Strathalbyn trainer John Macmillan’s decision to scratch Arkham Knight from last week’s Listed Wylie Stakes can be rewarded at Morphettville on Saturday.
A firming Morphettville surface bought about his scratching and some consistent Adelaide rain over the past 48 hours has justified the decision.
Morphettville was rated a ‘good 4’ on Friday and MacMillan said any more rain would be welcomed by Arkham Knight, who boasts four wins and eight placings from 21 starts on soft tracks – and ploughed through heavy conditions to win on debut.
“I’m just wondering if there is any more rain coming at Morphettville,” Macmillan said.
“We’ve had a lot more down here and I know other parts have as well.
“The rain is the main reason he’s running this week.”
Macmillan was unfazed by Arkham Knight receiving 64kg in the Benchmark 72 race. The seven-year-old gelding will carry 61kg with the claim for apprentice Sophie Logan, but MacMillan is more concerned about a sticky barrier draw.
“I’m not worried about the weight, not against that class,’’ Macmillan said.
“The fact I can claim three; we meet Alsvior the same at the weights as last time and we could have arguably beaten him with some luck in running.
“I’m more concerned by the barrier (10 in a field of 10). But I’d rather be out there than drawn barrier one. Ideally, I would have liked barrier five.”
Affectionately known as Batman, Arkham Knight was gifted his name by Macmillan's daughter as a young horse.
“My daughter was nine at the time and when she first saw him stand up, his big chest and ears pricked, and she said he looked like Batman,’’ Macmillan explained.
“We couldn’t get that as a name, so we ended up with Arkham Knight, (but) he’s always been Batman here at home.”
Like Arkham Knight, Jacobite Prince has a liking for a soft conditions, with four wins from five starts, while Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s The Difference sits at the top of betting as a $2.40 favourite with tab.com.au chasing his third Adelaide win in succession.
The Difference was scratched at the barriers at Bendigo last Wednesday after the horse knocked its head shortly before the start, forcing the stable to look back to Adelaide for a suitable race.
Calvin McEvoy said the horse took no harm from the incident
“He just hit his head which was disappointing,’’ McEvoy said on RSN.
“He’s running in the perfect race for him and I expect him to be winning.”
The McEvoy stable was in the winner’s stall at Sale on Thursday with Zoffala, who continued the run of SA form holding up over the border and made amends for his defeat at Oakbank, scoring a strong two-length win over the 2226m journey.
