BEST BETS CLARENCE (Race 1) SANDASTAN (Race 6)
EACH-WAY PLAY VERZENAY (Race 7)
VALUE BEERZ WITH CLINT (Race 6)
RACE 1 - 1:40PM Northpoint Murraylands Class One Handicap (900 METRES)
CLARENCE was runner-up at his first two starts before winning a Balaklava maiden in August. He’s had the two trials back, the inside gate is awkward, but he looks the horse to beat. LADYMEANSBUSINESS won her maiden here in August beating Hemsey Lady. She’s had the one trial ahead of her return but draws out. ANDREW’S MEMORY was 2nd behind Caliburn at Morphettville two runs back and should be in the mix in a race like this. VALLEY OF DARKNESS is a winner here and ran well at big odds when beaten 2 lengths behind Skinder at Oakbank last time and looks over the odds. THE CREED was good running 2nd behind Eroica at Gawler two runs back and draws a good gate. LAILA’S GEM has been placed at four of eight starts but is still a maiden.
SELECTIONS: 1 CLARENCE, 3 Ladymeansbusiness, 2 Andrew’s Memory, 7 Valley Of Darkness PLAY: Keen on CLARENCE.
RACE 2 - 2:15PM Fred Vella Tyre & Crash Repair Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
GALLIUM was 3rd at Pakenham in May and was solid in the market at her local debut when 4th behind Adore Her Boots at Gawler in June. She was OK in a recent jump out at Morphettville and looks hard to beat from a good barrier. DEVIL’S DEXTER was runner-up behind Diamond’s Choice at Strathalbyn in September and then beaten 2.4 lengths in 3rd behind Dare To Be Free there in October. She resumes and looks suited in a race like this. PONTY WELL was placed at Oakbank behind Alainge and here behind One Sky Above Us before she was well beaten at Strathalbyn last time. She should run well. FLYING YANK was $3 favourite in the One Sky Above Us race and runner-up at Balaklava previously. STREET NEEDS was well beaten behind Eroica at Strathalbyn on debut and then went to KI and was solid beaten 1.2 lengths behind First Rank. She draws out but can run well. ARTISTIC GAL was runner-up behind Global Turn at Strathalbyn at her local debut. MOONLIGHT HALO was OK on debut beaten 6.3 lengths in 3rd behind Cararada at Strathalbyn last week.
SELECTIONS: 3 GALLIUM, 7 Devil’s Dexter, 5 Ponty Well, 8 Flying Yank PLAY: Backing GALLIUM.
RACE 3 - 2:50PM Sportsbet Same Race Multi Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)
HOLMES has been runner-up at his past two here the latest behind Crimson Vine when he led and stuck on strongly. He was runner-up here behind Chelsea Cube at his previous and looks hard to beat. UNDER THE CONE was OK beaten 3.7 lengths behind Eroica on debut before another OK effort beaten 3.4 lengths behind Never Surrender last time. He draws a nice gate and should give this a shake. THE PENSKE FILE has been placed at five of 13 starts, the latest behind What A Flirt at Mt
Gambier when beaten 1.5 lengths, he was OK at Stawell his previous and should give a race like this a shake. WINNING AURA was on the heels of the placegetters at two runs before being well beaten behind Crimson Vine last time. EFFICACY had specking but was well beaten on debut.
SELECTIONS: 4 HOLMES, 11 Under The Cone, 7 The Penske File, 9 Winning Aura PLAY: Something each-way on THE PENSKE FILE (2/3).
RACE 4 - 3:25PM Magic Millions Raceday - 9th March Book Now Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
SOLESUN is a well bred colt who has trialled up well for his return to the races. He was scratched from Saturday in preference to this, draws out with plenty of room and should take some beating. KALBARRI had three trials leading into his debut when beaten 5.5 lengths in 3rd behind In My Room at Murray Bridge. That’s OK form and he maps well from the good gate. A SAMURAI MIND is on debut for the Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGilivray stable and has been placed at two trials leading in, the latest at Oakbank when 3rd behind Mine All Mine. THE BIG CHUNK made good ground behind Miss Vignette at Strathalbyn last time out and gets an inside barrier. DOUBLE YOU OWE is on debut for Grant Young and has trialled OK running 2nd behind Holy Sangria in his latest at Oakbank. AMERIGO debuts for the Andrew Gluyas stable and was beaten 11 lengths in a trial here behind Pappiana who has run well since. SIESTA DREAM resumes and did win a recent Oakbank trial.
SELECTIONS: 8 SOLESUN, 7 Kalbarri, 5 A Samurai Mind, 4 The Big Chunk PLAY: Monitoring the market.
RACE 5 - 4:00PM Sportsbet Bet With Mates Benchmark 58 Handicap (2500 METRES)
SANDASTAN is racing well winning three of his past five the latest here beating EIGHT ON THE DOT, who is knocking on the door and meets him 1.5kg better at the weights. WARRANDYTE ROAD comes out of the Strathalbyn Cup last week when beaten 7.4 lengths behind Second To Nun, this is a significant drop in class, and he gets some weight relief. APEROL SPRINT is a Victorian who was placed at Mornington two starts back before being beaten 10.5 lengths in 4th behind Dubai Moon and she should give this a shake.
SELECTIONS: 1 SANDASTAN, 5 Eight ON The Dot, 2 Warrandyte Road, 6 Aperol Sprint PLAY: Staying with SANDASTON.
RACE 6 - 4:35PM Thomas Farms Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000 METRES)
BEERZ WITH CLINT hasn’t raced for almost two years and comes in on the back of a nice trial here beating Lucille Rose who has come out and won at Strathalbyn since, and Midnight Rush (who finished third) has also run well since. PRANCE ‘N’ DANCE was OK first-up from a spell when beaten 4.8 lengths behind Storm Voyager at Morphettville. She draws out but her best would be in the finish here. CHOSEN BLONDE draws a good barrier and could be ready to improve here after three runs back from a spell. LITTLE RICH BOY wasn’t beaten far when 2.6 lengths behind Runaway Belle here last time. DEVIL DAN was beaten 1.2 lengths behind Augusta Rock at Wentworth. He draws a gate and can improve.
SELECTIONS: 5 BEERZ WITH CLINT, 2 Prance ‘N’ Dance, 3 Chosen Blonde, 6 Little Rich Boy, PLAY: Something on BEERZ WITH CLINT each-way (2/3)
RACE 7 - 5:10PM Carlton Draught Benchmark 56 Handicap (1600 METRES)
VERZENAY made ground at Strathalbyn behind Not A Single Bid before again a good run when she finished off strongly when 2nd behind Pretty Reliable here last time. She draws out but should be thereabouts. ABAN is a former Queenslander who was a big drifter before scoring a narrow Strathalbyn win last time. He can run well from the good barrier. HOBO BOB has been racing well and recorded consecutive wins at Strathalbyn before he was beaten 6.4 lengths behind Just Like Lisa at Morphettville last time. Stablemate LORD OF DARKNESS comes off a good effort when 1.8 lengths 3rd behind Crowley’s Creek at KI last time. SALUTE THE STARS has been placed at his past three the latest here behind Persian Empire. He should be in the mix. RUE BUNGAN draws a good barrier and can improve.
SELECTIONS: 9 VERZENAY, 2 Aban, 1 Hobo Bob, 4 Salute The Stars PLAY: Something on VERZENAY each-way.