BEST BETS
GADIDAE (Race 3)
HANDSHAKE (Race 6)
MARACOURT (Race 7)
FINAL FIELDS
RACE 1 - 12:45PM Matthews Petroleum Maiden Plate (1210 METRES)
HASTA LA SPAKLE made ground behind Cry Cry Baby at Bordertown on debut and draws a middle gate. The jump in distance looks ideal. AWEN was beaten 4.5 lengths behind Party Princess at Strathalbyn back in March. She has been OK at her past couple since joining the Dodgson stable and can run well here. BRIDIE JEAN comes off a good run when beaten 3.1 lengths behind Ladymeansbusiness at Murray Bridge. She draws a gate and should run well here back in class. COOL SALLY was well beaten at Geelong on debut, she draws a nice barrier and looks the big improver from the good barrier. ALITTLEBITPOLLY debuts for Yasmin Black and was beaten 4.7 lengths in a Stawell trial. JULIEJULIEJILLY was specked at odds when 3rd at Red Wraith at Port Augusta last time and draws the inside gate.
SELECTIONS: 8 HASTA LA SPARKLE, 5 Awen, 6 Bridie Jean, 8 Coola Sally
PLAY: Something on HASTA LA SPARKLE.
RACE 2 - 1:20PM Thomas Foods International Maiden Plate (904 METRES)
PIWHANE was $4.20 into $3 when she led and was narrowly beaten behind Melinke here back in January. She resumed running 2nd at Ballarat before leading and weakening when 7.15 lengths 10th at Geelong last time. She should take some running down back to the 904m. BELONGTOJILL has trialled OK beaten 2.3 lengths behind Terambi in a Morphettville trial. SHE’S TUFF ENUFF trialled OK before being beaten 21 lengths behind Lake Agawam at Morphettville in March. IN HER SIGHTS was beaten 4.6 lengths behind Jewel Bay in a Murray Bridge trial. PALACE KEYS showed speed when 4th behind Cry Cry Baby at Bordertown
SELECTIONS: 14 PIWHANE, 2 Belongtojill, 5 She’s Tuff Enuff, 1 Palace Keys
PLAY: Something on PIWHANE each-way.
RACE 3 - 1:55PM Carlin & Gazzard Maiden Plate (1812 METRES)
GADIDAE is knocking on the door coming off a solid 2nd behind Social Group at Gawler. She has been placed at four of 10 and will get every chance here. STAY AT HOME has been around the mark and was on speed when beaten 6.6 lengths behind Black Marmalade last time at Gawler. He gets some weight relief from a middle gate and looks a danger. SUNNY TIMES has been in the market at all three runs the best being 2.75 lengths 8th at Swan Hill back in early August. He can improve here and has been firm in betting. THAT’S UNFORTUNATE was good running 3rd behind Rubini at Murray Bridge two runs back and must be respected despite a wide barrier. RYAN WAYNE was runner-up here in May behind Johnny Cigar and must be respected. GREY FOLLY has been around the mark and was placed at Murray Bridge three starts back behind Punchin.
SELECTIONS: 8 GADIDAE, 5 Stay At Home, 6 Sunny Times, 7 That’s Unfortunate
PLAY: Keen on GADIDAE.
RACE 4 - 2:30PM J & J Walsh Rating 0 - 54 Handicap (1210 METRES)
SNAPTOF led and ran a cheeky race when only nailed late beaten a half-head by The Difference at Bordertown. She can run a cheeky race from the inside gate. HONEY GO LIGHTLY was runner-up at Gawler four starts back and then good after having market support when beaten 2.8 lengths in 2nd behind Katim’s Club at Balaklava last time. HOT ROD BOY was $14 into $8 when beaten 2.6 lengths behind Spitfire Sun at Bordertown last time. OUR ELLIE ROSE has been in the money at five of 10 starts and placed here three starts back.
SELECTIONS: 8 SNAPTOF, 4 Honey Go Lightly, 1 Hot Rod Boy, 5 Our Ellie Rose
PLAY: Something on SNAPTOF from the good barrier.
RACE 5 - 3:05PM Baxter Hire Rating 0 - 54 Handicap (1210 METRES)
A couple of key scratchings here. MR WHITACRE was good narrowly beaten in 3rd behind The Difference at Bordertown last time when first-up for Sarah Rutten. He draws the inside gate and should run a big race here. OAKFIELD GERONIMO looks the danger, he ran well at big odds beaten 2 lengths behind Pivotal Force at Gawler last time and maps to get a good run here. LADY ANNABEL has been in the money at eight of nine starts here and must be respected. SOUTHFIELD was a Nhill winner back in December. RED GARTER is second-up in SA and could be an improver.
SELECTIONS: 3 MR WHITACRE, 4 Oakfield Geronimo, 9 Lady Annabel, 11 Southfield
PLAY: Something on MR WHITACRE.
RACE 6 - 3:40PM Carlton Draught Benchmark 64 Handicap (2412 METRES)
HANDSHAKE has won two of his past four at Warrnambool including last time out when he was a dominant 3.25 length winner over Accountability. He draws out but looks the one to beat after the claim. SMILING ASSASSIN gets in well after the claim and was placed over 2500m at Murray Bridge two starts back and then beaten 5 lengths behind The Nephew. HASTA LA FIORENTE comes off a good win beaten Orbital Express in city class at Murray Bridge. He has plenty of weight but should run a big race. HALCYON EAST was a Casterton winner four runs back and was well backed from $3.70 into $2.80 when 3rd behind Dancethenightaway at Ballarat on the synthetic.
SELECTIONS: 3 HANDSHAKE, 2 Smiling Assassin, 1 Hasta La Fiorente, 4 Halcyon East
PLAY: 3 Keen on HANDSHAKE.
RACE 7 - 4:15PM Scott Group of Companies Benchmark 66 Handicap (1210 METRES)
MARACOURT is a nice horse on his day and has won two of three starts fresh. He was a winner first-up last time in work at Casterton before starting favourite at Murray Bridge when beaten 2.4 lengths behind France’s Boy at Murray Bridge. The money has been strong to suggest he's going to take beating. Stablemate ACTION IN CAIRNS is chasing four straight wins, all here at Mt Gambier and has been too good for DETNAW at his past couple. He has plenty of weight but is sure to be fighting out the finish again. BIG OPTION has won three of his past five starts and led throughout to beat GRAND HOST, who has won two of five starts here, at Bordertown last time. STATE OF MAINE put together Hamilton and Kyneton wins late last year and has trialled well for her return.
SELECTIONS: 4 MARACOURT, 2 Action In Cairns, 6 Big Option, 7 Grand Host
PLAY: Keen on the well tried MARACOURT.
RACE 8 - 4:50PM TAB Benchmark 58 Handicap (1410 METRES)
LOOSE LIP LLOYD has won four of eight starts here on his home deck and was too good for Bomber’s Kiss at Casterton last time out. He gets in well with the claim and looks hard to beat. Stablemate SOOBMERGED comes off a Coleraine win beating Sacred Kiwi but draws a wide gate. The Clarken/O’Shea stable have CONNEMARA QUEEN coming off a solid effort when 2nd behind May Be Fate at Balaklava and should run well despite the wide gate. Stablemate FINGOLFIN won a Port Lincoln maiden back in April and strips fitter for two runs back but needs to lift. TEXTA DEXTA was good beaten 1.8 lengths behind Midnight Rush at Gawler. SIR DOMIGO was placed at Murtoa and Warracknabeal before running favourite behind Dixie Built at Kerang last time. AEROETTE has been placed her past couple.
SELECTIONS: 2 LOOSE LIP LLOYD, 9 Connemara Queen, 7 Texta Dexta, 6 Sir Domigo
PLAY: Backing LOOSE LIP LLOYD.
