from behind win in the Cove Hotel Plate courtesy of another cool ride by Craig Williams.

The win ended a frustrating run of minor placings for the son of Street Cry who finally shed his maiden status in good style defeating Prescience by a long neck with Grangemouth (a son of Kavanagh's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking) three quarters of a length away in third.

Land of Freedom completed the stable double scoring an impressive win in the opening leg of the National Apprentice Riders Race for apprentice Jye McNeil. Settled in fifth with a generous tempo set up front Land of Freedom peeled out in the straight and posted a sub 33 second final sectional (600) to win by one and a half lengths. Tigidig Tigidig was second and race favourite Lord Barrington finished a further long neck away in third.

A lightly raced three-year-old, Land of Freedom is by Statue of Liberty, sire of the popular sprinter Hay List. He was purchased by trainer Mark Kavanagh for just $50,000 at the Melbourne yearling sales. Land of Freedom may race next at Moonee Valley on March 14.

A week earlier the ever consistent Honourable Tycoon had his moment to shine when an easy one and three quarter length winner of the Schweppes Handicap over 1500 metres. With four consecutive third placings a win was certainly overdue for the good looking son of Written Tycoon. Honourable Tycoon may venture back to Sandown for his next start on March 16.

All five recent Sandown winners were purchased as yearlings by their trainer Mark Kavanagh at various yearling sales around Australia.

All photos courtesy of Mark Gatt/Slickpix and are copyright