BEST BETS
MISS MUCINNI (Race 3)
SABERMETRIC (Race 9)
EACH-WAY
BEAU ROSSA (Race 8)
VALUE
IN THE DARKNESS/MALINONG CLUB (Race 5)
RACE 1 - 12:17PM Grand Syndicates Handicap (1600 METRES)
LACRIMA is chasing three wins on end for the in-form Michael Hickmott. She was too good for Tubby Two Tracks before beating BLAZERRO, who does meet her slightly better at the weights and wears a near side blinker for the first time, last start. JACK THE LAD has been good in two SA runs and again worked home well behind a dominant En Francais last week. Out to the mile looks ideal for him. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO was OK in a fast run race chasing home Secret War at Gawler last week. Stablemate RISING RENOWN could be an improver second-up here. FAROOQ is capable and comes off a nice run at Warrnambool.
SELECTIONS: 4 LACRIMA, 3 Blazerro, 6 Jack The Lad, 2 Countofmontecristo
PLAY: Something on LACRIMA.
RACE 2 - 12:52PM Skycity Handicap (1050 METRES)
DUNMAGHLAS was beaten on debut before dropping in class and scoring a soft win at Strathalbyn. He has the inside gate and looks a horse with upside. He has the fitness edge on NOSTRYIA who looked good winning on debut back in September. He draws a nice gate and gets the claim. ORACLE SON followed a good trial by winning well here last time and draws a nice gate. SIR GRUMPY is a Port Lincoln galloper who was a winner there in November before running rivals ragged at Oakbank last time. He should be thereabouts. OUT OF AFLICA is the watch, she beat Zufasta on debut and hasn’t raced since she was beaten here behind Celtic Vader in December 2021. She’d need to improve on a recent trial but must be respected. PRANCE ‘N’ DANCE can improve back here in 3yo company.
SELECTIONS: 4 DUNMAGHLAS, 1 Nostryia, 2 Oracle Son, 3 Sir Grumpy
PLAY: Watching on.
RACE 3 - 1:27PM Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (1050 METRES)
MISS MUCINNI is a mare who has always shown plenty of ability and she looked good winning first-up at Oakbank. She draws a nice gate, gets the claim, and looks to have found a very winnable city race. ENDLESSLY looks the danger she brings some solid Victorian form here having finished just behind the placings since winning a Mornington maiden in May and looks ready to peak third-up. WINNING REVOLUTION draws out but was solid behind Siyata at Murray Bridge last week. DASKULYA draws a gate and should sit handy, he was a good winner two starts back beating EFFORTKAT who has won at Penola since.
SELECTIONS: 3 MISS MUCINNI, 6 Endlessly, 8 Winning Revolution, 1 Daskulya
PLAY: Keen on MISS MUCINNI.
RACE 4 - 2:02PM PFD Foods Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)
Tricky race. GULINGA SPIRIT is on debut for the Clarken/O’Shea stable and has the two trials under his belt, running 2nd in his latest where fellow debutante SOLEMN PROMISE finished 3rd in that trial and worked through the line nicely. LEFT TURN CLYDE stuck on well on debut when he led running 2nd behind Justica’s Bonus at Murray Bridge. SHOSANNA is a former Clarken galloper now with Peter Nolan and she’s had her chance but must be respected. AMBELLO stuck on well at odds behind Ice Symphony last week and gets an inside draw.
SELECTIONS: 4 GULINGA SPIRIT, 14 Solemn Promise, 5 Left Turn Clyde, 9 Shosanna
PLAY: Something on SOLEMN PROMISE each-way (2/3)
RACE 5 - 2:42PM Furphy Handicap (2000 METRES)
Wide open race. IN THE DARKNESS is the one who can improve sharply getting to 2000m after a good effort over the 1500m at Murray Bridge last week when she worked home well beaten 2.9 lengths behind stablemate Tanaawol. Likewise MALINONG CLUB has shown her liking for this trip in the past and her last start Strathalbyn win was very good over the 1400m. TAMETOMO is a former Victorian who has won his past couple over a similar trip and looks nicely placed in a race like this. MAX FIRE has been good in all three run back coming off a solid effort behind Bundle Of Fun at Gawler last week and he draws the inside where he can hold up a forward spot without doing too much work. WHEELS has knocking on the door but draws out here, likewise UNDERSTATEMENT has been around the mark.
SELECTIONS: 12 IN THE DARKNESS, 15 Malinong Club, 2 Tametomo, 8 Max Fire
PLAY: Backing both IN THE DARKNESS and MALINONG CLUB each-way.
RACE 6 - 3:22PM The Fotobase Group Handicap (1200 METRES)
WONDERWOMEN has been good since coming to SA winning her past couple. She draws a perfect gate looks the one to beat here. FOUR WINDS comes in racing well beating Fox D’Or two runs back this track and trip before beating home all but Honey Go Lightly last time. He draws a nice gate and looks perfectly placed again. SHEZ BETTY is on the quick back-up from a very good win at Murray Bridge last week back in class. She looks a horse on the up and right in this. KENYAN WONDER has been good at her past couple. She has talent and can figure in a race like this. TAHNEE TRADITION is right up to a race like this but needs to lift, stablemate DAMASCUS MOMENT has speed and can run well first-up.
SELECTIONS: 1 WONDERWOMEN, 8 Four Winds, 7 Shez Betty, 3 Kenyan Wonder
PLAY: Something each-way SHEZ BETTY.
RACE 7 - 4:02PM Fleurieu Milk Company Handicap (1600 METRES)
EXALTED FIRE is racing well for the in-form Hickmott stable and was strong late fighting off Eaglelou at Murray Bridge last week. He draws out but gets in OK after the claim and should take some beating again here. WHISKEY ‘N’ WOMEN doesn’t win out of turn but was good again behind Exalted Fire last start and he can be getting home hard late. STAR ESPRESSO was a Bordertown winner four runs back and made good ground behind En Francais at Murray Bridge last week which is good form for a race like this. TONGSAI BOSS comes off a good run when 2nd behind Yulong Patrol and is worth some thought. ANNIKA draws out but has been around the mark. LAST GIRL LOVE has ability and was a good winner back in class three starts back.
SELECTIONS: 2 EXALTED FIRE, 11 Whiskey ‘N’ Women, 7 Star Espresso, 4 Tongsai Boss
PLAY: Backing EXALTED FIRE each-way.
RACE 8 - 4:43PM Durbridge Stakes (1100 METRES)
BEAU ROSSA is a very good horse on his day and is unlucky not to be a Group 1 winner. His run two starts back when 7th behind Paulele in the Winterbottom was very good and he’s trialled nicely for his return. He draws a middle gate and should take some beating here. Stablemate PARSIFAL ran well behind Jigsaw in the Xmas Stakes at Sandown last time and must be respected. SEE YOU IN HEAVEN is an exciting filly resuming off the back of her Group 2 win in the Sandown Guineas. She gets in her with no weight, draws wide but she is the horse with the most upside and could be the getting over the top of them late. Stablemate KEMALPASA is a class horse who maps well from a gate. His record speaks for itself, and he has jumped out OK for his return. ASTON RAPOVA is the race fit horse chasing four wins on end and maps to camp just off the speed here which suits his pattern. ONE MORE JACK is flying and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: 3 BEAU ROSSA, 12 See You In Heaven, 11 Aston Rapova, 1 Kemalpasa
PLAY: Keen on BEAU ROSSA each-way at the price.
RACE 9 - 5:20PM TAB Adelaide Cup Day - Monday March 13th Handicap (1200 METRES)
SABERMETRIC was good beating Danish Fortune here two starts back and then OK behind Morialta. He’s a nice horse with plenty of upside and this looks a perfect race to find winning form. CHICAGO STORM is a nice type resuming and has trialled well for his return. He draws out but can be strong late in a race like this. STARTS WITH HELLO was a Murray Bridge winner two runs back and ran favourite behind Star Espresso in June. He draws a nice gate for his return and should be in the finish. IL DON CAVALLO started an odds-on favourite when beating at Oakbank last time. He’s lightly raced and has a handy record. SILENT DON is a watch on debut for the Claken/O’Shea stable. He has shown glimpses and the middle gate looks ideal for his return. VERSETTO draws out but has been around the mark.
SELECTIONS: 5 SABERMETRIC, 2 Chicago Storm, 3 Inspired Sun, 9 Starts With Hello
PLAY: Keen on SABERMETRIC
