SA racing industry journalist Lincoln Moore has had a look over today's Balakalva meet and found a few he likes.
RACE 2 - 12:45PM Royal Exchange Hotel, Kadina / SABOIS Two-Year-Old & Over Maiden Plate (1000 METRES)
Interesting line-up for a maiden and FRENCH FIELDS is the big query first-up for Tony and Calvin McEvoy. She debuted in a Blue Diamond Preview before being $5 into $3.30 at her second outing at Pakenham. She was beaten 8.7 length behind All Banter in a recent trial here but has obviously showed the stable enough early to give this a shake. Ryan Balfour has four runners – QUISSENT, ZARAFSHAN, ZIPADEE and MALVADO. PINDARIC is a $100,000 yearling on debut for Michael Hickmott. MALVADO has placed at three of six starts and looks the pick of that quartet. SWEET MINKSY is a former Anthony Freedman trained mare now with Luke O’Connor, she did run favourite at Ballarat at her last run before coming to SA. EIGHT OVER EIGHT ran $1.90 fav at Murray Bridge on debut, strips fitter for his first-up run but would need to improve. CALL ME WENDALL hasn’t done much in three runs but did win a recent trial here.
RACE 3 - 1:20PM Henson and Co / SABOIS Two-Year-Old & Over Maiden Plate (1400 METRES)
AMBER HAZE is bursting to break through with good runs behind Kahaylaan, Call Me Dexter and Allez Sur Le Gris at her past three. She pulled ground of the winner at Gawler last time and looks well suited in this type of race. Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s MEEHNI jumped favourite on debut when beaten into third behind Lady Pavli Chenko at Murray Bridge before running a $1.50 fav when beaten by Leeorbit there back in January. He was OK in a recent Murray Bridge jump-put and looks a danger. THE BULL MCCABE is knocking on the door for the in-form Heather Lehman stable. He beat all but The Natural and The Brumby before a good run behind Our Boy Bailey at the Gawler metro meeting. He was sent out favourite last time when runner-up to Deevine and draws the inside. INVESTITURE is the second of the McEvoy runners and draws nicely in barrier two. He trialled twice early in the year and again at Morphettville last month when down the track. PLYMPTON is never far away despite just one placing from nine starts and has trialled twice for his return and he is drawn well.
RACE 4 - 1:55PM Taylors Wines Benchmark 62 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Looks a nice race for KALAMON to bounce back to winning form, He won easily here two starts back when he powered away to win by 10 lengths and was heavily backed when he got back and made ground but couldn’t reel in Tubby Two Track in town. Drawn well, small field looks ideal. MARINA looks the danger having placed at his past three. He is carrying plenty of weight but drawn well and the stable is going super. WHITE HEATH has won two from three starts here and should strip a lot fitter for one run back from a break. He is drawn a sticky gate but certainly has upside but will be even better suited at 2000m. FANTASTIC MAGIC was well found at price ($17 into $7) when he made good ground behind Mihany at Gawler last time and should get a nice run with Barend Vorster to ride. BACK POCKET is another who got a long way back but made ground last time over this trip at Murray Bridge. LITTLEBITFUNNY is a winner at his only start here but does need to improve.
RACE 8 - 4:15PM Coopers Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400 METRES)
Wide open race to finish the day and I thought there was some value down the bottom in both WOULDA THOUGHT SO and SONO DOLCE. WOULDA THOUGHT SO was well backed when he came from a long way back to run down Aurman Zou at Murray Bridge two runs back before closing strongly in town behind Sadente last time. Barrier two and Jason Holder back on are big ticks at a nice price. SONO DOLCE is having his fourth run for Will Clarken. He was only 2.9 lengths behind Wounded Solider last time and should be ready to fire. MABEL JOSEPHINE has good ability and probably should have better record than three wins from 27 starts. She was runner-up in a city-class race at Gawler three runs back, ran OK behind Defiant Dancer in a leader dominated race at Morphettville on the Parks track before screaming home from a long way back at Gawler on Sunday. This will be her fourth run in 27 days but she is going to break through shortly. ANDAZ has raced ins stronger company but was only fair first-up from a spell when he peaked on his run late. SAUCY JACK is a handy galloper on his day and was a Caulfield winner three starts back but had an inside gate and 62kg before the claim to contend with. RED DYANMO is a former Kiwi who is two from three second up, Todd Pannell jumps on, SPLASDH SOME CVASH wasn’t far away in the race won by Sadente last time, CAN’T BLUFF ME is a former Lindsay Park three-year-old with Matthew Seyers while WAIKATO EXPRESS stuck on well at big odds first-up.
BEST BET – KALAMON (Race 4)
EACH-WAY – AMBER HAZE (Race3)
VALUE – WOULDA THOUGHT SO (Race 8)
