BEST BETS
KUNGKA MARU (Race 5)
EACH-WAY
THE SNOW BURNER (Race 1)
VALUE
TRIANGULUM (Race 7)
RACE 1 - 12:45PM LJ Hooker Three-Years-Old and Over Maiden Plate (1500 METRES)
THE SNOW BURNER trialled up OK and has run well in both runs back from a long spell, the latest running 4th behind Closed Vault at Balaklava. They jump him to 1500m here he draws out. I’m happy to back him each-way. UNCLE LEO drifted in betting when down the track behind Closed Case on debut. The Clarken stable have gone straight for the blinkers here and look for sharp improvement. HOSTESS SUSIE has been around the mark finished 2nd at Bordertown two runs back before an OK run behind Peacemaker at Murray Bridge. SIR DALAPENA is on debut for the Travis Doudle stable and wears blinkers from an inside draw. He laid in during his latest trial but was OK late. LUCIA MARIA has only been fair in two runs to date, but the stable is going well.
SELECTIONS: 5 THE SNOW BURNER, 6 Uncle Leo, 9 Hostess Susie, 12 Sir Dalapena
PLAY: Backing THE SNOW BURNER each-way.
RACE 2 - 1:20PM Holdfast Insurance Brokers Three-Years-Old and Over Colts, Geldings & Entires Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
COMMANDER MEROO trialled nicely at Balaklava before being an easing favourite on debut when he got a long way back and did a good job to only be beaten 1.3 lengths behind Born To Run. He gets out to 1200m which looks ideal. Todd Pannell stays on and did choose him over LUCKY BLUE who has been racing well and placed here three starts in a row before a good run behind Bubble Over at Morphettville. He was OK behind Born to Run last time at Morphettville and must be respected. BOOGIE NIGHTS trialled up well before being placed at 2 of his first 4 starts, the latest at Morphettville behind Queman. He won a recent Morphettville trial and should give a race like this a shake. GLACIER GREY has had two runs since coming to SA and tried hard behind Closed Vault last time. He draws out but should run well. PEARL ADIOS was backed at a price and ran well when 4th behind Intrepid Eagle at Murray Bridge last time.
SELECTIONS: 2 COMMANDER MEROO, 1 Boogie Nights, 8 Lucky Blue, 5 Glacier Grey
PLAY: Keen on COMMANDER MEROO.
RACE 3 - 1:55PM Kingsford Hotel Three-Years-Old and Over Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
PRETENTIOUS LASS was very good on debut making good ground behind Bubble Over at Morphettville. She followed up with a good run behind Closed Vault and should get her chance from a middle barrier. The stable is in-form. ALPINE FUN was good here first-up from a spell when 2nd behind Mystic Storm. Stablemate SONIC WAVE is on debut and ran 2nd in the Merchant Boss trial at Morphettville.
SELECTIONS: 8 PRETENTIOUS LASS, 1 Alpine Fun, 14 Sonic Wave, 9 Tequila Sunset
PLAY: Like PRETENTIOUS LASS to break through.
RACE 4 - 2:30PM Contract Engineering SA Rating 0 - 58 Handicap (1200 METRES)
ONE MORE GRANDY comes here after winning on the dirt at Port Augusta. She draws a gate but should go well. WINE FROM TEARS resumes here and was racing OK before a break. Her trial behind Enchantingly at Morphettville recently was OK for this. NOT A SINGLE BID was a winner here in maiden class two starts back before running down the track behind Maracourt at Murray Bridge last week. HANSOM MAN was a winner here three starts back beating Lucky Blue and drops in class on last time behind Next Dimension.
SELECTIONS: 7 ONE MORE GRANDY, 8 Wine From Tears, 1 Not A Single Bid, 5 Hansom Man.
PLAY: WINE FROM TEARS looks over the odds at $12.
RACE 5 - 3:05PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Looks a very nice race for KUNGKA MARU who was scratched from a winnable race midweek for Saturday grade, and he was good running 3rd behind Saville at $41. He gets some weight relief, is a winner here and should take beating from a middle gate. BETTA EDDIE has a good record here and does get through heavy ground. He has been placed at his past five, three of those here on his home track. HILUMIERE comes here and draws a nice gate. She’s a horse who loves a wet track and must be respected. BIGNOTA has been placed at 3 of 5 runs here and trialled OK for his return.
SELECTIONS: 1 KUNGKA MARU, 3 Betta Eddie, 8 Hilumiere, 4 Bignota
PLAY: Keen on KUNGKA MARU.
RACE 6 - 3:40PM GBJC Life Members Cup Benchmark 58 Handicap (2100 METRES)
I NEED A DRINK has been in the money at all four starts and won his maiden at Murray Bridge two starts back before being placed behind Prince Jofra at Balaklava last start. He draws a middle gate and should take some beating here. AMERICAN TROUBLE was a 2 length winner here last time out beating FAST AND FLEXIBLE and has solid appeal again. NATIVE BLUE has been placed at 2 of 3 starts here and comes off a solid effort running 3rd behind Trumpsta on the Parks track last week. NEVER DOUBT US is on the quick turnaround after winning easily at Bordertown on Sunday. RAPID RIDE has been racing well in similar class and can run a cheeky race down in the weights.
SELECTIONS: 1 I NEED A DRINK, 4 American Trouble, 7 Fast And Flexible, 3 Native Blue
PLAY: Tricky race and playing wide in the quaddie.
RACE 7 - 4:15PM Cornerstone Stud Benchmark 54 Handicap (1700 METRES)
KEYSOR loves a heavy track, and he was beaten 3.7 lengths behind Ziggi Rocks last time. His record here is equally as good, and he gets his chance to find winning form. TRIANGULUM has had three runs here in SA and could be ready to improve. He does have a good record in heavy going and is over the odds. JACK'S A CRACKER drops in class here after chasing home Yuri Royale at Murray Bridge last weekend and his heavy track record is OK. MOSS THE BOSS has been racing OK.
SELECTIONS: 2 KEYSOR, 9 Triangulum, 5 Jack's A Cracker, 13 Moss The Boss
PLAY: Having something on TRIANGULUM at $15.
