BEST BET: DEXTER YOU DEVIL (Race 7)
EACH-WAY: IRISH MINT (Race 4)
VALUE: CLEARY ADONIS (Race 5)
RACE 1 - 12:10PM AVIS Port Lincoln Maiden Plate (1210 METRES)
CONFINEMENT is a 16-start maiden but has been placed eight times and is bursting to win a race. She draws a sticky gate but isn’t going to get many better chances. NEVER YOU MIND comes out of a good race at Morphettville, running sixth behind Great Diviner. He draws wide but this is a lot weaker than last time. GET AROUND HIM was in the market when placed at Penong last time out.
SELECTIONS: CONFINEMENT, Never You Mind, Get Around Him
RACE 2 - 12:45PM Complete Business and Accounting Services Two & Three-Year-Old Benchmark 60 Handicap (1210 METRES)
RIVERSIDE ROCK has won two of his past four and gets in well via the Ben Price claim. He just needs some luck from a sticky gate and should be fighting out the finish. BETTA EDDIE get the blinkers again here and was an Oakbank winner three starts back. ISA SECRET was a drifter last time when she couldn’t match Riverside Rock. Her previous run was very good and she did win a Penola maiden five starts back. TWO HANDS was $4.80 to $3.50 on debut here behind Navy Commander before only battling last time behind Riverside Rock. He draws well and might be an improver. STRIP CLUB has been placed at three of seven here but draws a wide gate and likes to race on speed.
SELECTIONS: RIVERSIDE ROCK, Betta Eddie, Isa Secret
RACE 3 - 1:20PM McDonald’s Port Lincoln Benchmark 54 Handicap (1000 METRES)
SECRET CHARGE scored at nice odds at Oakbank and was good when making ground behind Hateech at Balaklava last time out. He draws a nice gate and has each-way appeal in an open race on paper. VIETTI ran well as favourite at KI three starts back in January and improved at the second day of the carnival, running second behind Smartkap. His best is good enough for this and he did win well first-up for Kym Healy. RAHEEBA ran well behind Justica two starts back and then led when fifth, beaten 2.6 lengths, behind Phyla Vell last time. SYLVITE was an eye-catcher at KI last time, making good ground from a long way back behind Smartkap, and was placed here at her previous. SHANE was a winner here three starts back and wasn’t beaten far behind Scenic Mint last time. I’M OH SO PRETTY is a former Victorian in the Darryl Carrison stable and must be kept safe.
SELECTIONS: SECRET CHARGE, Raheeba, Vietti
RACE 4 - 1:55PM Thomas Foods International Flying Handicap (1210 METRES)
IRISH MINT has won four of five here and his two efforts before his latest run at Morphettville were solid for this. He ran third behind Can’tforgetyou and Ididitforlove, gets in here well with the claim and can bounce back, helped with the claim for the in-form Stacey Metcalfe. MYSTICANO won his only start here and was good at Gawler two runs back before again running on strongly behind Tony’s Reward last time at Morphettville on the Parks. He’s won an Oakbank trial since and that formline is good for a race like this. RUBY’S REWARD was well found by punters to beat Superhard here last time and has strong claims despite a sticky gate. ROCK HARD draws to be on speed and stuck on well here last time behind Ruby’s Reward. ARTFUL RAMBLER was well-backed before finishing off well from the back in the field last time behind Ruby’s Reward. MY MATE SONNY won three of four starts before running third behind Midnight Rambler here last time. He’ll get a nice run from a good gate. MIRTHDALE can improve here down in the weights.
SELECTIONS: IRISH MINT, Mysticano, My Mate Sonny
RACE 5 - 2:30PM Lincoln Estate Wines Benchmark 62 Handicap (1390 METRES)
PHYLA VELL was good winning here last time out when in the care of David Jolly and has stayed with the Bishop/Dunn stable. She draws well and getting out in distance should suit. SASSY MANEUVER draws a tricky gate but was a good winner here two starts back and will appreciate getting back out in trip with Todd Pannell riding. CLEARY ADONIS is second-up from a break and was OK behind Annika last time out, so expect improvement here after a good trial before his return. CHUCKLES was a good winner this track and trip two runs back before starting favourite at Lock last time. He will be in the mix. VICTORY SPOILS was a winner at Lock last time and draws a nice gate.
SELECTIONS: PHYLA VELL, Sassy Maneuver, Cleary Adonis
RACE 6 - 3:10PM Riviera Marine Benchmark 62 Handicap (1390 METRES)
ARTFUL AMBITION hasn’t finished further back than fourth at his past eight starts and was too good for Kingson three starts. The form around his past couple, chasing home Justica and Leonarda, is good and he looks well placed. RAISE AN ARMY has been around the mark in slightly stronger company and must be respected in this sort of class from a good barrier. SCARY GO ROUND was well backed to win her last time and has strong appeal despite a tricky wide gate. KINGSON draws the inside and could be an improver here with the claim back in class. GALAXY FALLS is another who has appeal at a price. MAGNUS MAGIC draws a good gate and must be considered while stablemate ART MUSIC was a winner here three starts back and did go out favourite when well beaten at Penong last time.
SELECTIONS: ARTFUL AMBITION, Raise An Army, Kingson
RACE 7 - 3:50PM MGA Insurance Group Port Lincoln Cup (1960 METRES)
DEXTER YOU DEVIL is the class horse, chasing back-to-back Cup wins. His recent form in stronger races has been sound and getting out to the 1960m looks ideal. He’s got plenty of weight but the class also and will thrive on a solid tempo. ANALYTICA hit the line strongly here last time behind Paulo Pace and looks to have solid claims here. He’s been competitive in much better races. PAULO PACE has been in great form, winning three of his past five, and was good beating Lady Conquistador last time out. He should handle the step up in trip no problems. BRAMFIELD has never finished worse than second at four starts this track and trip and was doing his best work late last time behind Paulo Pace. WITCH KID won his only start this track and trip and maps to get a lovely run from the inside gate. GOTTABITON draws to get a nice run and was an easy Lock winner last time out. BEAR ARMS should get an OK run and has been placed at both runs this track and trip.
SELECTIONS: DEXTER YOU DEVIL, Analytica, Paulo Pace
RACE 8 - 4:30PM Gordy Peterson Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap (1210 METRES)
GRIMESY has ability and has been improving with racing. He won well at Gawler two starts back before finishing off well behind Wild Willy at Penola last time. He draws well and should be right in the finish. CENTREFIELD is a nice horse and has won two and placed two from four starts here. She beat The Big Goodbye three starts back before leading throughout to beat Heaven’s Flight last time. She’s clearly right in this. TAJAVEDO was an odds-on favourite when too good for Magnus Magic at Penong last time out and his previous when second behind Phyla Vell here was solid for this. MISSED ME has won two of her past here and ran a $1.70 favourite when a 3.2-length Penong winner last time. CAITLIN’S ANGEL has won two of her past three at KI where she goes very well but should get a nice run from the gate and is aided with the Ben Price claim.
SELECTIONS: GRIMESY, Centrefield, Missed Me
RACE 9 - 5:10PM Boston Bay Wines - Magic Merlot Mile (Benchmark 62 Handicap) (1750 METRES)
BAJAN gets another chance. He was a winner here back in 2019 and was only beaten 2.6 lengths behind Paulo Pace last time. He drops in class, draws a barrier and looks well placed. ONWARD was an easy 4.6-length Penong winner last time out and should get a good run on speed from the inside gate. WICKED RHYTHM has been placed at his past two, finding the line well behind Maori Magic at Kangaroo Island last time, and should get a nice run from barrier four. HAND TO HAND was a good winner here two starts back before a handy effort behind Dance Heroes in the Lock Cup last time. He’s drawn the carpark, however. SHINSEKI made good ground last time at Penola but has only been placed once in 10 starts here.
SELECTIONS: BAJAN, Onward, Wicked Rhythm
Image: Dexter You Devil, to be ridden by trainer Shayne Cahill, is Lincoln Moore’s best bet on today’s Port Lincoln Cup Day program.
