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Lincoln Moore's Balaklava preview

BEST BET: KALAMON (Race 5)

EACH-WAY: PELADERA (Race 6)

ROUGHIE: SANBLAS (Race 3)

 

RACE 1 - 1:35PM Terminus Hotel, Balaklava Three-years-old and Over Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)

Open race. I thought ANOTHER WHINE was good making ground behind Call Me Archer last time over 1500m and getting out to the mile looks ideal. The long straight here at Balaklava should suit him. NO STRINGS is a tough one to line up. He certainly has his share of ability but has had some chances. His effort behind Struck By two starts back in stronger company is solid and the winner has won again in Saturday grade since. EXALTED FIRE ran well behind Yuri Royale last time and should appreciated the mile. CHERNO ALPHA was doing his best work late last time as a short-priced favourite while JAKAZONE had solid market support last time behind Rough Beauty but is back in trip.

SELECTIONS: ANOTHER WHINE, No Strings, Cherno Alpha

 

RACE 2 - 2:10PM Matt Hall Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)

A BIT RACEY ran well on debut at Murray Bridge and was very good last time when close-up in the busy finish, running third behind Great Diviner. That looks good form for this. He wears winkers and draws the perfect gate. Stablemate SCARLET RIVER jumped out well but was only average first-up behind Silver On Red at Murray Bridge. SPIRITING was well in the market on debut at Bendigo and improved at his latest trial at Morphettville. The McEvoy stable has a great record here. LA FEMME improved at her second start here in SA for the Westover stable and should run well, while BRAZEN EAGLE is a watch on debut for Jim Smith.

SELECTIONS: A BIT RACEY, Spiriting, Scarlet River

 

RACE 3 - 2:45PM Balaklava Prime Dental Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

Very open race and not many that you can put a line through. BETTER ran through the line pretty well in the Great Diviner race at Morphettville recently. Jason Holder takes the ride and she looks well suited here. CHARLIE’S BRO was good on debut behind Grimesy and also looks suited here. SANBLAS looked good in a recent trial, was scratched from his scheduled debut and must be respected here. WHOSEZOU didn’t do a lot in a recent Morphettville trial and draws wide but Todd Pannell takes the ride. MUG’S GAME has run well its past couple in KI and must be given some thought. SWEET DISTRACTION has been placed at its past three. OSIRIS can improve here, while ZIPADEE draws the inside gate.

SELECTIONS: BETTER, Charlie’s Bro, Sanblas

 

RACE 4 - 3:25PM Agfert Benchmark 54 Handicap (1050 METRES)

Another very even race with the top five in race order all having strong winning claims. Happy to go with OUR BENEVENTO, who has a great record here and has been freshened since running fifth at Naracoorte back in December. His first-up record is very good, he has a win and second from two starts here and draws the inside gate. EQUICHUNK won smartly here on debut and was tried across the border in some harder races last prep. He was good at his first run back from a break behind Miss Artier and looks a danger with natural improvement. SMARTKAP was impressive winning two races in the space of three days at Kangaroo Island, coming off the speed both times to win. HATEECH was good winning at Gawler before heading for a break. He draws out but the stable is going nicely and Jacob Opperman has been successful with her previously. SIDESTREET wasn’t beaten far behind Three Tears two starts back and should be in the mix.

SELECTIONS: OUR BENEVENTO, Equichunk, Smartkap

 

RACE 5 - 4:03PM Taylors Wines Benchmark 62 Handicap (1600 METRES)

Richard and Chantelle Jolly’s KALAMON is unbeaten in two starts this track and trip. He’s fitter for two run back from a spell that have both been in much stronger races and this race looks perfect for him. THE PUGILIST was a big drifter first-up before winning at Strathalbyn first-up from a spell. He stepped up in class and was only fair, then ran OK last time in a leader-dominated race behind Exalted Traveller at Gawler. DETENTORE draws a tricky gate but his past couple of runs have been OK. His Gawler run was good, sticking on well off a hot speed. CANFORD draws a nice gate and gets in well here with the claim. BEAU’S MY BOY has been very good his past couple, is a winner here and draws a nice gate. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM is also a winner here.

SELECTIONS: KALAMON, The Pugilist, Detentore

 

RACE 6 - 4:33PM The Jocks Plate Maiden/Class One Plate (2200 METRES)

EXALTED BEAST has come up short but this isn’t a staying race loaded with depth. He won his maiden at Clare over 1800m and ran really well behind Master Of Zerprise last time out. He draws well and is clearly the horse to beat. SMILING ASSASSIN is now in the Wayne Francis and Glen Kent stable and has been placed twice here. He is a 16-start maiden but looks a danger. Garret Lynch’s pair TUFF CAT and ROUGH BEAUTY both have claims. TUFF CAT has been placed twice here and won his maiden over 2100m. Likewise ROUGH BEAUTY, who won his maiden over 2100m last start. PELADERA won his maiden over 1700m and ran OK behind Armament last time. LINE DANCER will appreciate getting out in trip and is probably over the odds.

SELECTIONS: EXALTED BEAST, Smiling Assassin, Peladera

 

RACE 7 - 5:10PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 54 Handicap (1400 METRES)

CASINO SEVENTEEN is clearly the one to beat if anywhere near his top. He jumped favourite over a similar trip first up in SA and defeated the talented Biarchi before he was spelled after running eighth behind Ain’tnodeeldun in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes. That’s very strong form for a race like this. Enlist has been OK his past couple behind Trumpsta and Mr Coyne and has been placed here. He draws well and looks a danger. REGAL DOMAIN ran really well at a huge price first up at Gawler behind Rose Tiara and a repeat would be right in the finish here. MONRAAJ draws well and has the help of a claim, while SYLVAN CREST draws wide but is a winner here.

SELECTIONS: CASINO SEVENTEEN, Enlist, Regal Domain

 

IMAGE: Lincoln Moore’s best bet on today’s Balaklava card is Kalamon.

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