WIN: VALENTIGRA (Race 1)
EACH-WAY: Riverside Rock (Race 2)
VALUE: NAVY COMMANDER (Race 6)
RACE 1 - 1:35PM Dempsey's Saddlery & Feed Supplies Two-Year-Old Benchmark 58 Handicap (1210 METRES)
The McEvoy stable don’t come to Port Lincoln often and VALENTIGRA wears blinkers for her debut. She trialled nicely behind Knightstown, who won smartly on debut in town, at Morphettville, and the $2 is appealing. ROXY BLUE is the obvious danger. She looked smart winning by four lengths here on debut. She draws out but is going to be in the finish. BROHARE wears blinkers, while BOLD DISCENT draws a good gate and has Jason Holder in the saddle. That pair have the benefit of race experience, DENMANSURA was interfered with early before working home OK in a Morphettville jump-out.
SELECTIONS: VALENTIGRA, Roxy Blue, Bold Discent
RACE 2 - 2:10PM Del Giornos Café Restaurant Three-Year-Old Benchmark 62 Handicap (1210 METRES)
RIVERSIDE ROCK won well on debut here and has been placed at his two runs since. Jason Holder rides from a good barrier and he looks a good each-way chance. ISA SECRET has been placed at all three starts here since winning a Penola maiden back in early December and gets in well via the claim. He has come up very short and will take some beating. BETTA EDDIE was an Oakbank winner two starts back and then OK here last time behind Spanish Heirloom. STRIP CLUB has been placed at 4 of 13 starts and was runner-up here two starts back, ROVER GAMBLER draws a good gate and must be respected. EXPRESS ZONE is in good hands, while TWO HANDS had market support on debut.
SELECTIONS: RIVERSIDE ROCK, Isa Secret, Betta Edie
RACE 3 - 2:45PM Kevin Drewitt Memorial Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000 METRES)
SUPERHARD is a former Victorian who was far from disgraced on debut for his new stable at Listed level, boxing on OK when beaten 6.9 lengths in the Durbridge behind Behemoth. He gets in OK with the claim and is a three-time winner over the 1000m trip, plus has the inside gate. ROCK HARD was back to winning form here four starts back and then followed up with a Gawler win in handy company. His past couple have been OK and he’ll be on speed with no weight after the claim. RUBY’S REWARD was good behind Call Me Curtis at Morphettville back in December and this is a drop in class on last start behind Can’tforgetyou. TINTAGEL ROCKER has been thereabouts his past couple and won’t know himself carrying 51kg. He has won 13 races this track and trip. ARTFUL RAMBLER has won six of 16 this track and trip and he draws to get a nice run from barrier two. He’s already had market support.
SELECTIONS: SUPERHARD, Rock Hard, Artful Gambler
RACE 4 - 3:25PM Leader Distributors Benchmark 62 Handicap (1390 METRES)
The market has this a race in two after some scratchings and LEONARDA has already been well tried. His recent form has been solid and was a winner here three starts back. I liked his latest effort making ground when second behind Icecrusher at Gawler and he looks suited here. GALAXY FALLS ran well behind Sassy Maneuver last time and draws a good barrier with Paul Gatt taking the ride. ARTFUL AMBITION gets out in trip after making ground behind Justica last time and doesn’t really know how to run a bad race. RELAXED won twice here in Dec/Jan and was sent out favourite last time. JOURNICA can run into the multiples.
SELECTIONS: LEONARDA, Galaxy Falls, Artful Ambition
RACE 5 - 4:03PM Thomas Foods International 2021 Port Lincoln Cup Prelude (1750 METRES)
Really good race where there could be some speed. ANALYTICA has performed well in some good races and comes here second-up after chasing home a red-hot Ritratto last time at Morphettville. He’s a dual winner at the mile and sure to appreciate the drop in class and a good gate. BAJAN was a winner here at his only try and I thought he ran well first-up this time in but his past few runs have only been fair. He draws a good gate and would appreciate a strong tempo, but looks a big improver. MIDNGHT BRAWLER is flying, having won three of his past four. He draws out but will roll forward where he runs his best races. BRAMFIELD is back from a Victorian campaign having chased home the likes of Westwood and Classic Weiwei but is back sharply in distance and unwanted in early betting. PAULO PRINCE has appeal from an inside gate and was specked when he got back behind Midnight Brawler last time. WITCH KID has won three of 7 this track and trip and was too good for Bear Arms last time out. KINGSON draws well and looks well over the odds.
SELECTIONS: ANALYTICA, Bajan, Paulo Prince
RACE 6 - 4:33PM Peter Treloar Member for Flinders Rating 0-58 Handicap (1000 METRES)
NAVY COMMANDER was very impressive first-up in SA when he came from a long way back to win in maiden grade. He’s up in class but does look an attractive price again from a good barrier with Kayla Crowther again in the saddle. CENTREFIELD was well backed to win his maiden here in October and then well backed again behind Social Media. Jason Holder can help overcome a sticky gate and he looks a horse with upside. BOTTLE AND BIRD was a $2.60 favourite last time at Lock when disappointing but has won two of seven this track and trip. He draws out but has a claim and looks in this. MAIDEN GRACE has a good record this track and trip, and beat Bedloe’s Island two starts back. He draws wide but gets in well with the claim. CALL ME HERBIE is unbeaten from two starts this track and trip and drops back sharply in distance.
NAVY COMMANDER, Centrefield, Bottle And Bird
RACE 7 - 5:10PM DK Quarries Four-Year-Old & Up Benchmark 58 Handicap (1210 METRES)
PHYLA VELL had specking first-up in SA when beaten two lengths at Gawler behind Cotillion. Her Victorian form was good and she should take some beating here. ROCKFACE LOUIE is bursting to win a race and has been placed at four of his past five here, but will need to overcome a sticky wide gate. CELERITATE REGEM was a Mornington winner before coming to SA and drifting in betting behind Justica. He has had early market support. DASKULYA draws a good gate and is well suited via a claim. TAJAVEDO has won four of 15 this track and trip and comes off an easy Lock win last week, but is poorly drawn. I GOT STRINGS could be an improver here at big odds.
SELECTIONS: PHYLA VELL, Rockface Louie, Celeritate Regem
IMAGE:
Lincoln Moore has selected Superhard in race three at Port Lincoln today.
