BEST BET: HE’S EXCLUSIVE (Race 4)
EACH-WAY: BARTENDER BLUES (Race 7)
VALUE: ASTON EXPRESS (Race 2)
RACE 1 - 12:30PM SAROA Two-Year-Old Benchmark 62 Handicap (1400 METRES)
Tricky start to the day. WITNESS GREATNESS has the experience but has also had a few chances. Getting to 1400m could be his chance to break thought. He was OK late behind Lady Simone last time. STAR LYRIC was beaten 5.9 lengths in the same race but has the advantage of the inside gate behind Lady Simone and draws an inside gate. Stablemate JOE’S CHOISIR had strong market support on debut and got to the line OK behind Chico Fiestro. AEROSPORT wasn’t far away behind Wynter Lady at Penola and has some specking at odds, MAUNARENTE is a Victorian with Mark Pegus and wears blinkers for his debut.
SELECTIONS: WITNESS GREATNESS, Star Lyric, Joe’s Choisir
RACE 2 - 1:05PM South Australian Thoroughbred Breeders Maiden Plate (900 METRES)
Open race after the scratchings of Mystery Flyer who looked the winner on a smart jump out. NORDIC LASS is another who has had a few chances but also some run some nice races, the 900m looks ideal and she isn’t going to get a better chance. THEY CALL ME ALVIN won a recent Oakbank trial pretty smartly and time was OK on paper. He is sure to give this a shake and looks a horse with natural speed. JERICHO BEACH is first-up for Ken Sweeney and has placed in heavy conditions. ASTON EXPRESS has had a couple of trials and could be the value here. He was placed behind Enlist at Naracoorte last preparation. JOURNEY TO RIO is on debut for Shayne Cahill and has trialled OK.
SELECTIONS: NORDIC LASS, They Call Me Alvin, Aston Express
RACE 3 - 1:40PM Willow Grove Stud Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
Looks a nice race for BLESSED AWARD had was solid in the market and found himself back before running on well behind Chico Fiestro at Gawler. Stable is flying and the blinkers go on. FREDDY THE EAGLE ran well behind Tanaka Son last time out I would have preferred to see him over further but he’s progressive and must be considered. GREEN OPINIONS was in the market in the same race running 4th and the stable is going well and he won’t be far away here. WHISKEY AND WOMEN ran some handy races last time in work and is more than capable in a race like this. TARANTELLO is a former Victorian with Jon O’Connor and was placed at Cranbourne two runs back when favourite.
SELECTIONS: BLESSED AWARD, Freddy The Eagle, Green Opinion
RACE 4 - 2:15PM Mill Park Stud Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000 METRES)
The Will Clarken stable scratched HE’S EXCLUSIVE from Morphettville yesterday and this former Kiwi has trialled OK for his local debut. This looks a very winnable race and he looks very hard to beat. DANTREE has shown good ability and was a winner here last campaign. She has trialled well for her return and looks the obvious danger according to the market. MAJESTIC MISSILE looks over the odds, he’s going to find this a drop in class on last time chasing home He’s A Balter here. SITTING BULL races well here on his home track and comes off a handy effort Cartier Tiara last time at Gawler.
SELECTIONS: HE’S EXCLUSIVE, Dantree, Majestic Missile
RACE 5 - 2:55PM Michael Hickmott Bloodstock Class 1 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Another race where any horse can win if things fell in their favour. LADY SIMONE looked good winning at Gawler on debut for the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable. She has a tricky barrier but looks to have some upside and is the one to beat. MRS MOURINHO is also poorly drawn and got well out of her ground at Strathalbyn last time. MONTIGN was a good winner at Penola on debut and can continue on with things here on his home track. and must be respected here on his home track. VICTORY CLUB led throughout to win last time and is on his home track as is MAGNO who has placed at three of four starts here. GRIMESY has some talent when he does things right, YE HELLA was a Balaklava maiden winner last time while LUCKY DOG resumes and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: LADY SIMONE, Mrs Mourinho, Montign
RACE 6 - 3:35PM Holdfast Insurance Brokers Class 2 Handicap (1400 METRES)
The Will Clarken stable has again opted to scratch from Morphettville yesterday with SKY HERO who looks well placed first-up in SA. A former Victorian who has jumped out OK and although his only win came over further. He has the blinkers on for the first time. He’s short but does look a clear top pick after scratchings. CAPRICORN RIDGE made good ground from a long way back at Gawler and has been placed at two of three starts here on his home deck. ALPHEUS was placed at Morphettville on the Parks track three starts back and the stable struck in town on Saturday so he has some claims. MISOOL is another former Victorian now with Shayne Oxlade and does have a Ballarat win in his recent form back in October.
SELECTIONS: SKY HERO, Capricorn Ridge, Alpheus
RACE 7 - 4:10PM Cornerstone Stud Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800 METRES)
BARTENDER BLUES has been around the mark since coming to SA and is worth a play at nice each-way odds here. He draws a nice middle gate and was good at Balaklava two runs back. CROWN HARMONIUM is the favourite and rightly so with some solid form in better classed races. He chased home Dr Dee Dee here two runs back and Not Usual Glorious at Morphettville last time, that horse has won again since. The McEvoy stable don’t have many go around at double figure odds here and ZEPPA is worth some thought. He ran OK at Bendigo last time and was tested in handy 3yo races last season. DALAKARA was good on debut for Shayne Cahill proving too good for Funckia at Strathalbyn and should appreciate the extra trip and take some beating despite a poor barrier. DON’T DISMISS is in good form and should be right in the mix again here after making good ground behind Crypto Currency last start. BUSKER’S BALLAD is more than up to this class on his best, FERGO’S BOYS was a Naracoorte winner three starts back and CITY BEATS was back to winning form last time.
SELECTIONS: BARTENDER BLUES, Crown Harmonium, Don’t Dismiss
