The ‘City of Churches’ is again front and centre this Saturday for the running of the Group 1 South Australian Derby. With the Listed Port Adelaide Cup and Adelaide Guineas also featuring on the monster racing card, a bumper local crowd is expected at magnificent Morphettville. Around the grounds, Hawkesbury host their annual stand-alone meeting, while in Victoria racing returns to Caulfield with an interesting appearance from the evergreen Pride Of Jenni.
Morphettville Race 6
#2 Basilinna
Basilinna is racing well at present. The Staphanos mare will appreciate the longer trip on Saturday, and I suspect she will receive the run of the race from a perfect inside draw. The form around her is rock-solid, and I suspect she has the fitness edge on the majority of her rivals. The 54kg is a luxury; she will figure in the finish with even luck in transit. Hard to toss!
Silent Surrente is the class runner of the field. The Fiorente mare will appreciate the significant drop-in class, and her best performance here could be fences and panels better than her rivals. The Adelaide Cup winner will eat up every inch of the 2500m, and her record at Morphettville speaks volumes. I fear this event may be an afterthought.
Suggested Bet: Basilinna @ $3.00
Morphettville Race 7
#1 Somewhere
Somewhere looks talented. The lightly raced three-year-old performed well at Bendigo without threatening, and I suspect the step up in distance plays into his favour. The Puissance De Lune gelding strips fitter after his first-up performance, and I expect him to occupy the box-seat throughout from the perfect inside draw. Mark Zahra will attract further market support, and the current track conditions suit him to a tee. He may need some luck getting off the dulex as they run for the doctor.
On Display will have plenty of supporters after turning heads this campaign in some hot-form races. The Fastnet Rock filly looks dangerous on the quick back-up, and I suspect she is ready to peak on Saturday. From the awkward draw, she will sit midfield with cover, and if she is presented with her run at the right time, I expect her to figure in the finish. Her record at the distance is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Somewhere @ $6.00
#2 Statuario
Statuario has one hoof on the till! The D’argento gelding was a dominant winner over 2400m at his latest outing, and he looks well placed in this company. The big boy is rock-hard fit after a lengthy and fruitful campaign, and I suspect this event has been a long-range target from the astute camp. Barrier three should allow the progressive type to sit closer in the run, and if he sees clear air as they swing for home, I expect him to prove too strong late.
Goldrush Guru has promised the world and delivered an atlas this campaign. The American Pharoah colt will be suited by the longer trip, and he is too classy on his day to dismiss. The awkward barrier doesn’t help his plight, and I am unsure he suited on top of the ground. If he can recapture his mojo from the spring, he can make his presence felt late. Take on trust!
Suggested Bet: Statuario @ $3.50
Hawkesbury Race 6
#13 Candlewick
Candlewick has made an impressive start to her racing career. The Pierro filly has upside for days, and she deserves her shot at this level on Saturday. The step out in trip is ideal at this stage of her campaign, and the current track conditions play into her favour. The 54kg is luxurious, and I expect her quote to shorten significantly before the barriers open at 2.15 pm. Acid Test.
Snitzanova resumes with an air of expectation. The Snitzel filly was airborne during the spring, and a recent barrier trial looked ominous. The 1400m suits fresh, and the astute camp have a massive opinion on the talented three-year-old. She is ultra-versatile, and I expect the market to gravitate towards her late in betting. The awkward barrier draw is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Candlewick @ $5.00
Hawkesbury Race 8
#12 Matcha Latte
Matcha Latte is winning for fun at present. The Maurice gelding is chasing a hat-trick of victories, and he has been crying out for the mile since the moon landing. The big boy will roll forward from the middle gate, and if he can find the bunny uncontested during the race’s early stages, he may prove hard to run down. The handicapper has missed him with the 53.5kg, and he handles the sting out of the track. Hard to toss.
Punch Lane will start race favourite after producing an impressive last-start victory at Randwick. The So You Think gelding looks poised to strike from a perfect inside draw, and the step out in trip is advantageous. The rising six-year-old has been smashed in early betting and is undefeated in the wet. If he can find a prominent position during the race’s early stages, he will loom to win. Too consistent to pot!
Suggested Bet: Matcha Latte @ $5.00
Caulfield Race 8
#1 Pride Of Jenni
Pride Of Jenni returns to racing after a significant Group 1 Australian Cup failure. The crowd-pleasing frontrunner was a shadow of her former self, and I suspect she faces the crossroads of her career on Saturday. The Pride Of Dubai mare meets her easiest assignment for many years, and her best performance here could destroy her rivals by a furlong. Bang or bust for the Queen?
Pounding has been heavily supported to lower the flag of the former Australasian horse of the year. Both runs have been good without winning this campaign, and I suspect he is ready to peak third-up from a spell. The current track conditions are ideal, and I suspect he will get the perfect cart into the contest. He tends to find one or two better at the pointy end of the contest.
Suggested Bet: Pride Of Jenni @ $2.50
