Morphettville, Saturday, 21/5
Conditions - Good
Race 1
5- DOES IT
1- NOT USUAL GLORIOUS
2- DEXTER YOU DEVIL
Had a tough time to split these couple at the top. NOT USUAL GLORIOUS was huge when winning his last start and goes really well here, the slight query I have on him is how he goes on a good rated surface. He does all his best work on the soft/heavy, if the track is downgraded I would move him on top. The good conditions give DOES IT a much better chance, he is fit and in form over these staying trips. He will carry 3kg less than the fave so expecting he will be finishing this off strongly. DEXTER YOU DEVIL at his best is capable, he is a tough old veteran who has won some nice races here at Morphettville previously.
Race 2
11- EXTREMELY LUCKY
5- MAGIC MAX
7- SECRET WAR
EXTREMELY LUCKY doesn’t represent a lot of value but looks very tough to beat. He has encountered 2 bad luck runs this prep but has been finishing off huge. The way he has been finishing off, if he gets the space late he should be hard to hold out. MAGIC MAX looks one at a nice price who should improve dropping in grade here today. His 1st & 2nd up runs were really good and he nearly should have won at Caulfield. Should be a big improver. SECRET WAR generally likes to lead and is drawn in barrier 1 here. Potentially gets the ideal run and a chance to steal the race at big odds if he gets it soft up front.
Race 3
4- BROTHERS SHADOW
12- THREE TEARS
6- MISS LANGTRY
Map BROTHERS SHADOW to be the leader early here in the race, he should be fitter 2nd up here today and has won 2nd up previously. Settled mid field last start but think if he can take advantage of the barrier and his speed he will be the leader and have control of the race. THREE TEARS only just missed last last start and remains in a similar race here where she looks a good chance again. She has drawn well which should give her a nice run behind expected leaders who have drawn out wider. MISS LANGTRY showed good improvement when she won her last start. She goes well over the 1200m and if she is at her best she is a chance. Can mix her form.
Race 4
4- SEE YOU IN HEAVEN (BEST OF DAY)
5- AITCH TWO OH
6- MISS DUNSFORD
SEE YOU IN HEAVEN looks a star on the rise and her past 2 wins have been huge. She beat home Twin Stars who won a nice race last weekend and she has beaten others in this field previously. Draws barrier 1 and can probably land just in behind the speed. Only bad luck in the straight beats her. AITCH TWO OH is the stable mate of the fave and has won all of her career runs apart from 1 when beaten by SEE YOU IN HEAVEN. She looks like she needs to make up a few lengths on the fave and the wide barrier won’t help, but she does look a good type and the quinella/exacta looks a good bet. MISS DUNSFORD is on the quick back up after placing behind another pretty smart 2yo. She is coming back in trip today, back to the distance her only win was over.
Race 5
2- LA DRAGONTEA
1- SILENT SOVEREIGN
4- FOXY FRIDA
Expecting LA DRAGONTEA to be a big improver here 2nd up and definitely think that this was the main target race for her. She should improve 2nd up having had the 1st up run in Australia and rises in distance where she has had good success (5:2-2-0). Draws much better here today as well so should get a softer run. SILENT SOVEREIGN won here last start beating man from this field. Suited to the rise in trip, but does have to carry 4.5kg more than the last start which may bring her back to the pack a bit, but she is in super form. FOXY FRIDA is another in form runner and was only 0.2L off SILENT SOVEREIGN last start but did beat her earlier this prep, she isn’t without a chance, think she is under the odds given she hasn’t won at this distance before.
Race 6
5- THE AMAZONIAN
1- DOUCER
7- THE MAP
Good race this one but at the same time pretty tough. It seems mostly tough due to majority of the fancied runner drawn badly. THE AMAZONIAN rises to this trip for the first time today and haven’t seen much that suggest she wont get the trip, she has been building up this prep and 3rd up today so should peak in fitness. Won 3rd up over a staying trip last prep. DOUCER has seen this trip once before and she ran on well to finish 2nd in a Group 1. Like the fact that she should get the trip but the concern for me is she seems to prefer softer ground and if the track is still a good it might not suit. Local runner THE MAP should run a good race at a big price. She hasn’t been far off the winners in her past couple and they were good level races. She is drawn wide which shouldn’t bother her as she will be back and running on late. Look for a big finish from her at this distance range.
Race 7
7- DALASAN
2- CHERRY TORTONI
5- STRUCK BY
This is a big drop in grade for DALASAN today, his past 8 runs have all been at Group 1 level and against world class horses. He is due a win and hasn’t missed the top 2 here at Morphettville (6:4-2-0). Gets his chance today. CHERRY TORTONI has won over this track/distance previously and hasn’t missed the top 3 when over the 1600m (6:3-2-1). He will likely go back in the field and does need luck sometimes, but the big straight might give him a chance late. STRUCK BY will have to be at his best as this is a level above what he has been contesting of late, but he has been in good form this prep and runs well here at the track. He will look for the lead early and if he gets it soft enough up front he will run a big race.
Race 8
1- BEHEMOTH
4- THE INFERNO
2- SAVATOXL
The last Group 1 of the Adelaide carnival this year, the race has been shaken up a bit this week with a pair of fancied runners being scratched. It looks like The McKay Stakes 2 weeks back is going to be a key form reference and my top 3 selections all come from that race. BEHEMOTH is a proven Group 1 winner and a star. He had a let up after a run at Caulfield where he may have pulled up with an issue. In the return he finished 6th, but it was a massive run considering what he had to deal with. Looked like he missed the start and then in the straight as he was building up he couldn’t find room before finally getting clear and finishing off well. If he jumps clean today, I’m expecting him to be more forward in the run and the 1200m is much more suitable for him. THE INFERNO produced a big finish to nearly win in The McKay. The 1200m and the conditions really suit him. Only small knock is where he lands from barrier 3, he may find trouble late if he gets stuck on the rail. SAVATOXL was last years winner of this race. Was a very impressive on speed win and he is drawn to be able to produce so expecting similar again today. Especially if he gets away as well as he did a fortnight ago.
Race 9
3- ANOTHER AWARD
9- POYSED TO REIGN
1- SERADESS
ANOTHER AWARD was massive in her last start 4th in The Group 1 Sangster. She is a get back type runner but with clear space in the straight she should be hard to hold out. 5:3-0-0 over this track and distance but that includes a Group 1 4th as well. POYSED TO REIGN is resuming today and she is usually a very strong performer when 1st up (5:3-0-1) given that she was nominated a couple weeks ago but the stable opted for this race, I would suggest it was a target so won’t be surprised to see her run a big race here today. Only query is the wide barrier. SERADESS won a Group 2 here 2 weeks ago so she deserves respect here again. She got a very easy run in front last time and potentially won’t find it as easy today from the wider barrier.
Quaddie
1,2,5,7
2,3,5,7,13
1,2,4,15,19
1,3,9
