Dalasan – with a handicap rating at least 13 clear of his nearest rival, and 28 if Yourdeel doesn’t run – dominates discussions for the Dominant Port Adelaide Guineas over 1800m at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Listed $100,000 event for three-year-olds would appear a perfect target for the star colt from the Macdonald-Gluyas yard, following an outstanding run in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield recently.
Drawn well in barrier four for Jason Holder, Dalasan should get a nice run and be extremely difficult to beat. If all goes to script it would be the second time Holder has combined with the Macdonald-Gluyas stable to win the Guineas, after saluting with Gamblin’ Guru in 2014.
Interestingly, Holder has also won the race for the trainer who prepares one of Dalasan’s main rival, the emerging Perfect Route. Way back in 1995 Holder won aboard Aimbury for Mick Huxtable and the Murray Bridge trainer has a live chance this year with Perfect Route, which has strung together four wins in succession. This includes a convincing last-start success at Morphettville Parks, when the son of Good Journey forged clear late, after being challenged at the 200m mark. Bred to appreciate a trip, Perfect Route should be strong late in the race.
Playoffs, prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, posted a workmanlike midweek win at Sandown over 1600m, pulling clear inside the final 200, and should be competitive, as should filly Selica, which finished a solid fourth at Moonee Valley in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes over 1600m last month.
The Moonlitegambler, Craftmanship and Huxtable’s other runner, Ritratto, are among the other place hopes.
Victory for Outlandos would make it back-to-back Guineas for the McEvoy-Barend Vorster combination, after they took the 2019 edition with Classic Weiwei. Paul Gatt (2000, Mowgli) and Dom Tourneur (2017, Grand Chancellor) are other jockeys chasing their second Guineas, which was run at Cheltenham until 2008.
Selections: 1. Dalasan; 2. Perfect Route; 3. Selica; 4. Playoffs.
