Morphettville Preview: Saturday 21/5/16
- May 21, 2016
- 10 min read
Picture: Vince Caliguiri
It's Goodwood day at Morphettville and as always it looks a cracking race! Supporting the $500k Group 1 feature is a great day of racing, highlighted by the return of Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance in the R.A Lee Stakes over 1600.
The track is rated a Good (4) at the time of writing with fine conditions forecast through the rest of the week. The rail is out +4m from the 1200m to the winning post and +2m the remainder.
Race 1 1200m Quayclean National Stakes - Group 3 $120k
Two-Years-Old. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Set Weights.
Tough to predict the speed in these 2 year old races but it appears as though Phoenix Rising will go forward with Bangs and Rata Tat Tat among the most likely to be heading towards the lead with it.
I Am A Star was a fantastic winner at her second start over 1100m at Flemington on the 7th of May. She may be appropriately named, as the style of that win and the time they clocked (albeit wind assisted) for that race suggested she has better races in store for her future. From barrier 2 here she gets every chance to repeat her last start performance.
Phoenix Rising was sound on debut behind Merriest at Caulfield. She beat I Am A Star home on that occasion and was very green, so she should improve off that effort and be hard to hold out here.
Dissolute looks the next best, he was held up for the first part of the straight last time out and wasn't able to build momentum. Every runner in this race could have an argument made for it, so it looks a good start to the day.
Summary: Loved the win of I Am A Star last time out, she can win again. Dissolute was very good two back and can repeat that effort here. Posh Journey is overs.
Race 2 2500m Mittys Port Adelaide Cup - Listed $100k
No age restriction. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Quality.
Rooboy will go forward with Adirondack, Survived and Sense Of Occasion handy also. Master Zephyr will need luck from barrier 12.
In an incredibly open race I think Zanteca represents good value. She's 4th up now this preparation and getting out to a trip where she gets her chance to show her best. She won at 2400m 4th up last preparation and was a narrow 2nd in the Lexus to Excess Knowledge at the end of it. Barrier 2 and 54kgs are positives.
New Zealand mare Snow Secret hit the line well at her most recent run at Flemington after two good runs in New Zealand. She must be a chance now out to 2500m. Master Zephyr was dominant in the Terang Cup and then okay at Warrnambool. Back on top of the ground suits him. Not sure about Adirondack at this trip and he is a duel acceptor, but if he is here he is racing too well to dismiss.
Sense Of Occasion out to 2500m is a chance. Survived won the Mt Gambier cup in good fashion last time and is rock hard fit. Tunes, Ungrateful Ellen, Falago and Zayak are all in the mix too.
Summary: This is a ridiculously tough race to find a winner in. Letting them go around without me!
Race 3 2500m UBET SA Fillies Classic - Group 3 $120k
Three-Years-Old. No class restriction. Fillies. Set Weights.
Believe and Man She's Fast (EM3) may try and cross from out very wide. Zrinski (EM4) , Bo Bardi and She's Got Speed can be handy with Vandancer.
Chabaud ran a good race in the ATC Oaks, finishing 5th beaten 1.6L without a ton of galloping room in the straight. She then went to Caulfield and took on the Mares over 2000m and was caught wide from the 800m and had to work but stuck on well to run 4th beaten 1.5L. She's drawn 14 here and will need luck but is capable of winning.
Vandancer won well in midweek company in Melbourne last time out and looks progressive. She's the one chance that has drawn well in barrier 6 and will get a cosy run. She's on the up and has to be included.
Believe has drawn 19 and I would suspect she will need to try and cross them early if she is going to be able to win this. She was good in the ATC Oaks, finishing 3rd beaten 0.7L. At her latest run she was back in the field and ground home for a 2.8L 6th in the Australasian Oaks. It will take a great ride from Dom Tourneur but if he can manage to get this filly in to a nice spot she will take a power of beating.
Beluga Blue had to cover a lot of ground last time in the Australasian Oaks and actually stuck to her task quite well. She has drawn a bad gate again but has shown talent previously in her career and gets to 2500m for the first time.
Concubine was very good in the Chairmans but has drawn barrier 16 here which makes her task very tough. 2500m?
Summary: Again, this is a very open affair with a number of the key chances drawn wide. Vandancer could be the one from a soft draw that gets the right run to be winning?
Race 4 1100m MAC Drink Driving? Grow Up Centaurea Stakes - Listed $100k
No age restriction. No class restriction. Fillies and Mares. Set Weights plus Penalties.
Speed looks slack in this. Zeprise Journey could head forward with Metaphorical. Jennio and Coachella could be the next pair.
Gabella closed nicely at her last start behind Tarquin over 200m at Caulfield. That was her 3rd Australian run and probably her best. She gets the blinkers on today and is back to Fillies & Mares grade. She's drawn perfectly in barrier 4 to get a quiet run in behind them and be released at the right time.
Felicienne was six weeks between runs when 4th in the Queen Of The South after settling well back from a wide draw. In my opinion she was easily the run of the race there and is well suited at 2000m. Barrier 15 is a negative though.
Sure You Can has finally drawn a good barrier (3) and gets her best chance this preparation to win a race. Two starts back she was good behind Master Of Arts who has franked that form. She ran well again last time out behind Inishowen over 2000m and mist be included from the good draw.
Inishowen was a good winner last time out but is hard to trust. I'm willing to risk her here. Into The Mist is up 4kg from her last win and is at 2000m for the first time and she's another I'm risking. Holy Cow won well at Sandown and can go on with it now.
Summary: Gabella with the blinkers on at her 4th Australian run from the good draw seems to have everything in her favour here. Sure You Can could settle closer from the good draw and be very competitive.
Race 5 1600m Robert & Fay Gerard R A Lee Stakes - Group 3 $150k
Three-Years-Old and Upwards. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Set Weights plus Penalties.
Speed from Dylanson, Rhythm To Spare, Flow Meter. Rocket Commander and Atlantis Dream next.
Alpine Eagle looks a class above this lot with the exception of Prince Of Penzance, but he is at the mile which doesn't suit him as much as it does Alpine Eagle. He won the Autumn Classic at Caulfield in unbelievable fashion before a narrow 2nd in the Australian Guineas. He then returned last Spring and was 2nd in the Penny Edition before a 0.8L 6th in the Memsie Stakes at Group 1 level. Kicking off at the mile here suggests he is wound up and if he is anywhere near his best he should win this well.
Atlantis Dream has run three 2nd's and a 3rd this preparation but can't seem to break through. I don't see that changing here with Alpine Eagle engaged but she should run a very good race. She was wide and back last start in the Queen Of The South and ran 2nd in what was a very good effort. She's rock hard fit and barrier 3 is a positive.
Tonopah won over this track and trip in great style last time out and can run very well again. He seems at his best at 1600m and has drawn to get a soft run from barrier 1.
Prince Of Penzance, the Melbourne Cup winner, returns here and can run a cheeky race fresh. Last time in he was very good 1st up and does like the mile (3:2-0-0).
Summary: Alpine Eagle should win this and move onwards and upwards towards bigger races, as long as he is ready to go.
Race 6 1200m UBET Proud Miss Stakes - Group 3 $120k
Three-Years-Old and Upwards. No class restriction. Fillies and Mares. Set Weights plus Penalties.
There looks to be an abundance of speed here. Rationality, Andrassy and I Am Gypsy should all press forward from inside draws. The Messina Nymph, Kayjay's Joy and Scratchy Lass may have to come across from wide barriers.
Runway Star was great in the Sangster after settling near the tail of the field. She hit the line hard and finished 6th beaten 2.4L to Precious Gem. Her run prior in the Irwin was super behind Nostradamus with no luck. She is racing well for Stokes and draws 1 today which may mean she can settle a little closer. She will need luck with her racing pattern from that gate but if she gets it she is a huge chance.
I Love It was 3rd in the Sangster 1st up and has a good 2nd up record. Her most recent 2nd up assignment was in the Vamos Stakes in Tasmania where she was successful, winning by 0.8L. She draws nicely in 7 here and Stephen Baster should be able to give her a nice trail just in behind the speed.
Tuscan Sling was good in the Sangster as well, finishing 5th beaten 1.6L. She's 3rd up from a short break and can improve again. Secret Agenda was wide but hit the line well behind Faatinah in the Euclase. She definitely has claims again in what looks a very even race.
Summary: Runway Star will need luck from barrier 1 with her racing pattern but gets her chance here. It looks a very even race and it might pay to just watch it.
Race 7 1200m Darley Goodwood - Group 1 $500k
No age restriction. No class restriction. Fillies and Mares. Standard Weight for Age.
Sirbible and Super One should head towards the lead with Sheidel, Faatinah, Flamberge and Miss Promiscuity all handy.
Black Heart Bart has had three runs for Darren Weir and they have all been excellent. 1st up he was beaten a lip in the Newmarket before going to 1400m and giving the track record a scare when winning the Vic Handicap at Caulfield. At his most recent start he was outstanding in the Group 1 All Aged, beaten 0.2L by English. Dropping back to 1200m (6:3-2-0) is no issue. Barrier 2 means he will do no work and he will be hard to beat.
Under The Louvre gets his best chance at winning a Group 1 today. He is always around the mark in these races but hasn't been able to win one yet. That could be due to his racing pattern. He gets back and needs luck but there is no doubting he will be hitting the line at the end of the race. He was superb 1st up behind Sheidel at Caulfield with 60kg and loves 1200m (13:6-1-4).
Supido looks a star in the making. He has won 6 of 8 career starts (his last 6 in a row) and 2/2 this time in. 1st up he had to carry 60kg down the straight over 1200m and was a class above his rivals, running 1:08.82 in the process (slick!). Last start he was back in trip and did enough to win, again in good time. Back out to 1200m suits him as does the pull in the weights on some of his key rivals.
Admiral is a star from Tasmania who ran very well 1st up over 1000m behind Supido. He is better suited here at 1200m (5:3-1-0) and draws nicely in barrier 6. He measured up in the Australian Guineas in the Spring when 5th and he is a definite chance here today.
Sheidel beat Under The Louvre in the Bel Esprit before coming to Adelaide and running 2nd to Precious Gem in the Sangster, beaten 0.1L. She has a tremendous 1200m record (4:3-1-0) and will press forward from barrier 12.
Faatinah has improved out of sight since coming to Adelaide. He was an easy winner 1st up in 3 year old grade before stepping to the Group 2 Euclase and sitting on pace and fighting them all off to win. This is obviously much harder but he is on the up and can't be ignored.
Super One was a good winner here 1st up in the McKay Stakes. He will go forward and be hard to catch if he reproduces that effort. Miss Promiscuity lost the rider in the Sangster when she appeared as though she was travelling well. Give her another chance.
Flamberge is attempting to do what no horse has done since 1912 and win this race in consecutive years. He's up in weight from last year and jumps from barrier 17, so it seems a bridge too far. The Quarterback is the Newmarket winner but has drawn down in barrier 1 which doesn't help his get back racing style. He was entitled to do a lot more last start. Fast 'N' Rocking must be watched also, he was good last start and should appreciate it here.
Summary: Black Heart Bart has been fantastic this preparation and is perfectly placed to win this. Under The Louvre will be running on as he always does. Watch on Admiral/Faatinah.
Race 8 1200m Stamford Hotels Handicap
No age restriction. BenchMark 75. No sex restriction. Handicap.
Aaaaaand a 20 horse BenchMark 75 to end the day! Speed should come from Shacarde, Counter Pulse, Our Exchange and Mubakkir.
I've loved the preparation of Counter Pulse for a race like this. He won 1st up beating Big Effort who looks smart. Following that he was beaten 2.3L to Viddora, was outclassed in the Redelva beaten 5.8L and then 5th beaten 1.4L to Faatinah (who runs in the Goodwood) last time out. From barrier 3 with a slight pull in the weights over the dangers in this race and back significantly in class he looks the one to me.
Tipperary Lil flies 1st up (4:3-1-0) and finds a winnable race to further improve her record here. Last time in she settled last over 1200m in a BM70 and bloused them late to win 1st up. She draws a tricky gate in 10 so I don't know if she goes forward or back but she is a big chance either way.
Coram was really good 2nd up behind Olivier at Caulfield. He won 3rd up last preparation and from barrier 1 he is well placed to do so again.
Silent Whisper is backing up after a much improved run last week when 2nd to Shaf. He's five runs in to this prep now so backing up shouldn't worry him. Not sure where he maps from barrier 12 but Spain's 3kg helps him.
Telopea was beaten by two smart horses at her first two runs this preparation before disappointing over 1400m last time out at Caulfield. She is never far away and should be competitive again.
I quite liked House Of Wax's run 1st up and he should be included in multiples.
Summary: Counter Pulse finally strikes a winnable race. He looks the one in this. Tipperary Lil flies fresh and has to be respected.
Our Bets
Race 1 - I Am A Star - 1 unit win @ $3.30
Race 4 - Gabella - 1 unit win @ $5.00
Race 5 - Alpine Eagle - 3 unit win @ $3.20
Race 7 - Black Heart Bart - 1 unit win @ $3.70
Race 8 - Counter Pulse - 1 unit win @ $5.00
*Prices are as they appear on Sportsbet at time of writing*
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