BEST BETS
HARPUNA (Race 2)
SPECTACLE (Race 5)
EACH-WAY
GRACIEBIRD (Race 7)
VALUE
FOX D’OR (Race 4)
MULTI
FOX D’OR (Place, R4 at $3.25)
SPECTACLE (Win, R5 at $3)
GRACIEBIRD (Place R7 at $2.15)
Paying $20.75
RACE 1 - 1:20PM Plains Producer Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
VINTAGE FOLLY was placed on debut behind Residue at Morphettville and then $2.45 into $1.70 when 4th behind Journey To Petra at Morphettville last time. The blinkers go on, she draws a good gate, and this looks her chance. RUSHAWAY LAD trialled well leading into a good debut running 2nd behind Arran Bay at Morphettville. That form was franked on Saturday. He draws a tricky gate but looks a danger. PIERRE DE LUNE is on debut for Jake Stephens and must be respected from a good barrier. CASSANDRA ISABEL ran well again when she was only run down late behind Gogolf Guru at Strathalbyn. DELTA RIVER drifted sharply on debut when down the track at Gawler but won a recent jump-out.
SELECTIONS: 9 VINTAGE FOLLY, 3 Rushaway Lad, 2 Pierre De Lune, 4 Cassandra Isabel
PLAY: VINTAGE FOLLY and RUSHAWAY LAD to run the quinella.
RACE 2 - 1:55PM Coopers Class 1 Handicap (1200 METRES)
HARPUNA comes off a good run behind Calypso Reign. She’s been in the money at eight of 11 starts, but only has the one win. She’s the one to beat here. ELIDI had good Victorian form for a race like this and draws the inside. Stablemate VIRTUE has the blinkers going on for the first time. GO BUNDLE worked hard on speed before weakening late behind Magic Reward first-up. The bar plates go on which is a concern.
SELECTIONS: 1 HARPUNA, 2 Elidi, 3 Go Bundle, 7 Virtue
PLAY: HARPUNA looks the horse to beat after Huntley Lady’s scratching.
RACE 3 - 2:30PM 2 Point 0 Takeaway Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
CALL IT A HUNCH is on debut for an in-form Peter Hardacre. He jumped out well running second behind a tearaway Brazen Boy at Morphettville recently. He draws out but must be kept very safe. MELODY SHINE ran well behind Alpine Flyer at Gawler when 4th making good late ground. LUCASAYD was well beaten in a Morphettville trial but jumped out well at Strathalbyn after. He gets the blinkers going on and an inside draw. FRIENDLY GHOST ran well here in August and can improve.
SELECTIONS: 8 CALL IT A HUNCH, 13 Melody Shine, 5 Lucasayd, 2 Friendly Ghost
PLAY: A few debutants worth a play. CALL IT A HUNCH and LUCASAYD worth a ticket.
RACE 4 - 3:05PM Schweppes Benchmark 54 Handicap (1300 METRES)
FOX D’OR ran well behind Our Deep Agenda first-up from a break on debut for Ryan Balfour. The extra trip appeals, and he should be in the mix in a race like this. BARTENDER BLUES was specked in the market first-up from a spell in the same race and his form last preparation was good enough to figure in something like this. STAR LYRIC comes off a good Murray Bridge win. JIVE BABY was good behind Tahnee Tradition at Murray Bridge two runs back and that form is strong.
SELECTIONS: 2 FOX D’OR, 6 Bartender Blues, 5 Star Lyric, 8 Jive Baby
PLAY: Keen to back FOX D’OR each-way at double figure odds.
RACE 5 - 3:40PM Taylors Wines Benchmark 62 Handicap (Heat 4 Alcopop Series) (1400 METRES)
SPECTACLE is a nice mare who has shown ability and looked to be a horse who needs ground in her 3yo campaign. She resumed with a Swan Hill maiden win over 1300m, her latest over 1700m was good at Flemington and this is a drop in class and distance. She gets blinkers again and is the horse to beat. EQUAL BALANCE was well backed and wasn’t beaten far behind Magic Reward at Murray Bridge last time. He’s been placed his two starts here, the latest behind Harbouring two runs back and draws to get every chance from the good barrier. Stablemate TABLE OF WISDOM is a winner here and was a Gawler winner two starts back. FRANKEL STAR won his only start this track and trip and has trialled OK behind Trip for his return.
SELECTIONS: 4 SPECTACLE, 2 Equal Balance, 6 Frankel Star, 5 Table Of Wisdom
PLAY: SPECTACLE to win, she looks perfectly placed here despite the drop in trip.
RACE 6 - 4:15PM Rosebud Millinery Benchmark 52 Handicap (1050 METRES)
ROCKATANSKY was heavily backed when runner-up behind Chevite at Gawler last time. He has been placed here and maps well with the claim. CHUCKY has ability when he puts things together but was plain first up for a new stable last time. SHELLSHOCKED beat Silver On Red at Strathalbyn back in January but would need to improve. RUSTYDUSTYSUNSHINE maps well from a good gate and has been racing well.
SELECTIONS: 5 ROCKATANSKY, 2 Chucky, 1 Shellshocked, 9 Rustydustysunshine
PLAY: Not super keen on this race and happy to watch.
RACE 7 - 4:50PM My Butcher Benchmark 54 Handicap (1600 METRES)
GRACIEBIRD is running out of chances but I’ve always liked her. She has been competitive in much better races, her first-up run behind Addictions was solid and back to the mile suits. I’ll give her one more chance. MUFFLA is a danger, but was plain on face value behind Deevine at Murray Bridge. His best form is certainly good enough to be mixing it in a race like this. AFRICAN AWESOME is good enough to be competitive in a race like this. He was placed behind Mavette at Gawler two runs back and the mile suits. WHITCHETY GRUB was sent out favourite behind Keysor when 4th at Bordertown last time shapes the improver here. NO STRINGS was runner-up here three starts back behind Azzuro Bianco and is a winner here, his latest was only just behind Masaru Warrior. ZOUSTORM has been racing well and was placed at three in succession and is a winner here. DEBBONAIRE BOY was solid in the market and wasn’t beaten far behind Scarlet River at Gawler time and has been placed here.
SELECTIONS: 11 GRACIEBIRD, 3 Muffla, 18 African Awesome, 10 Whitchety Grub
PLAY: GRACIEBIRD each-way in another winnable race.
