Patrick Payne is hoping a Tasmanian Summer Carnival campaign can again prove the right grounding for Adelaide success when Wings Of Song tackles Saturday’s $150,000 Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville.
Payne claimed last year’s Group 1 South Australian Derby with Dunkel who had success in the apple isle before his brilliant Derby win and Wings Of Song brings some impressive form to SA having won her past five starts, including the Tasmanian Guineas, 1000 Guineas and Tasmanian Oaks last time out.
Payne said Wings Of Song was a filly capable of taking the steps required to measure up in the Adelaide feature.
“She’s got a great attitude,’’ Payne said on the Front Runner Podcast.
“She had a really good time in Tasmania, she seems really well weighted on Saturday,’’ he said.
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will chase a third stakes victory in the space of four weeks on SA soil in the Auraria.
The leading Victorian duo won the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes with Quickster before impressive debutante Lincolnshire led throughout to claim last week’s Listed Dequetteville Stakes.
Quickster returns to Adelaide on the weekend as a part of two-pronged attack in the Auraria, joined by stablemate Mollynickers.
Will Price retains the ride on Quickster, while Mollynickers will be partnered by Carleen Hefel and trying to turn around a disappointing Moonee Valley run last time out when a $2.05 favourite.
Mollynickers is marked a $3.20 favourite in the Auraria where the locals are unwanted in betting.
Maddison Kate was third behind Quickster (who has been $5.50 into $4) in the Clare Lindop and is considered a $21 chance with Sportsbet, Travis Doudle has $34 chance Sentimental Flame who finished fifth in the same race while Chris Bieg’s Diamond’s Choice, who finished seventh in the Clare Lindop is marked a $71 chance.
Fellow Morphettville horseman Andrew Gluyas has opted for a different approach with Seeking Stardom, who was beaten 5.4 lengths behind Quickster, dropping to maiden grade at Murray Bridge in between where she bolted in by 6.5 lengths and is currently a $27 chance with Teagan Voorham retaining the ride.
Richard and Chantelle Jolly have also taken a different path to the race with Cherokee Miss who backs up from a solid when second effort behind South Australian Derby prospect A Samurai Mind on the Parks last weekend is the outside of the local contingent at $126.
