Morphettville, Saturday, 30/7

Conditions - Soft

Race 1

2- NISHIKADO

1- ALPHA FLIGHT

5- NORTHUMBRIA

Thinking it’s a good chance that the Jolly stable produce the quinella here today in Race 1. NISHIKADO comes into this 2nd up off the back of a debut win. He looked a really good prospect at trial level prior to the debut run and then showed good fight when tested in the debut win. Think he just shades his stable mate ALPHA FLIGHT who resumes after a solid 1st prep where he didn’t miss the placings in 3 starts including 1 win. The stables main jockey looks to have chosen ALPHA FLIGHT as his ride in this. NORTHUMBRIA comes from a smart stable and has good race experience, should be every chance with an on speed run.

Race 2

6- AWEN

1- LUCKY BLUE

7- BUBBLE OVER

Tough maiden level race this one, AWEN goes on top, she debuted in a metro level race and did place, but did do something’s wrong late which may have cost her. Expect her to improve off that performance and she has drawn an inside barrier which should see her get a soft run. LUCKY BLUE is the current race fave, he has looked close in his recent runs having placed in his last 3 starts. BUBBLE OVER next who similar to LUCKY BLUE has been close in his recent runs with back to back 2nds, has an in form jockey on board.

Race 3

1- SIGN OF USSURI (EW/VALUE OF DAY)

3- GATE CRASH

5- UNIQUE ARTIST

SIGN OF USSURI looks a big over the odds runner for this today, he has finished 10th in his first 2 runs this prep, but this is a decent step back in grade from those races at Caulfield. His form tends to improve as he gets further into preps (3:2-0-0) when 3rd up, he should improve here. GATE CRASH is the current race fave, he profiles to like this wider Morphettville main track, and will appreciate some wet conditions, but he hasn’t had much go his way in the last few races, drawn barrier 2 which might play against him. UNIQUE ARTIST is 2nd up today, he is generally always an improver beyond the 1st up run as he has never placed 1st up. A proven stayer and light at the weights, watch for him late as he should be finishing this off strongly.

Race 4

1- TEQUILA TIME

3- SPANISH HEIRLOOM

4- PINDARIC

This looks like it has the potential to be the best race of the day. Found it tough but only because you can make a genuine case for 5/8 in this field, I’m keen to play these 3 selections as a trifecta. TEQUILA TIME resumes, he is 6:4-0-1 when 1st up. Finished off last prep with a set of wins at Morphettville and a 4th at Flemington at listed level. If he is at his best after the long layoff, he could be tough to hold out. SPAINISH HEIRLOOM was ultra impressive when winning his 1st up run here a fortnight ago. He made it look easy against a pretty sharp filed from the front. PINDARIC is another proven 1st up performer, is undefeated in any of his 4 career 1st up runs, and is undefeated from 4 runs on soft tracks.

Race 5

3- ANGELIC SCENT (BEST OF DAY)

7- FREDDY MAC

1- MELODY MAN

ANGELIC SCENT is dropping in grade and this appears to be a much easier race than what she contested in her last start, 3rd up and fitter today, and draws a barrier that should give her a soft run. FREDDY MAC is another Victorian visitor, has been in good form of late having won 2 starts back. He goes well on a heavy track, if rain is about and the track is deteriorating, his chances really go up. MELODY MAN 2nd up today and should take some improvement out of the 1st up run. He rises in trip here which better suits him, still think he will be better next going over more ground, but his best is good enough.

Race 6

2- KNIGHT BACHELOR

3- RISING LEGEND

8- EAGLELOU

Not super keen this race, think it’s a struggle mostly due to the mix of form lines, runners with lack of experience and the big field could make it messy. Have gone with KNIGHT BACHELOR on top, drawn barrier 1, so should get a soft run. He smashed them to win his maiden last start, but that was on a synthetic surface. Query is how he will handle a soft track. RISING LEGEND looks close a win, he has placed in his past 4 starts. Has good early speed which he will need as he is going to have to do some work from a wide barrier. EAGLELOU has produced good runs this prep. Stepping up in grade today, was 3rd in his last start and that form was franked Friday with the winner of that winning again.

Race 7

3- JAAZEB

1- ZION

9- LOPE DE WOLF

JAAZEB hasn’t won this prep, but has been running well, and brings with him some form around good horses including, Calla Dream and Keep Reading who compete in todays feature race. He is much better suited to the wider space and longer straight of the main Morphettville track. ZION is 2nd up for his new stable, think he should be much better suited to the Morphettville track rather than Gawler. The form he produced last prep should be enough to compete in something of this grade, only query on him today is how he handles an extreme outside barrier. LOPE DE WOLF resumes here today. He is a strong 1st up performer (5:1-2-1). Will need his best to win this, but he can find it fresh.

Race 8

1- KALLOS

5- EXTREMELY LUCKY

2- UNFLINCHING

Todays feature Listed race and its looks another really good one. KALLOS comes across from NSW, he is from a strong stable and has been trialling really well prior to hitting this 1st up. He comes out of stronger level races than his competitors today do and is a Group 2 winner. Should find a soft on speed run from barrier 3. Really rate EXTREMELY LUCKY and he will be really well suited to the main Morphettville track, but he can tend to find bad luck in the run as he goes back into the field. This is a full field and again, he leaves himself susceptible to finding bad luck. UNFLINCHING resumes for his 2nd career prep. Won his first 3 career starts and rose through the grades nicely before looking like wanting a spell when finishing 5th next. Exciting to see how he comes back now more mature.

Race 9

7- AGRIMONY

15- CLAMARC

10- PIMMS PARTY

AGRIMONY is coming of a last start 5th placing at Flemington in a much stronger race where he was less than 1L behind the winner, the well respected Squid Game. He didn’t feature in the race prior from a wide barrier. Drawn favourably here today. CLAMARC was well supported when resuming but didn’t really feature in the finish. May improve for being 2nd up as he won his 2nd up start in his 1st prep before a spell. PIMMS PARTY is an honest type who usually gives a sight late in races, has found bad luck in her last few, potentially she pushes more forwards from barrier 4 today.

Quaddie

2,3,5,8,10

1,3,9,10

1,2,5,6

2,10,15