BEST BETS
CALL IT A HUNCH (Race 2)
EACH-WAY
MARACOURT (Race 7)
BOSSY BRITCHES (Race 4)
VALUE
GYPSY CROWN (Race 6)
RACE 1 - 1:40PM Nutrien AG Solutions Mount Gambier Maiden Handicap (900 METRES)
FINAL JEDI is on debut for the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable and ran 3rd in a trial behind Jaazeb on the Parks when she jumped well, raced a touch keen through the middle stages and wasn’t pushed out late. She draws a sticky gate but looks very well placed here. MADDISON MISS is a filly on debut for Shane Oxlade and showed good speed to win a Strathalbyn jump-out. She was ridden out late, but she is sure to be in this for a long way. SWIFTLY NED had good backing on debut behind Pocket Rox at Hamilton. He draws a good barrier and clearly has some ability. MAI TIME has been placed at five of nine starts the latest at Penola behind Blueberry Boy but draws a wide gate.
SELECTIONS: 7 FINAL JEDI, 8 Maddison Miss, 6 Swiftly Ned, 9 Mai Time
PLAY: Happy to have something on FINAL JEDI.
RACE 2 - 2:15PM Steeline Roofing Mount Gambier Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
Looks a nice race for CALL IT A HUNCH. He was placed it two runs before a break behind Kung Fu Fighting and Painted On at Bordertown (when a $1.55 favourite) and has trialled well for this. The blinkers go on and he draws a good gate. PILOT’S BOULEVARD is fitter for one run back and was close up in all four starts before a break. He made ground first-up behind Yellow Idol at Naracoorte and should take some benefit from that. NED AND POWER comes out of the Yellow Idol race and stuck on well after leading. He’s been placed at five of nine. BADONKIDONK had specking at odds and made good ground in the same race first-up from a break. The wide draw isn’t ideal. PITRAIN finished 3rd in the same race after racing on speed and must be respected. AIM TO PLEASE caught the eye at Morphettville four runs back behind Miss Miduki but has been only fair in three runs since. DISSOLVABLE is on debut for Aaron Bain and has been placed at five of 18 starts and was placed in recent trials at Morphettville and Gawler.
SELECTIONS: 11 CALL IT A HUNCH, 13 Pilot’s Boulevard, 8 Ned And Power, 2 Badonkidonk
PLAY: Keen on CALL IT A HUNCH.
RACE 3 - 2:50PM Greg Richardson Memorial Rating 0-52 Handicap (1200 METRES)
SNAPTOF was a Penola winner two starts back before sticking on well behind Hi Smokey at Naracoorte last time. She draws an awkward barrier but looks well suited again. FINAL CHANCE has finished 3rd at his past four, the latest behind Inspired Sun at Strathalbyn last week. He draws an inside gate and gets the Ben Price claim and should take some beating here. ANCIENT HISTORY ran very well behind He Will Boom at Murray Bridge two starts back. He was 2nd at his only start this track and trip and is worth some thought even after the wide barrier. VIVALDI’S QUEST has won eight races and was placed at Penola behind Young Jimmy three starts back. He draws OK and can find some form in a race like this. MISS CATASTROPHI was a Port Lincoln winner five runs back and placed there behind City Jet two runs back. BEAUMIS was runner-up at Naracoorte three starts back. She’s trained on track and is bred to be winning a race like this.
SELECTIONS: 7 SNAPTOF, 2 Final Chance, 4 Ancient History, 8 Vivaldi’s Quest
PLAY: Something on SNAPTOF at a price
RACE 4 - 3:25PM Scott Group of Companies Benchmark 74 Handicap (1800 METRES)
BOSSY BRITCHES looks nicely placed here after making good ground behind Sebonna at Naracoorte last time. Her record on her home track is sound, she draws a nice gate and can find winning form here. SEBONNA has been in great form winning four of his past seven starts. He had a gun run and was too good for Shock Alert last time at Naracoorte. He jumps up sharply in weight and back in distance but doesn’t know how to run a bad race. NORDIC SYMPHONY ran 5th in an Oaks in Adelaide back in 2019. Her recent form is OK for a race like this, and she maps well. MISTA HOLYFIELD has a good record here and comes off a Penola win beating Air Time. This looks harder, but he gets in well at the weights after the claim and should be right in a race like this. APPOLLO JET was a good Gawler winner las time and is worth some thought. TOLEMAC has form around some very good stayers like Grand Promenade, Smokin’ Romans and Schabau. He’s hasn’t raced since last August at Ballarat an draws an awkward barrier but is in very good hands and must be respected. CLEVER MAN would be right in a race like this on his form last time in work. His two runs back from a short break have only been fair but he draws nicely. STEVEN JAMES is a former Kiwi who was good behind Runbro at Penola last time out and has trialled here since.
SELECTIONS: 6 BOSSY BRITCHES, 1 Sebonna, 9 Nordic Symphony, 4 Mista Holyfield
PLAY: BOSSY BRITCHES each-way, something on NORDIC SYMPHONY as a saver.
RACE 5 - 4:00PM Carlton Draught Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200 METRES)
HI SMOKEY was dominant going to the front and giving nothing a look in at Naracoorte last time. He’ll roll forward and take some catching again here. QUICK ENUFF led throughout to win easily at Ballarat on the synthetic two starts back before running second there last time. She draws to find the lead and should be in this for a long way. DAMASCUS MOMENT was sent out favourite and stuck on well behind Gottaluvjimmy at Morphettville last time. She has plenty of weight even after the claim but this is a drop in class. DONATION was placed at his first two starts before winning at Warracknabeal last time. He draws wide but gets some weight relief. THUNDER PARK led throughout to win at Mildura three starts back and should be handy to the speed here. GUTSY was placed behind Cool Magnum at Gawler two starts back and will find this a touch easier than his recent racing. SOLAAZEM was a good Horsham winner over the 1800m and has a good record here but is back in trip here.
SELECTIONS: 8 HI SMOKEY, 11 Quick Enuff, 1 Damascus Moment, 6 Donation
PLAY: HI SMOKEY can win again.
RACE 6 - 4:35PM The Mount Plumbing Service Benchmark 58 Handicap (900 METRES)
GRAND HOST is a winner this track and trip and has form around some nice horses including Spanish Heirloom who he defeated at Mindarie-Halidon back in September. He has trialled well, draws well, only concern would be being winless form four previous first-up runs but he does look the one to beat. THREE TEARS is a nice type who has been in the money at four of six starts and was a Murray Bridge winner last January. She has trialled well for her return but does draw an awkward barrier. GYPSY CROWN draws to be right in the action and was a good winner at Murray Bridge two starts back at nice odds. DESERT SPIRIT is a fast horse who is suited at the 900m but the wide gate and big weight, even after the claim. WILD CHERRY ROAD was sent out favourite at Mornington behind state Of Class last time and can run well in a race like this. DESTINY’S REPUBLIC is a dual winner at 1000m and showed speed last time when down the track behind Two Odd Sox at Murray Bridge. DEFORCE won twice at Bordertown in December and his latest effort at Hamilton behind Finance Choice was OK, he draws a nice gate.
SELECTIONS: 5 GRAND HOST, 7 Three Tears, 8 Gypsy Crown, 1 Desert Spirit
PLAY: Happy to play GRAND HOST each-way.
RACE 7 - 5:10PM TAB Benchmark 58 Handicap (1550 METRES)
Sticking with MARACOURT here who won well on debut and then got a mile back before he made good ground behind Hi Smokey at Naracoorte last time. He draws out but the jump from 1200m to 1550m looks ideal and he’s a horse with some upside and nice each-way odds. HARBOURING has been in solid form and was a good Murray Bridge winner three starts back and led when beaten 6 lengths behind Getouttheway at Balaklava last time. AIR TIME is going well chasing home Mista Holyfield at Penola two starts back before getting well back and making ground behind Bomber’s Kiss at Naracoorte. CARAK has a good record here on his track and he was good at Penola two starts back before being well beaten behind Morning Has Broken at Hamilton last start. GOOD GIRL BELLA draws awkwardly but her best form is right up to a race like this. EXCUSES EXCUSES draws wide could be an improver in a race like this. MANHATTEN ARCH draws a wide gate but has been placed at his past couple
SELECTIONS: 12 MARACOURT, 7 Harbouring, 5 Air Time, 6 Carak
PLAY: Keen on MARACOURT.
