Morphettville, Saturday, 13/8

Conditions - Heavy

Race 1

2- KUSU

1- ALPHA FLIGHT

3- REDZOUST

Looks like the Jolly stable hold the key to this race and expecting their 2 runners to be battling this out. KUSU is still a maiden, but has shown super signs and should improve after a strong 1st up showing. He shaded ALPHA FLIGHT when they came up against each other at trials recently. ALPHA FLIGHT resumed with a strong 2nd placing but feel he gets tired late and can be run down. Does map to get a soft run so he is still a big change, but KUSU will be strong late. REDZOUST is resuming, his trials leading into this have been really good from a smart stable and could pounce on the favoured pair if they go too hard up front.

Race 2

2- COURAGEOUS HEARTS

13- RICHANA

1- COMMANDER MEROO

COURAGEOUS HEARTS has had plenty of chances but has looked close to a win in his most recent efforts having placed in 4 of his last 5 starts. Has finished 2nd in both his other runs over this track/distance, expect this is his best chance and he will be around the mark again. RICHANA has taken her time to get to the track, but she looks a chance here in a race that isn’t overly strong. She has had soft trials and from a smart stable, drawn barrier 2 she will have options from there. COMMANDER MEROO is another debutant, won a trial prior to this run where he sat just off the leaders and was too strong late. Expect he can find a similar position in this and will be thereabouts.

Race 3

1- SANTERO

2- UNLACED

4- KUTAYHA

This looks a touch easier than what SANTERO has been competing against I’m recent runs back in Victoria. She has been going well on the heavy surfaces and with rain around, there is potential that the conditions here will be tough again and she goes well over the 1600m. UNLACED is on the quick back up after another 2nd placing at Murray Bridge last weekend. The 1600m has been where she has had the most success in her career and she looks the likely leader so will be every chance. KUTAYHA is coming into this off the back of 2 3rd placings in a row. This is a drop in grade from the last start where he chased home the in form Chashin Chex.

Race 4

4- HOWL

3- GREAT DIVINER

7- TANJA’S DREAM

HOWL had a lot of bad luck through his last prep but the form prior to that was super. He is well suited to the bigger Morphettville track so he should have no problem getting a run late. 2:2-0-0 over this track and distance and will be well suited in wet conditions. GREAT DIVINER won his only start last prep on Adelaide Cup day. That was a good race and a tougher grade than this today, he will have to carry weight now dropping in grade which could make his run late tough, but he does have class. TANJA’S DREAM will likely race on speed, is drawn for a soft run and light at the weights after the apprentice claim. She does her best work when 1st up (3:2-0-1) and looks a big threat at odds.

Race 5

9- EYES NEVER LIE (EW/VALUE OF DAY)

7- CHICAGO STORM

5- DEEVINE

It is hard to knock the recent form of CHICAGO STORM who hasn’t missed the top 2 in his last 4 starts. He can go on a heavy track and gets a soft run from the inside barrier, but the concern I have for him is that this race maps to have a lot of early speed. He may be forced to work hard early and if that is the case, it may really set up EYES NEVER LIE to swoop and run over the top of everybody late. She is well suited on this main Morphettville track. DEEVINE dropped in grade last start to pick up a mid week win. Comes back to the city where he was placed 2 starts in a row. In strong form and looks a chance.

Race 6

6- MISS GOBCAIN

8- PERFECT ILLUSION

1- JAGUARY

MISS GOBCAIN came across from Victoria 2 weeks ago and beat a handy field. That was over the 1800m and she now gets out to a 2000m trip where she has won previously. The trip suits and the wet conditions are ideal as she is 4:2-1-0 on a heavy track. PERFECT ILLUSION has been in good form when winning his past 2 races over staying trips. His form is strong and he should run well, but I prefer him over a further trip than coming back to the 2000m. JAGUARY is well suited on heavy tracks having won his only other 2 starts on them. Has previously won over the 2000m trip and looks suited.

Race 7

1- BEHEMOTH

5- PINDARIC

10- AGREEABLE

Backing in the big boy BEHEMOTH to get this done again today. Some are beginning to doubt him as he gets older, but until he shows a serious decline in form his form last prep looked more due to injury rather than a decline in talent. He is still the best horse in this race. He has won this race 2 times in a row, is a multiple group 1 winner and a proven 1st up performer. PINDARIC continued to maintain his impressive 1st up record last start when winning and making it 5 from 5. He has good early speed and will look to push forwards and control the race, the wide barrier doesn’t help but if he is sharp early he can get across them. AGREEABLE is on debut for a new stable. His Victorian for has been solid and he is usually better when fresh.

Race 8

11- TURFITT

13- TEA RAV

8- STADIUM OF LIGHT

Very open race, TURFITT looks very well suited here being drawn nicely from barrier 3 and will come in nicely at weights after the apprentice claim. The rain coming has also given him a boost as he has never missed the placings from 3 starts on a heavy track. TEA RAV is another runner who comes in nice and light at the weights and drawn to get a favourable run. She hasn’t been tested over the 1600m before but coming from barrier 2, you would expect she gets enough favours to help her see out the trip. STADIUM OF LIGHT is the current race fave, only a very lightly raced runner having come 2nd on debut in a not overly strong maiden. He should take improvement out of that run.

Race 9

4- GLACIUS (BEST OF DAY)

11- MISS MUCHINI

1- HELLO LADIES

GLACIUS backs up after a good run to finish 2nd last week behind a well fancied runner. He was impressive due to the fact that he was drawn out wide and got caught back in the field before finishing strongly. He is drawn much better here and with an apprentice claim expect he pushes more forward today and gets a better run. MISS MUCHINI drops in grade after a 2nd placing last start at big odds. She should be suited on the main track again today, only query is the expected wet conditions. HELLO LADIES dropped well down in grade last start to find an over due win. His best form is good enough but he can mix it at times.

Quaddie

1,4,6,8,9,10

1,5,10

1,2,8,11,13

4,11,