BEST BET: MUSTARI (Race 2)
EACH-WAY: ICECRUSHER (Race 6)
VALUE: AMBER HAZE (Race 3)
RACE 1 - 12:45PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 62 Handicap (2200 METRES)
HAPPY ATOM was a winner over 2000m at Murray Bridge four starts back and she plugged away behind Galahad Guru last time at Strath and the extra distance won’t bother her. GOTTABITON is racing well at Port Lincoln and should appreciate getting out in trip, with Todd Pannell booked to ride. SOSTENIDO had specking at a big price and made ground behind City Beats last time. That’s a good pointer for this and he gets his chance. Stablemate THE RED SEA looks like he can be on speed from gate two and stuck on OK behind Galahad Guru last time. The third of the Grant Young horses, SPYING ON YOU, hasn’t raced since the Strathalbyn Cup in February. He’s best known for his feats over the fences but has run some good flat races in similar class in the past. BLUE BEAR is a dual winner at 2000m and down in class, while TUFF CAT made ground behind Floriano two back.
SELECTIONS: HAPPY ATOM, Gottabiton, Sostenido
RACE 2 - 1:20PM My Butcher / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)
MUSTARI gets his chance in a race like this. He ran well behind Frankie Pinot on debut and has been runner-up his past couple, the latest at Gawler behind Mirkwood Forrest. He draws out but this isn’t a race of depth. JUSTEDEE made ground behind African Awesome last time out and has an OK form line for a race like this. MASARU WARRIOR looks an improver in a race like this. He went around triple figures odds when placed at Murray Bridge last time and is on the up.
SELECTIONS: MUSTARI, Justedee, Masaru Warrior
RACE 3 - 1:55PM TQCSI / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
Looks an open race. ACUMINATE was well in the market and finished off OK on debut behind Zeduki. He draws a good gate and the blinkers go on here. AMBER HAZE jumped out pretty well at Morphettville recently and was placed at four of her first six starts. She hasn’t raced since running fourth behind Meenhi here back in May and was good behind Allez Sur Le Gris at her previous starts, that is an OK form reference for a race like this and she looks good each-way value. SHE’S KRUPT has been placed at three of four, including here back in May and has the benefit of a recent trial under her belt – and the Balfour stable is ticking over nicely. TANYA’S DREAM was in the same jump-out as AMBER HAZE and looked pretty forward for her first-up outing, while stablemate MARZIE GIRL also jumped out pretty well recently. SCOTCH ON THE ROCK flashed home from a long way back behind Zeduki last time and has some ability.
SELECTIONS: ACUMINATE, Amber Haze, She’s Krupt
RACE 4 - 2:30PM BMD / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
WHY BIG BRY is a former Victorian who has been around the mark over the border placed in four of six starts. He trialled OK behind My Golden Chain before winning a Murray Bridge trial. The wide gate is a slight concern but he looks well suited in a race like this. STRUCK BY trialled nicely prior to debut when he tired late behind Deep Speed at Morphettville. He’s trialled well since, that form is strong for a race like this and the early money suggests he’ll take some beating. PENTIRE’S SPIRIT has trialled well and draws the inside gate. CELTIC VALOUR was beaten as an odds-on pop two starts back, then speared to the lead and was grabbed late behind African Awesome at Murray Bridge last time. CARRY THE MUSKET had some specking at a price behind Siyaadeh last time. CALL ME ARCHER ran a couple of nice races at odds last time in and has trialled well. DALKARA made some ground behind Beau Rossa last time, draws a good gate and Todd Pannell rides.
SELECTIONS: WHY BIG BRY, Stuck By, Celtic Valour
RACE 5 - 3:10PM Taylors Wines Class Two Handicap (1050 METRES)
PICARGO looks a good thing here with the scratching of GOOLAGONG ROSE. The former was scratched from Morphettville yesterday for this and was very good first-up from a spell beating Lorne. The claim only enhances his appeal, he’s short and he should be winning. LORD VARYS is another who was scratched from yesterday in preference to this. GLORY GAME is first-up and is a winner fresh.
SELECTIONS: PICARGO, Glory Game, Lord Varys
RACE 6 - 3:50PM Tania Louise Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200 METRES)
ICECRUSHER is an improving mare who is unbeaten in two runs here and went to the paddock after beating Real Easy here in July. She’s trialled OK but draws a sticky gate. HE WILL BOOM has been runner-up at both starts here but was good winning from off the speed at Morphettville last time. VALLIANO races well here and was good behind He Will Boom last time out. HEROES QUEST has two wins and placing from three starts here, has a good fresh record and draws a good gate, while TINNY BAR BLUE was a good Gawler winner two back.
SELECTIONS: ICECRUSHER, He Will Boom, Valliano
RACE 7 - 4:30PM BTR Excavations Benchmark 52 Handicap (1200 METRES)
RUSHWA has raced here 14 times for a win and five placings and his latest effort behind Lancaster Sound at Morphettville was good for a race like this. I can entertain him each-way. TURF TAPPER is a winner here and his form this campaign has been very solid for Shayne Cahill, although he does draw wide. SIR JOHNSON is always thereabouts and was runner-up behind Icecrusher here three starts back. ZUME FORWARD ran well here back in July and made good ground last time out in a stronger race. JACKPOT JOHNNY draws a good barrier.
SELECTIONS: RUSHWA, Turf Tapper, Sir Johnson
RACE 8 - 5:10PM Schweppes Benchmark 54 Handicap (Heat 1 Alcopop Series) (1400 METRES)
MOTELL draws a good gate and is a winner at his only start here. He was good behind Masterati on the Parks last time out, the blinkers go off and the Jon O’Connor stable is going well. BOOMER BEACH has been runner-up at two of three here. CANIDAE has run well his past couple and draws a good barrier. AUSSIE SOJOURN ran well behind Kissable Eight first-up and gets the blinkers again. COMFORT MAN has ability and is a winner here, but he’s likely to need it a bit further.
SELECTIONS: MOTELL, Boomer Beach, Aussie Sojourn
