One of the stronger editions of the DC McKay Stakes in recent years is among the support card of black-type races at tomorrow’s Oaks meeting at Morphettville.
This year’s renewal of the Group 3 sprint over 1100m has drawn together a field with ample top-end quality.
Like other races on the card, the damp track will impact the McKay Stakes – favourably in the case of cult hero Jungle Edge. Trained in Victoria by Mick Bell (who chases wet tracks for his stable star), Jungle Edge is a renowned nob in the wet, as his heavy track record of 18 starts for seven wins and six placings underlines.
James Cummings’ Home of the Brave showed a return to form with a third in the RN Irwin at Morphettville a fortnight ago and seems to enjoy rain-affected tracks, while stablemate Viridine is another each-way chance.
David Jolly’s stable star Behemoth has done his best work on good tracks, but should make his presence felt in his sole lead-up race to the Goodwood on May 16. Jolly won this race in 2011 with Streetcar Magic.
Others with chances include Phillip Stokes’ in-form Shamino, Bold Star from the flying Gordon Richards stable, and Will Clarken-trained Parsifal.
Jockey Barend Vorster is aiming for successive McKay Stakes wins on Home of the Brave after saluting last year aboard Despatch, who went on to claim the Goodwood a fortnight later.
Jockey Paul Gatt (Benz) has won the race twice previously, while Jason Holder (Viridine) won it in 2014 on Essay Raider.
Meanwhile the day kicks off with the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes (1050m), another in the series of strong two-year-old races hosted by Morphettville in recent weeks.
The race has drawn together plenty of promising youngsters, including some that have already been seen in Adelaide.
Among those is Zoushine, who probably could have beaten the flying Ecumenical last start, Hard Rock Girl, who claimed the Cinderella Stakes over this course in late February, and Theresabearinthere, who easily won his only start at Morphettville a fortnight ago.
Forever Free, from the Flemington-based Ellerton and Zahra stable, is sure to have admirers after leading all the way to win at Caulfield last start, while Anthony Freedman’s Soul Expression romped home at Mornington last start.
Race 4 is the Listed Port Adelaide Cup over 2500m.
Victorian visitors Oceanex and Sopressa are likely to be the market leaders. The former finished fifth in the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) behind Life Less Ordinary at Randwick last start, while the latter has been solid in Melbourne recently and relishes the sting out of the ground.
Franked won really well at Morphettville last start, Eperdument should improve back out to this distance and Victorian visitor Tigre Royale should run well and has solid wet-track form.
- Behemoth; 2. Jungle Edge; 3. Bold Star; 4. Shamino
Queen Adelaide Stakes selections:
- Zoushine; 2. Extra Time; 4. Theresebearninthere; 4. Forever Free
- Sopressa; 2. Oceanex; 3. Tigre Royale; 4. Franked
