BEST BET: HALOGEN (Race 2)
EACH-WAY: FLORIANO (Race 5)
VALUE: DANTREE (Race 3)
RACE 1 - 1:20PM Graetz Family Memorial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000 METRES)
EXALTED MAXINE has good speed and was too zippy for ATOMIC LOKADE at Oakbank last time. She gets in well with the claim, is nicely drawn and will make her own luck riding the speed. ATOMIC LOKADE did beat her at Morphettville back in December and looms as the logical danger. She will be the one finishing hard and the bigger, more spacious track is advantageous to her chances. MAGIC PHANTOM ran well behind La Vita in town last time out and was a Gawler winner three starts back on heavy conditions – but is unplaced in three starts here.
SELECTIONS: EXALTED MAXINE, Atomic Lokade, Magic Phantom
RACE 2 - 1:55PM For Ken & Fay Kempe / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
HALOGEN is a high-priced yearling and half-brother to Sunlight who was only fair on debut at Moonee Valley before being sent out a $2 favourite when fourth, beaten 1.9 lengths, behind Bottom Line here last month. The form out of that race is OK, he’s much fitter, blinkers go on, and this looks his chance. SHADOW BOOM jumped out OK prior to her first-up run behind stablemate Galaxy Keeper. She also gets the blinkers, has trialled well against some handy types and draws a nice gate. Stablemate MUSTARI was only beaten 2.2 lengths behind Frankie Pinot in town and had trialled OK before his debut. Likewise, LYRICKIN’S DREAM ran pretty well in that same race and looks an improver at a price. CELTIC VALOUR was slow out and made up a lot of ground here behind Super Striker in July, before an even effort behind Neodium, then a break. FREDDY THE EAGLE got a mile back and made ground on debut here, and should improve. Plus he gets Todd Pannell.
SELECTIONS: HALOGEN, Shadow Boom, Lyrickin’s Dream
RACE 3 - 2:30PM B & L Cox Electrical / SABOIS Maiden Plate (900 METRES)
Big field over the 900m trip and hard to line them up. KORUTO was sent out a $1.60 favourite on debut at Balaklava but never travelled well and was beaten 19.1 lengths behind Vancity Gem. The blinkers go on here, his Morphettville trial win prior was very good and betting will be the best guide. BRAZEN BETTY was green early but had speed to burn in a recent jump-out and held off stablemate Great Leveller, who wasn’t knocked around and has run well in town. Plus, the Jon O’Connor stable is going well. DANTREE is an Andrew Clarken-trained debutant who looked very sharp when winning a recent Strathalbyn jump-out. She draws a lovely gate. OUR SUSTAR was very slow to begin in a Murray Bridge jump-out before picking up good ground, and wasn’t knocked around. MELHOOPEN ran well first-up from a break when she led and was only reeled in late by Ultimate Victory. She was runner-up here back in March and can give some cheek with the claim. SELLIX is winless from 12 starts but has been placed on seven occasions, including all three runs here. Her form is around some handy types like Garvoc and Tubby Two Tracks. STRIDENT hasn’t raced since April and is a former Shane Nichols horse now with Bill Papazaharoudakis. Wouldn’t shock to see this one come out and run very well after a handy recent jump-out. SITTING BULL ran well behind Another Award here back in June and looks nicely drawn with the blinkers off. SHE’S ALL SPICE is a stablemate of BRAZEN BETTY who wasn’t disgraced in a handy race behind Galaxy Keeper in town last time.
SELECTIONS: KORUTO, Dantree, Strident
RACE 4 - 3:05PM Brian Foster & Jock Mobbs Memorial / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable hold the key to this race with two debutants, ANDAI STEPPES and AROUND THE HORN. ANDAI STEPPES was a $120k yearling purchase, while AROUND THE HORN cost $425k – and Barend Vorster opting for him is the best guide. MUFFLA has been good when placed at both starts – the latest behind Zoist – and was well found in early markets. SARNIA was a tough watch from a wide draw at Strathalbyn last week. She found trouble at all the wrong stages and was beaten 7.4 lengths. SHE’S TRICKY has been placed at all four starts and has trialled since her first-up effort behind Lucky Dog at Oakbank. DUCK DIVE ran really well behind Victoria Quay at a price last time and must be respected with Jason Holder sticking with her. MR POCKET got back and made some ground behind Zoist here, while stablemate PENONG is a debutant who trialled OK at Morphettville last month.
SEKECTIONS: AROUND THE HORN, Muffla, Duck Dive
RACE 5 - 3:40PM Allen Bryan Memorial / SABOIS+ Maiden/ Class One Plate (2000 METRES)
FLORIANO has a good grounding for this and the 2000m should be right in her wheelhouse, being a half-sister to Alcopop by Fiorente. She closed hard late to be narrowly beaten by Allacciato at Balaklava and gets her chance on the big track with the claim for Sophie Logan. NAKHEEL went to the front and was too good here last start. She has since had a Gawler trial. That Murray Bridge win was franked by IRONICAL, who was back sharply in class, sent out $1.65 favourite and won as he liked at Strathalbyn last week. However, this is significantly stronger. Stablemate FREE ATBARA ran well at big price in town last time. OUR DEEP AGENDA ran better behind Allacciato at Balaklava last time and gets the claim for Jacob Opperman. KARPOOL KHAN ran pretty well behind an in-form Pearl Bandit in town last time. This looks more to his liking and the 2000m should suit. REINVIGORATE has been placed at four of nine starts in SA for Andrew Clarken, the latest behind Persian Empire. BACK POCKET is always thereabouts and draws a nice gate on his home track.
SELECTIONS: FLORIANO, Nakheel, Karpool Khan
RACE 6 - 4:15PM Debra Hepworth Memorial Rating 0-58 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Wide open race but happy to be with PAY THE MAN, who gets his chance here. He was first-up for six months and made very good ground to beat all but the in-form Trip at Balaklava. He jumps from 1300m to the mile and looks weighted to win. MEADOWS YOUNG BUCK was dominant on speed when winning by 2.5 lengths here last time, and although back in trip, must be given plenty of thought. Likewise, stablemate AMERICAN STORM was very good on speed when defeating Fergie and subsequent winner Mish Mosh last time out. PIERRO’S PROMISE had specking at a price, made very good ground behind Conconi here last time out, stays at the mile and is nicely draw. JUST ROLLING is back in trip and was in very good form here in July and early August. He also has a good gate. FRANKEL STAR is racing well and has Todd Pannell, while stablemate CAN’T BLUFF ME put in a bad one last start, but gets into this well with the claim on his best form. LI’L HANK is another who is racing well in similar grade
SELECTIONS: PAY THE MAN, Meadows Young Buck, Pierro’s Promise
RACE 7 - 4:50PM Anne Harrison Memorial Rating 0-58 Handicap (1200 METRES)
TWICE FORGOTTEN is racing well and was too good for Trip, who has won since, before beating all but VINDEX last time. He meets VINDEX better at the weights and is sure to give this a shake. VINDEX was huge two back behind The Ant’s Pants before being heavily backed and getting the job done last time. The claim enhances his chances in an open race. PALE ALE dropped in grade and was too good, scoring by two lengths at Oakbank. This is harder but he’s well drawn and must be respected. COOL FONZY is resuming and has placed three of six first-up, but his form late last prep was over further. GRAVITY ran well from a long way back at Balaklava last time. FERGIE is around the mark and has been placed at three of four starts here. UNDESIRE ran well first-up and draws to get a nice run on the inside.
SELECTIONS: VINDEX, Twice Forgotten, Pale Ale
IMAGE: Vindex winning at Murray Bridge earlier this month.
