Group 1 racing heads to Adelaide this Saturday with the iconic Goodwood Handicap, while Caulfield hosts a tough metro card in Victoria.
Morphettville Race 6
#6 Chicago Storm
Chicago Storm can run a race at a price! The Trust In A Gust gelding is ready to win, and I suspect this is his major assignment for his autumn campaign. The big boy hasn’t missed a top-four spot since Hamlet was being written, and he deserves his shot at this level on Saturday. The 55kg is a luxury, and I suspect he has been trained to the minute for this assignment. Over the odds!
Arran Bay’s opening quote has received strong support. The All Too Hard gelding is the class runner of the field, and he is simply too consistent to pot. The rising eight-year-old is a mile specialist, and he grows another leg at Morphettville. The SA Derby camp are notching up winners for fun at present, and I suspect this is his grand final for the campaign. Hard to toss!
Suggested Bet: Chicago Storm @ $12.00
Morphettville Race 7
#12 Kokako
Kokako put her rivals to the sword at Pakenham first-up from a spell. The Swiss Ace mare comes to Adelaide with an air of expectation surrounding her, and this looks a very winnable assignment. The delicate five-year-old has further improvement to come for the preparation, and the 1200m suits her to a tee. A recent jump-out looked ominous, and I suspect she is ready to make a name for herself on Saturday. Acid test!
Aviatress is one serious galloper. The Smart Missile mare resumes after an impressive spring preparation, and I suspect she will reach a new level in the coming months. Her first-up record is near perfect, and the current track conditions play into her favour. She will loom to win with even luck in-transit.
Suggested Bet: Kokako @ $6.00
#1 Rey Magnerio
Rey Magnerio was enormous behind Jigsaw in the $4,000,000 Quokka at Ascot. The Magnus gelding savaged the line from a different postcode, and he put the writing on the wall for a next-start victory. The form around him is elite, and the consistent six-year-old thoroughly deserves to taste Group 1 glory. His versatility is exceptional, and the key booking of William Pike should raise some eyebrows. He will look the winner as they cut the ribbons.
Tycoon Star is racing well. The Written Tycoon colt was a brilliant last start winner in a fast edition of the Tobin Bronze Stakes, and he gets his chance to break through at the top level on Saturday. He comes in extremely well at the weights, and his exposed form stacks up. Jumping from a different suburb may decide his fate during the early stages of the event.
Suggested Bet: Rey Magnerio @ $5.00
Morphettville Race 9
#13 Persian Caviar
Persian Caviar was a strong last-start winner at Sandown. The lightly raced four-year-old daughter of Black Caviar has upside and potential for days, and she looks well placed in this company. The Peter Moody and Luke Nolen combination must be respected, and the Benchmark 68 grade won’t pose any issues. If she can find the bunny for the horror draw during the opening furlong, she will look the winner as heads turn for home.
Gold Spirit is racing well this campaign. The Turffontein gelding recorded back-to-back victories early in the preparation, and the drop grade on Saturday is more than significant. The 3kg apprentice claim puts him into all winning calculations, and he meets easier opposition. The awkward gate and he his racing pattern and style are among the primary concerns.
Suggested Bet: Persian Caviar @ $5.00
Caulfield Race 7
#5 Brave One
Brave One looks one of the better bets on a tricky and competitive program at the heath. The Exceedance gelding meets easier opposition, and his second-up record must be respected. He loves the trip more than an Uber driver, and the perfect inside draw should give his rivals nightmares leading into Saturday’s event. He may need some luck getting off the dulex as the run for the judge.
The well-travelled Green Fly looks brilliantly placed. The Frankel gelding has seen more states of the country than a tour guide this campaign, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals after a lengthy preparation. The inside draw is advantageous, and he finds his pet distance on Saturday. I’d prefer to support his case on a wet track.
Suggested Bet: Brave One @ $3.70
Caulfield Race 8
#8 Pounding
Pounding is overdue for a win. The Exceed And Excel gelding has been thereabouts all campaign, and I suspect his best performance here would prove fences and panels better than his rivals. The 3kg apprentice claim is advantageous, and the drop in trip could prove a training masterstroke. He tends to find one or two better deep into the fourth quarter.
Plymouth is ready to win. All runs this campaign have been building towards this event, and the flood of early money tells a story. The 2000m suits, and the inform Jamie Mott takes to reins. The middle gate will provide the versatile The Autumn Sun gelding multiple options in transit, and the current track conditions play into his favour. Big watch!
Suggested Bet: Pounding @ $6.00
