BEST BETS
ALHAMBRA LAD (Race 1)
STORM HUNTER (Race 4)
FINAL FIELDS
RACE 1 - 11:47AM The Junction Handicap (2400 METRES)
ALHAMBRA LAD is flying winning his past three the last two at Sandown fighting off Funambulist. He draws out but rolls forward and is the horse to beat. DIXIE WHISTLER doesn’t run bad races and has been in the top two at her past four winning here three starts back and she’ll run well from the good barrier. JAGUARY was perfectly ridden to come off the speed and run down Red Phantom here last week. THE GOOD FIGHT draws the inside, was placed in the Banjo Patterson two runs back but has plenty of weight even after the claim. FOOTLIGHTS was good running 2nd behind Campobasso at Gawler but draws a sticky gate.
SELECTIONS: 2 ALHAMBRA LAD, 5 Dixie Whistler, 3 Jaguary, 1 The Good Fight
PLAY: Keen on ALHAMBRA LAD.
RACE 2 - 12:22PM Furphy Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1000 METRES)
MISS SUNSHINE comes off a good run when 3rd behind The Instructor at Pakenham. She draws a nice gate and Jason Holder takes the ride which is a solid push as he’s been riding ZANTHRON who has been placed at his past couple the latest when 2nd behind Second Coming at Murray Bridge. He can roll forward from a good gate and run a cheeky race. LAKOTA FIRE was $31 to $61 when 3rd behind Archo Nacho at Werribee on debut and was specked when markets went up. HUNGRY GUEST debuts for Clarken/MacGillivray and was 4th in the same trial, the Phillip Stokes-trained THE LAST CRUSADE wasn’t beaten far in 6th spot in that trial. TIPPA debuts for Shayne Cahill and was well beaten in the same trial. My CRACKLING debuts for Richards/Moyle and STACK OUT REWARD makes his debut for Byron Cozamanis.
SELECTIONS: 12 MISS SUNSHINE, 8 Zanthron, 3 Lakota Fire, 11 Hungry Guest
PLAY: Something on MISS SUNSHINE.
RACE 3 - 12:57PM The Fotobase Group Handicap (1250 METRES)
JACKS ON ICE is flying winning four of his past five. He draws a middle gate and gets a nice weight advantage over the danger PICARGO who was too good for Ocean Reward before running 2nd behind Metro Legend last time. EXETER has a good record and this is a drop in class after chasing home Mnementh in the Vic Sprint Final last time at Flemington. The Hickmott/Riggs stable have four runners. CLASSY KENNY was placed behind Jacks On Ice last time and draws a nice barrier, FRANCE’S BOY led and gave a big sight when 2nd behind Wild Imagination last week while CANDIAE lost his rider last time and COOL MAGNUM resumes.
SELECTIONS: 2 JACKS ON ICE, 1 Picargo, 5 Classy Kenny, 4 France’s Boy
PLAY: Backing JACKS ON ICE.
RACE 4 - 1:32PM Croser Handicap (1550 METRES)
STORM HUNTER is lightly raced and building a nice record. He was well ridden to hold off Victory Bandit here last week, he’ll get another gun run here from the inside with a few fancied runners drawing out. One being RIALTOR, who doesn’t run bad races, he gets some weight relief and will give them something to chase here, back to 1550m looks ideal for him. EXALTED FIRE is racing well and was good holding off Victory Bandit last time, he’s another who will be on speed and sure to be in the finish. SPANISH SNITZEL draws out but was well backed at Bendigo last time and did win his previous two in Victoria.
SELECTIONS: 6 STORM HUNTER, 1 Rialtor, 2 Exalted Fire, 3 Spanish Snitzel
PLAY: Keen on STORM HUNTER.
RACE 5 - 2:07PM PFD Food Services Handicap (1000 METRES)
LAKE AGAWAN resumes he was a good winner here first-up in SA for the David Jolly stable in March and then OK behind Shirshov. The wide gate isn’t ideal but this is a very winnable first-up assignment. OBI was racing in good form before a break, he has a handy record fresh and should run well. RUSSIAN FRONT won a Geelong maiden at a price back in March and then beaten 4.2 lengths behind Shirshov here. ROSE RING was a good Swan Hill winner three starts back and can roll forward from a middle gate. SWEET ROCK CANDY broke her maiden status winning at Gawler and trialled nicely at Murray Bridge since. JONQUEST has been around the mark and scratched from midweek in preference to this. DEEVINE goes OK fresh but draws out.
SELECTIONS: 4 LAKE AGAWAM, 3 Obi, 5 Russian Front, 10 Rose Ring
PLAY: Backing LAKE AGAWAM.
RACE 6 - 2:47PM Chalk Hill Handicap (1400 METRES)
METRO LEGEND has been in the money at four of six starts here and has beaten Picargo at two of his past three, the latest at Gawler. He’ll roll forward and take plenty of beating again. BARRETTA has won two of his past three n Victoria, the Hayes stable have been lethal in SA this season and he draws a perfect barrier. PONTEDERA looks a big threat from the inside gate, he’s unbeaten in two starts here and comes off a good effort when narrowly beaten by Turf Decision at Murray Bridge. SO SAY ANGEL looked the winner before being run down by Lord Luker last week. She draws out but must be respected. NEODIUM is a winner fresh and been in the money at seven of his nine starts here on the Parks. He’s trialled up well and must be respected. SPARKUP was good running third behind Metro Legend at Gawler and a horse capable, he just doesn’t win out of turn.
SELECTIONS: 1 METRO LEGEND, 4 Barretta, 8 Pontedera, 7 So Say Angel
PLAY: Backing METRO LEGEND.
RACE 7 - 3:27PM Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (1250 METRES)
PORTATION is a nice horse with upside and he was spelled after winning at Morphettville last December and followed up with a nice return to racing when he scored a 4 length win at Gawler. This is a step up but he looks more than capable of winning again from the good gate. TARZI CALLING worked home smartly at Sandown last time behind Sig Positano and looks perfectly placed here despite a sticky gate. IMPORTANT PRODUCT has been racing well and draws the inside gate. EVENTUALLY draws out for his first run for Sarah Rutten but she has good ability running 2nd in the VOBIS Guineas, she’s been placed here and trialled OK. MAY BE FATE could be ready to improve.
SELECTIONS: 5 PORTATION, 2 Tarzi Calling, 4 Important Product, 12 Eventually
PLAY: Backing PORTATION.
RACE 8 - 4:02PM Thomas Farms Handicap (1250 METRES)
THE GUAVA has been placed at his past four in Victoria the latest behind Coriolis at Sandown. He has the big weight, but gets Shayne Cahill and an inside gate. COOL THE JETS went back from a sticky gate and made good ground late behind Merchant Boss last week. He gets the claim but draws awkwardly again. OUT OF AFLICA has ability and has the two trials under her belt. She can figure from a middle gate. OUR SHINING STAR is racing well and draws the right barrier to be in the mix here. SHE’S GREYSFUL was good at her SA debut when 2nd behind Bristler at Murray Bridge before she was only fair behind Jacks On Ice last time. She draws out but can improve. RUSSIAN SUMMER draws wide but was good winning on the Ballarat Synthetic two runs back and then just missed after getting back at Sale last time. LINES OF GLORY followed up a city placing with a good win in maiden grade at Mt Gambier. CHARLESFORT was good after covering ground behind Bubble Over at Murray Bridge and has been specked as has SIR LEAPALOT.
SELECTIONS: 1 THE GUAVA, 2 Cool The Jets, 9 Out Of Aflica, 4 She’s Greysful
PLAY: Backing THE GUAVA, saving on COOL THE JETS.
RACE 9 - 4:38PM Grand Syndicates Handicap (1400 METRES)
ANNIHLATE has been good since coming to SA winning at Bordertown and Murray Bridge before running 2nd behind Headphones and then flashing from the back when 2nd behind Lord Luker last week. That’s good form, he gets some weight relief and looks well placed. ANOTHER PONZI was good beaten 1.6 lengths in the same race. He has the barrier advantage and should be right there again. KNIGHTSTOWN finished off well last week and maps to get a nice run here. POCKET RAIDER comes off a Balaklava win over Victory Bandit and that is OK form. ANGASTON was OK first-up and can figure.
SELECTIONS: 3 ANNIHILATE, 4 Another Ponzi, 9 Knightstown, 8 Pocket Raider
PLAY: Something on ANNIHILATE.
