Sister Act

[Wandering Eyes]

The ‘Collinda sisters’ will be “doin’ it for themselves” in heats of the Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) on Thursday night.

Collinda Patty and Collinda Lady – both trained by Jason Thompson https://watchdog.grv.org.au/trainer/-5769 – have their sights firmly set on the $175,000 first prize on May 19.

And Thompson believes they’ll be “standin’ on their own (four) feet” and “ringin’ on their own bells”.

Collinda Patty – Sandown Park’s 595m track record holder (33.56sec) – is TAB’s fixed odds $1.85F, ahead of NSW superstar Zipping Kansas ($2.40), in Heat 5 (Race 8, 8.31pm).

Collinda Lady – Geelong’s 680m track record holder (38.69sec) – is $2.15EF, along with NSW staying siren Super Estrella, in Heat 4 (Race 7, 8.10pm).

They are $6 and $10 respectively in ‘All In’ betting on the Sandown Cup. The top elect is Mepunga Ruby ($4), ahead of Gypsy Wyong ($5.50). Zipping Kansas and Super Estrella are $6 and $8 respectively.

The more experienced Collinda Patty (Box 7) has won 11 races from 26 starts.

She won the G3 Speed Star and was a G1 Rookie Rebel finalist – both over 600m at The Meadows. And she was a blistering 41.41sec last start winner over 715m at Sandown Park.

The less experienced Collinda Lady (Box 2), which turns three on Monday, has won six races from only 13 starts. She has a 41.80sec personal best over 715m at Sandown Park.

Both are owned and bred (May ’19 Zambora Brockie x She’s A Collinda) by Stephanie Tyler at Boisdale.

“Collinda Patty, when she gets the start right, has more high speed than Collinda Lady, which was always destined for staying,” Thompson said.

WATCH: COLLINDA PATTY (3) clocks a brilliant 41.41sec at Sandown Park on April 21.

“In natural ability – and over the distance – there’s nothing between them.”

“And ‘Patty’, as she’s got older, has made the transition from middle distance to staying. She’s had a couple of seasons and is now stronger.

“But ‘Lady’ is dour. She’s built like a stayer; she’s rangy and is taller than Patty, which is built like a sprinter – stocky and shorter in the legs.

“In natural ability – and over the distance – there’s nothing between them, albeit Patty has the edge from the 400-600m mark.”

Thompson admits he was a “bit on the fence” whether Collinda Patty would make a stayer – even when she broke the middle-distance record at Sandown Park. But now he has no doubts.

“Patty can be very moody, while Lady has a lovely nature about her,” he said.

And Thompson says both will be hard to beat in the heats.

“Lady is well suited near the fence. We wanted box one if not box two.

“Patty has proven she can handle wide draws, but I would have preferred her drawn near the fence. We’ve freshened her up, and I just want to see her box well.”

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