BEST BET: FABULOUS FLIPPER (Race 2)
EACH-WAY: GET IN THE BOWL (Race 6)
RACE 1 - 2:55PM Chook’s Little Wine Tours / SABOIS Maiden Plate (2050 METRES)
Looks an ideal race for GONDOLIER, who was runner-up behind Shebringzit this track and trip last time out. He is a 17-start maiden but the form from last time has been franked since and he draws perfectly in barrier two. CAPRICORN RIDGE is the danger. He was runner-up behind Masaru Warrior last time and jumps out in trip. REGAL TRIUMPH was good here over a mile two back before being beaten 18.4 lengths last time. SONAR ECHO improved last time at Port Lincoln.
SELECTIONS: GONDOLIER, Capricorn Ridge, Regal Triumph
RACE 2 - 3:30PM Commercial Hotel Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100 METRES)
FABULOUS FLIPPER was well found in betting and led throughout this track and trip to beat Exalted Queen last time out. Has the in-form Caitlin Jones on board and barrier one. She should take beating. CIRCUS DANCER looks to be a horse on the improve and finished hard to be beaten 1.3 lengths behind Ultimate Victory at Murray Bridge last time. She should appreciate getting up to 1100m and draws a good gate, with Todd Pannell riding. FERGIE was a winner this track and trip two starts back and was close-up last time behind Oliver Grove at Gawler last time after a good run. RAHEEBA has won two of five here but needs to lift. GRAND HOST can improve here while DEXTER DUTTON is a watch. This former New South Wales galloper won at Murwillumbah last time out and debuts for Craig Cox.
SELECTIONS: FABULOUS FLIPPER, Circus Dancer, Fergie
RACE 3 - 4:05PM Fleurieu Milk Company / SABOIS C,G&E Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
SIBERIAN ROUTE ran through the line pretty well when runner-up in a recent Morphettville trial. He draws an inside gate, the McEvoy stable don’t come to Strathalbyn that often and he’ll take beating. BOLT BY was good on debut back in June, making ground to run third to The Brumby. He trialled OK behind Fighter at Morphettville recently but draws a sticky wide gate. EVER ONWARD trialled a year ago, but has the benefit of a recent Murray Bridge jump-out where he defeated Troubled Times. Looks to be forward enough for a race like this. WEST CLIFF jumped out pretty well here back in early November and must be respected. GANGSTER RAP was given a solid hit-out during a recent Murray Bridge jump-out. GUNFIRE IN THE CITY jumped out pretty well behind Bleriot here recently and must be respected, but probably wants a bit further. KIKUYU KING trialled well behind Fighter at Morphettville. BEWDY MATE has had three jump-outs, the latest on December 3, but would be hard to have on that, when he weakened late.
SELECTIONS: SIBERIAN ROUTE, Bolt By, Ever Onward
RACE 4 - 4:40PM Strath Small Engines Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350 METRES)
EXALTED TRAVELLER looked like he’d go straight past Heir Of Tavistock two starts back before he was given a perfect ride to beat Noname Lane at Morphettville last time. Draws a middle gate and looks the top pick even with the big weight. CARBONE had no luck in the home straight behind Exalted Lauretta at Murray Bridge last week. He’s winless from five starts here on his home track but was racing very well last preparation and will be strong late. He opened big odds at $11. SUPER STRIKER is a progressive three-year-old who was too good for Another Award here back in July. He ran OK behind Winning Weather first-up from a break and will appreciate getting out in trip. KEYSOR has a handy record and was OK last time behind Fabulous Flipper. He is probably better suited over a touch further but is well weighted here. RUBBLE ran a couple of good races early this prep behind Tullys Gold, then third behind Left hand Man at Morphettville. He was only fair after leading behind Ambidazzle last time but draws the inside. The blinkers are off and he can give them something to chase. CUBAN TOO NITE ran really well in the race won by Ambidazzle and he maps to get a nice run just behind the speed. CRYPTO CURRENCY was too good back in class at Naracoorte before leading up when 5.3 lengths behind Exalted Lauretta last time.
SELECTIONS: EXALTED TRAVELLER, Carbone, Super Striker
RACE 5 - 5:15PM Pearle Boutique / SABOIS F&M Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
MRS MOURINHO was runner-up behind Born To Play at Murray Bridge before being freshened. She should be in the mix in a race like this and comes out of the trial won by Anilla. SPANISH HEIRLOOM was ridden out to win a recent Morphettville trial, has the blinkers on and an inside gate. AQAAREB was runner-up behind Lyrickin’s Dream here last time and draws a good gate to be in the mix. HEAVENLY AWARD was sent out a $2.25 favourite on debut here when beaten 7.6 lengths behind The Haitian Poet. He was plain again behind African Awesome at Murray Bridge and is now with Ian Collins. COMFORT GIRL is a half-sister to Comfort Man and improved at her second jump-out at Murray Bridge. However, like her brother she is probably going to appreciate getting out over further.
SELECTIONS: MRS MOURINHO, Spanish Heirloom, Aqaareb
RACE 6 - 5:45PM Milang Caravan Park Benchmark 52 Handicap (1200 METRES)
GET IN THE BOWL was good behind Dazzling Damsel two starts back and then just missed behind Ranger Frank at Murray Bridge last time. She has been placed at six of 10 starts here and draws a nice gate. THANASI goes well here with a win and second from four starts and his recent form in the South East is OK. He was close up at Penola behind Outinthestreet last time. He has a wide gate but is helped with the claim. HOLY TORMENT has a handy record here but her last run here was only fair, after she was placed behind Fergie over 1100m two starts back. LUCERNEFIELD is a winner here and gets blinkers again. FAY’S JOY has run really well her past couple and must be respected, while ARCTIC BLAZE draws a good gate.
SELECTIONS: GET IN THE BOWL, Thanasi, Fay’s Joy
RACE 7 - 6:15PM Northpoint Fleurieu Class One Handicap (1350 METRES)
THE PUGILIST beat Clearly Adonis at Morphettville on the Parks last November, then went to Sandown and ran well. He hasn’t raced since running down the track at Ballarat as favourite but has two trials under his belt, the latest behind Call Me Shamus, who won at Morphettville on Saturday. Stable has put the blinkers back on here. DISCREPANCY was run down late first-up here as favourite before beating Possum Born over the 1350m last time. She draws a nice gate and looks the danger. RISING THUNDER is racing well and working towards a win in similar grade. He was runner-up behind Sylvan Crest here before a handy effort behind Exalted Lauretta at Murray Bridge. LYRICKIN’S DREAM was placed here two back before beating Aqaareb last time when coming off the speed. She must be respected on her home deck. NEW ROMAN was a Gawler winner back in January. His two runs back from a break have only been fair.
SELECTIONS: THE PUGILIST, Discrepancy, Rising Thunder
RACE 8 - 6:45PM Merry Christmas to All Benchmark 54 Handicap (1600 METRES)
HILUMIERE has two wins and 12 placings from his 21 starts on his home track here and was runner-up his only start this track and trip. He was well backed and flashed home late behind Jack’s A Cracker last time and is sure to be in the finish from the inside gate. MANOR KING ran well at Morphettville three starts back behind Picargo and was OK behind Sylvan Crest last time at Gawler. GROOVE WITH ME has been placed at his past three in similar grade and is a winner here. He also has the claim for Maggie Collett. HOLY SANGRIA has been placed at five of seven here on his home track and made ground last time behind Jack’s A Cracker. She draws out but is not without a chance. BUBBLERAP has a handy record and was placed at Penola behind Carak last time. He drops back to the mile but gets into this well with the claim. MINNAMOSA ran well at a price behind Sylvan Crest last time.
SELECTIONS: HILUMIERE, Bubblerap, Manor King
PHOTO: Fabulous Flipper winning at Strathalbyn last month.
