BEST BET: VANCOUVER VELVET (Race 3)
EACH-WAY: FIELDS OF ATHENRY (Race 2)
VALUE: BEACH GOD (Race 4)
RACE 1 - 1:20PM Birnie Sanders Hotel Brokers Colts, Geldings & Entires Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
GARRIRE ticks a lot of boxes for this despite taking on the older horses. He was good on debut before chasing home Brother’s Shadow and will find this easier than last time when he raced in the Listed Without Fear Stakes at Morphettville. He maps well from gate five and should take beating. DEFIANT CAESOUR is a former Victorian making his local debut for Travis Doudle. He maps well from a good gate and was solid in the market on debut. RIALTOR jumped out well before a fair debut and was only OK at his second start. He’s trialled OK since, but is short enough in the market. SAVILLE won a recent Strathalbyn trial, while WILD TYCOON has been to the trials four times, has Todd Pannell and draws the inside.
SELECTIONS: GARRIRE, Defiant Caesour, Rialtor
RACE 2 - 1:55PM Plains Producer Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
Nice little race on paper with a few of these looking to have wins ahead of them. I liked the jump-out of FIELDS OF ATHENRY behind En Francais. On debut for the in-form David Jolly this looks a winnable race, despite a tricky wide gate. SPINOLA BAY draws a perfect gate and will find this a nice drop in class after chasing home Echoes In Eternity at Murray Bridge back in January. STAR LYRIC is another who has jumped out well for its debut and is the very good hands of the Stokes stable. TANJA’S DREAM won a recent Morphettville trial and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: FIELDS OF ATHENRY, Spinola Bay, Star Lyric
RACE 3 - 2:30PM Austin Condon Memorial Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
Looks a nice race for VANCOUVER VELVET, who has been placed at four of eight starts. He comes out of the race won by the talented En Francais at Gawler and looks the one to beat despite a wide gate. PAINTED ON is on debut for Dan Clarken and Oopy McGillivray and has been to the trials three times. He is sure to be in the mix and ready for his debut. YE HELLA has been placed at three of seven starts, the latest behind Silent Don here, and is going to break through soon enough. REGAL TRIUMPH has ability and ran second behind Capricorn Ridge at Strathalbyn in December. He has trialled OK for his return.
SELECTIONS: VANCOUVER VELVET, Painted On, Ye Hella
RACE 4 - 3:05PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 64 Handicap (2200 METRES)
EXALTED FIRE can bounce back to winning form here. He lost his rider at Morphettville when up in class last time but was a Gawler winner two starts back. He draws to be handy to the speed and this looks a good race for him. SAMURAI MOON was a good winner first-up from a spell defeating Gimme A Reason at Murray Bridge. This is a slight rise in grade but he’ll be in the finish. CELTIC VALOUR thrived on a good tempo and was strong late when winning at Murray Bridge last week, coming from last. This is a step up in class but the distance appeals and he’ll be in the finish. PLAISIR has been placed here and looks a horse who can run well at the trip from a good gate. BEACH GOD chased home Wycliff at Morphettville and looks well over the odds in this class.
SELECTIONS: EXALTED FIRE, Samurai Moon, Celtic Valour
RACE 5 - 3:40PM Sagle Constructions Benchmark 54 Handicap (1300 METRES)
Wide open race and only a couple who can’t win. GRAND HOST has been knocking on the door and chased home Hi Smokey here last start. He draws wide but the stable is going OK and he has Todd Pannell. PALE ALE is more than capable in a race like this. He chased home Ranger Cee Jay at Strathalbyn last start and must be respected. BARACUS has been around the mark and must be given some thought with the help of the claim. SYLVAN CREST races well here, with a win and three placings from six starts. He maps well from a good gate and must be give some thought. FALLOW was well on the market at his first two starts in SA for Travis Doudle at Port Lincoln and has had some market support early. YOU ES MARSHAL hasn’t done a lot since winning at Morphettville three starts back.
SELECTIONS: GRAND HOST, Baracus, Sylvain Crest
RACE 6 - 4:15PM Taylors Wines Benchmark 58 Handicap (1050 METRES)
Open race after the scratching of Great Diviner. LITTLE TOWN BLUES is a former Victorian first-up for David Jolly. His early form was very good for a race like this, winning at Sale and also chasing home Muntaseera at Caulfield. He’s won a trial and looks well placed. The speed will come from DOMINATION, who defeated Appalachian in a recent trial and has a very good record here with four wins from his five starts. He flies fresh and will take running down. MRS MOURINHO showed ability last time in work and should appreciate a solid tempo. She has been solid in the market and helped via a claim. MAGIC PHANTOM ran well here first-up from a spell and must be given some thought. SANBUCK was very good in a handy form race behind Lunar Hero two starts back at Morphettville and looks an improver.
SELECTIONS: LITTLE TOWN BLUES, Domination, Mrs Mourinho
RACE 7 - 4:50PM My Butcher 36 Degrees South Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Another very open race to finish the day. CANIDAE is racing well and will find this a suitable race after chasing home Tubby Two Tracks at Gawler last time. He maps well from the barrier and has solid each-way appeal. BARTENDER BLUES was beaten two lengths behind Hi Smokey at his SA debut. He draws wide but steps out in distance and is another with some each-way appeal. Wouldn’t surprise if DAM RELIABLE ran OK at big odds. He’s a former Kiwi who comes to SA via NSW. Todd Pannell rides which helps give him some claims. JIVE BABY is poorly drawn but can measure-up. BUSKER’S BALLAD has been mixing form but is worth some though here second-up from a break. EXALTED AMBITION is resuming but another who can show up.
SELECTIONS: CANIDAE, Bartender Blues, Dam Reliable
IMAGE:
Vancouver Velvet is Lincoln Moore’s best bet on today’s Balaklava card.
