BEST BET
MUSTARI (Race 7)
EACH-WAY
MAGICAL RIDE (Race 3)
VALUE
SAND CAT (Race 6)
MAGIC REWARD (Race 8)
ZIP AKEED (Race 8)
RACE 1 - 1:20PM Northpoint Fleurieu Colts, Geldings & Entires Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Tricky race EQUICHUNK was a winner here two starts back beating DEXTER DUTTON (who then won at Oakbank at big odds). EQUICHUNK has been in the money at three of five starts here and can improve on his latest behind Sand Cat with Jason Holder taking the ride. CAPTAIN SOLO has the two trials under his belt and must be respected. GENERAL MINT is another who races well here.
SELECTIONS: 5 EQUICHUNK, 2 Captain Solo, 4 Dexter Dutton, 6 General Mint
PLAY: Happy to watch this one.
RACE 2 - 1:55PM Middleton Tavern Benchmark 58 Handicap (2050 METRES)
BRIABELLA has the right form running 2nd behind Ichibansan at Morphettville last time and has placed at two of her three starts here. Local DON’T DISMISS comes off a narrow Oakbank win beating Ace Attack and has been placed at four of eight starts here. Likewise, PLYMPTON was a winner at Oakbank beating Robe Raider. MUFFLA has had every chance his past couple but must be respected with the blinkers going off.
SELECTIONS: 6 BRIABELLA, 1 Don’t Dismiss, 3 Plympton, 4 Muffla
PLAY: Backing BRIABELLA on her home deck.
RACE 3 - 2:30PM Hygain Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)
MAGICAL RIDE draws the right barrier and was good behind Witness Greatness two starts back at Gawler before another solid effort behind Earl Of Sandwich here last time. TEN FEATHERS is on debut for the McEvoy stable but would need to lift significantly on his two trials but expect improvement here. JOE’S CHOISIR ran OK behind Order Is Restored at Balaklava last start but draws a wide gate.
SELECTIONS: 11 MAGICAL RIDE, 8 Ten Feathers, 6 Joe’s Choisir, 2 Kikuyu King
PLAY: MAGICAL RIDE each-way at the $5.
RACE 4 - 3:05PM Bremerton Wines Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
CHRYSOS was an easing favourite when beaten into 3rd behind Funckia at Murray Bridge back in July. She was placed first-up last preparation at Ballarat which is good enough form for a race like this. INDY MAGIC ran well up in class before jumping favourite at Balaklava behind Yeelanna before a break. She draws well and the stable is going nicely. MYSTIC STORM ran a nice race behind Miss Langtry here last time and that’s solid form for a race like this. FAST AND FELXIBLE had specking at a price in the same race and worked home well. VEGAS DESTINY is a former Victorian on debut for Dennis O’Leary JUMP OUT?
SELECTIONS: 3 CHRYSOS, 4 Indy Magic, Mystic Storm, Fast And Flexible
PLAY: CHRYSOS/INDY MAGIC quinella.
RACE 5 - 3:40PM Strathalbyn Small Engines Fillies & Mares Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100 METRES)
MISS LANGTRY is a horse on the up and was impressive when up on speed before winning by 1.8 lengths over Mystic Storm here last time. She has the claim and looks hard to beat again. GOGOLF GURU was impressive winning her first two for the Quinton stable before running down the track at Gawler. She gets in here OK after the claim and draws the inside. WITNESS GREATNESS was a good winner at Gawler in maiden grade before being beaten 3 lengths behind Dexter Dutton at Oakbank last time when ridden off the speed. KUNGKA MARU was well ridden and only nabbed in the last stride here by SHOWUSYOURMOTOR last time who is sure to run well from a middle gate. Stablemate SWEET DISTRACTION was a Penola winner three starts back. AUSSIE SOJOURN resumes here and has been placed twice fresh but might be looking for further.
SELECTIONS: 3 MISS LANGTRY, 1 Gogolf Guru, 10 Witness Greatness, 4 Kunka Maru
PLAY: MISS LANGTRY worth a crack at the $4.50.
RACE 6 - 4:15PM Fleurieu Milk Company Benchmark 52 Handicap (1200 METRES)
SAND CAT was a good winner here two starts back at odds beating Vindex before another good run up in class when 4th behind Lady Simone at Gawler in Saturday grade. POSSUM BORN has been placed at two of three starts here and comes off a good run when 2bd behind St Just at Gawler. CONCONI has been placed at two of three starts here and is back with Emma Hubbard. BACK POCKET draws well first-up and has Jason Holder
SELECTIONS: 15 SAND CAT, 3 Possum Born, 5 Conconi, 7 Back Pocket
PLAY: Happy to back SAND CAT at the $10 in early markets
RACE 7 - 4:50PM Happy New Year Benchmark 54 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Big weight but looks the right race for MUSTARI who drops back in class from chasing home Tradewind at Morphettville last time. He was runner-up at his only start here, draws poorly but has Noel Callow to help overcome that. ALPHAEUS has been placed his past couple, the latest behind Canidae at Oakbank and maps well from the good barrier. STAR LYRIC is a lightly raced filly who was a Murray Bridge winner back in June and strips fitter for two handy runs back, the latest behind Run And Tell at Gawler. CYBER INTERVENTION hasn’t been beaten far at two runs back from a NT campaign and draws the inside.
SELECTIONS: 1 MUSTARI, 3 Alpheaus, 7 Star Lyric, 4 Cyber Intervention
PLAY: Happy to take the $4 MUSTARI even with the weight.
RACE 8 - 5:25PM Goolwa Hotel Benchmark 58 Handicap (1350 METRES)
Good race. MAGIC REWARD was too good for Canidae at Murray Bridge two runs back and then solid behind Point Blaze at Morphettville. She draws a sticky gate but has the right form for a race like this. GATSBY’S GIRL was a Clare winner three starts back and jumped favourite when 3rd behind Fosshio at Port Lincoln last time out. YURI ROYALE resumes for the in-form Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable and was racing well last time in tackling the Morphettville Guineas and was a winner on the Parks last Feb. Stablemate LUTZ went to the paddock winning two of his past four but that was up in trip, and he draws wide. EARL OF SANDWICH was a good winner here in maiden class holding off Deep’n Meaningful to win last time and maps well from the good barrier. Likewise MODRIC comes off a handy win here beating Yowza and must be given plenty of thought. RIALTOR will make the speed and was good running 3rd behind Addictions on the Parks two runs back and has been freshened for this. ZIP AKEED has handy form for a race like this placed his past two here and maps well from the good barrier.
SELECTIONS: 3 MAGIC REWARD, 10 Gatsby’s Girl, 9 Yuri Royale, 17 Zip Akeed
PLAY: Open race having something on MAGIC REWARD and ZIP AKEED at the odds.
