A pair of strong Group 2 events are among the features of Saturday’s Morphettville program, which is highlighted by two Group 1 races (Schweppes Oaks and TAB Classic).
A field of quality mares will contest the Group 2 Furphy Queen of the South Stakes over 1600m. Early markets suggest four major chances, but the race contains a number of other top-three chances.
Victorian trainer Robbie Griffiths’ Fidelia hasn’t won for nearly a year, but has been running consistently in strong company. A rare exception was last start over 1600m at Caulfield, where new tactics – of riding the mare forward – were tried unsuccessfully. Expect Fidelia to appreciate the open expansions of Morphettville on Saturday and a return to her get-back, run-on style.
Seabrook was up on the pace last start when second to Bam’s On Fire, which is running in the Group 1 TAB Classic later in the day, while Snogging scored a surprise first-up win in a $125,000 Bendigo metropolitan mile race, and should be a major player.
Danny O’Brien’s November Dreaming has the best wet-track form in the race, and posted an impressive win at Pakenham over this trip recently, albeit in vastly inferior company.
Of the locals Richard and Chantelle Jolly’s Poysed to Rein has been in good form and Nipperkin’s run in a Listed race behind A Shin Rook last week was much better than it appears on paper. A win to roughie Sacred Lass – who had no luck in a weaker event at Morphettville a fortnight ago – would give trainer Phillip Stokes back-to-back wins in this race.
Tony McEvoy has trained the winner solo twice before, and has Shrouded in Mist with son Calvin this year. Jockey Jason Holder (Nipperkin) won the race back in 2016.
Meanwhile talented sprinter Garner could hold the key to the 1100m Euclase Stakes for three-year-olds.
Trained by man-of-the-moment Gordon Richards, Garner was back to his best with a dominant victory in the Listed Redelva over the same course on April 18. The wide draw should pose no problems for Garner (again to be ridden by Jason Holder), and his trainer is confident the wet track will be of little concern this weekend.
Garner’s main challengers loom as the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Xilong and Will Clarken’s Roccabascerana. Both were decisively beaten by Garner last start, but are richly talented and the latter is unbeaten on soft going.
The key runner bringing ‘new’ form is Broadwayandfourth, which ran home powerfully in an unsuitably run race at Caulfield last start.
Queen of the South Stakes selections:
- November Dreaming; 2. Fidelia; 3. Snogging; 4. Nipperkin
- Garner; 2. Broadwayandfourth; 3. Roccabascerana; 4. Xilong
