Gawler, Saturday 9/7

Conditions - Soft

Race 1

2- NISHIKADO

5- CELTIC VADER

1- CHOCOCO

The stable of NISHIKADO have given him plenty of time in the build up to the debut run today. His trials have been sharp, particularly the 2 most recent ones including one he won by 7.5L. Looks to have good potential. CELTIC VADER is the stable mate and half brother to the Jolly debutant. Has race experience which could give him the edge and majority of those races have been in a tougher grade. CHOCOCO is another debutant who has been trialling well and has had early market support.

Race 2

5- SIR ARMINIUS

11- EXOPIPI

7- WILLASTON

Looks a really open race this, shows with the current fave at $5. Like SIR ARMINIUS at a bit of a price, think he has drawn a nice barrier that should suit an on pace run which he has showed to prefer. EXOPIPI is the current race fave, she has run well to place in her 2 career starts, but the concern is how she will find a run from a wide barrier. WILLASTON is another who has had a short career and showed good promise. Another who is expected to push forwards and be prominent, but may need luck from the barrier.

Race 3

5- AUSSIE SOJOURN

7- PERFECT ILLUSION

1- TRUMPSTA

AUSSIE SOJOURN has showed good form in his past 2 runs when out at a similar distance to this today. He is a last start winner in a higher grade and will be aided here with the apprentice claim to again carry a light weight. PERFECT ILLUSION has continued to show improvement in each run since joining the stable. Showed he can handle a staying trip last start and drops in distance and grade for this. TRUMPSTA appreciates soft ground and has showed in his last few starts that he will appreciate getting out to a staying trip.

Race 4

1- FOX D’OR

6- EN FRANCIS

11- FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

FOX D’OR get as chance to recapture his recent strong form here today, has been proven in a stronger grade and if he can get back to his best he will be hard to hold out, especially out over this distance. EN FRANCIS has been in good form this prep having not missed the placings and hasn’t missed the placings at all in his 5 start career, haven’t seen him at a staying distance yet which is the only query. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM is on fore value players. This is a step up in grade from recent runs, but he is in form and proven at the trip, should get a soft run.

Race 5

8- CASHIN’ CHEX

9- UNLACED

2- JAAMINT

CASHIN’ CHEX goes up in grade but has been in super form this prep, not missing the placings in 4 starts and including 1 win. He was only caught late by a good horse last start and looks better suited to this trip. UNLACED backs up from a good run last week and rises in grade here. He is a honest type who usually runs well, will carry a light weight in this after the apprentice claim which may help him be in the finish, draws for a soft run. JAAMINT has a strong record over this trip (4-3-0-0). Willing to forgive her last start as she is better suited over a longer distance. She should improve here today.

Race 6

6- ASTON RAPOVA (VALUE OF DAY)

8- ZION

2- JABALI RIDGE

ASTON RAPOVA should be a improver out of his last run where he ran in to finish 2nd. He meets the winner from that race again here today,  it will get in lighter at the weights and is drawn better, should turn the tables. ZION is on debut for a new stable. He comes from a strong Victorian stable and his form has been in stronger races than this. Won a trial prior to resuming here, but gets no favours from a wide barrier. JABALI RIDGE is the current race fave and the runner who beat ASTON RAPOVA last start, he is in form having placed in his last 5 including 2 wins but gets less favours in this than he had last start.

Race 7

12- STARSONGARI

2- MINGORA

8- SMILING FROM ABOVE

Super open race. Have STARSONGARI on top who represents good value. She drops back in grade after her last start run at Bendigo. She is drawn wide but it shouldn’t matter as she will likely go back in the field. Will carry a light weight after the apprentice claim so watch for her to be finishing off strongly late. MINGORA was a winner 3rd up in her last prep, so she should be finding peak fitness now and will appreciate rising in trip for the first time. SMILING FROM ABOVE is the current race fave, she is only lightly raced and has a super winning record here at the track (2:2-0-0)

Race 8

4- DIAMONDS (BEST)

7- EXTREME THRILL

1- MIDNIGHT STORM

DIAMONDS returns to SA racing after a pair of runs in strong races at Flemington and one that she won. This appears an easier field on lapsed than what she has competed against recently. This is her pet distance and she will go well in wet conditions. EXTREME THRILL has had strong early market support and has been competing fairly in this grade this prep. He is capable in this grade and should be fitter 3rd up today to start to improve. MIDNIGHT STORM is 3rd up today and usually an improver when 3rd up. He has a good overall career record and looks an EW play but has to handle a wide barrier.

Race 9

9- CHICAGO STORM

1- SO YOU CAN

6- CROWNED MONARCH

Expecting CHICAGO STORM should be hard to beat in this after what he has shown this prep. Won a maiden well and 2nd last start to a runner who was won again since. That race was run in good enough time to suggest if he can run to that level again he should be winning. SO YOU CAN is dropping in grade from recent runs. His best is good enough to win this but will need some luck from that wide barrier. CROWNED MONARCH is resuming today, she showed in her last prep that she can compete in a higher grade

Quaddie

1,2,6,8,9

2,3,8,11,12

1,4,7,10

1,9