Morphettville, Saturday, 17/9
Conditions - Soft
Race 1
3-KIKI EXPRESS
1- ALPHA FLIGHT
2- PHILOSOPHER
KIKI EXPRESS resumes here today with a new stable. She is a proven Group level performer and a Listed winner. Her finishing positions in those strong Group races don’t do justice to how she ran in them. She has been trialling well prior to this. ALPHA FLIGHT is super consistent, he has never missed the placings in his 6 career starts. Coming back in trip probably suits as he has done batter work down around the 1000m work. PHILOSOPHER can probably be forgiven for his 1st up run where he pulled up with some issues. His form in races at Caulfield last prep might be a better indication of his talent. Expecting him to take up the lead and give himself every chance.
Race 2
4- ANOTHER PONZI
9- SGHIRRIPA
1- SIPSMITH
This race looks like it is definitely between the 2 runners ANOTHER PONZI & SGHIRRIPA. Both were slightly disappointing in their last start, but have showed talent. ANOTHER PONZI hit the line really hard on debut once he straightened up, he should take improvement from that run and is drawn an inside barrier here which should help him find an easier run. SGHIRRIPA was good in a strong level race in his 1st prep before going under at a short price when resuming. He destroyed them prior to resuming in a trial. Potentially he has the talent to tick this off easily enough, but fading late last start makes it hard to trust him again at a short price. SIPSMITH is a long time maiden runner, she has been consistent in the placings when here at Morphettville and won a recent trial, could surprise.
Race 3
6- DIXIE WHISTLER
3- SMILING ASSASSIN
4- KING’S CHARISMA **SCRATCHED**
DIXIE WHISTLER has been competitive in similar races to this and is proven over the trip. She looks as if she will get a lot of favours here today, generally likes to race on speed some coming from barrier 1 is ideal, and she will carry only 52.5kg after the apprentice claim, she should take catching. SMILING ASSASSIN won a very similar race to this 2 starts back before a solid 2nd in a tough race last start. His recent form is good and if he has recovered ok from the last start, he should be around the mark. KING’S CHARISMA is the current race fave, he is a visiting Victoria who has solid form in good level races. Willing to take him on as he hasn’t yet placed over this trip, but still expecting him to be around the mark.
Race 4
4- IMPOSSIBLE ACTION **SCRATCHED**
7- ALPINE FLYER
2- FRANCE’S BOY
IMPOSSIBLE ACTION was a winner in a higher grade than this 2 starts back. He will rise in distance today, but don’t expect he will be bothered by that, he has a good record over this track/distance (4:1-0-1). ALPINE FLYER began this prep with a bang when winning 2 in a row. Was 5th last start in a good field but gets a chance to improve here on a soft track where a he has proven to be at his best, shouldn’t mind the wide gate as he will get back anyway and be running on late. Veteran FRANCES BOY maps to be the likely early leader from barrier 1 and with his early speed. He is super adaptable and has an apprentice claim to help negate a heavy weight.
Race 5
11- EMINENCIA
12- SALT BAY
2- KENYAN WONDER
One of the tougher races of the day is this one, going with EMINENCIA on top due to the fact he is drawn well and has early speed. It is likely this race is run slow, so he can potentially land in a prominent position and take full control. SALT BAY ran a good race at big odds here in her last start. She finds her ideal conditions here today and this is a slightly easier race than the last one, should be every chance to get a breakthrough win here. KENYAN WONDER hasn’t been in the best in recent runs, but with a drop in grade here today he looks a likely improver at the least. Expect he will be back in running, if backmarkers are making ground he may be best placed.
Race 6
4- HOWL (BEST OF DAY)
2- MAGIC MAX
6- PICARGO
HOWL comes into this off the back of a small freshen up after he hasn’t managed to find his previous strong form since a spell back in May. He should be every chance to find his best again here on a track where he has a super record, (3:2-0-0) over this track/distance, he won’t be bothered by any potential rain and the wider main track suits. This is a big drop in grade for MAGIC MAX here today on his recent runs. He had class and is proven in stronger races, question mark in this will be how wet the track his, he will want it dry. PICARGO could figure here at odds, resuming today, he has a good record when 1st up and hasn’t missed the placings in 2 starts over this track/distance.
Race 7
2- EXTRA MILE
1- SIXBYSIXTYTHREE
9- DEEVINE **SCRATCHED**
Willing to take a risk and take on the current fave SIXBYSIXTYTHREE here. He definitely looks the class runner and bring the strongest form lines in from recent runs where he was placed at a good level in Victoria, but it’s the wide barrier that is the concern, feel like there is a good chance he gets caught wide in the run. Support continues to come for EXTRA MILE here, his recent form is strong despite not winning this prep. But its tough to ignore him after last run, he ran on really well to place from a wide barrier and only finishing 1.4L behind the winner of Wednesdays Balaklava Cup. DEEVINE at odds next, he is on the quick back up after being a bit slow to get away last start. He is much better suited here on the main track.
Race 8
4- CALYPSO REIGN
10- TAUNTING
1- BEHEMOTH
The feature race of todays program. This race is stacked with talent but they are all at various stages of preps so not expecting the best of some of the stars here. CALYPSO REIGN looks the one for mine, and he continues to get early market support. He won here 2 back beating home a few of the rivals he faces here today. He then went on to flash home impressively in a strong race at Moonee Valley, a track the you wouldn’t expect to suit him. The wider main track here is ideal. TAUNTING has been super rising through grades and winning both starts this prep. He has huge potential and should be respected. This looks the biggest challenge of his career and we get to see what he could be capable of. BEHEMOTH might be beginning to decline in his career but as a multiple Group 1 winner, he needs to be respected if he can find his best here. KEMALPASA also deserves respect, he is talented, but 1st up with a heavy weight, this might not suit him, but his best would be good enough.
Race 9
11- KUNGKA MARU
1- BRAZEN BULLY
12- EFFORTKAT **SCRATCHED**
This is a tough race to close out todays program. MUNGKA MARU was sharp a fortnight ago. She looked a winner but was run down late, she comes back to the 1100m where she has a much stronger record (6:1-3-1). BRAZEN BULLY is highly rated in a field like this. He will have to carry the heavier weight due to his rating, there is good form from his last race. EFFORTKAT at odds wouldn’t be a surprise, he is a good 1st up performer and doesn’t mind a wet track.
Quaddie
2,4
1,2,4,8
1,2,4,5,10
1,2,3,11
$160 = 100%
