The wrap of South Australia’s late spring highlight – SA Finals Day for 2025.
Three days between runs does the trick in Rebel Raider
Richard and Chantelle Jolly are not in the habit of backing their horses up so soon in the same week but the strategy was successful with Mostly For Show ($10) in the Rebel Raider Series Final (1200m) for three-year-olds.
The colt was beaten by a narrow margin at Murray Bridge on Wednesday and it was a case of ‘why not’ for the Jollys to send him around again at Morphettville.
“He’s a fat colt and he just needs racing,” Richard said.
“Last preparation he got better with each run and he just got beaten in the Sires’ but we ran out of races to run him in so we had to spell him.
“He is genuine but I knew on Wednesday that he just knocked up because he’s fat.
“The last time I would have backed up a horse in three days would have been 20 years ago.”
A significant win, Eventually
A rain affected track brought no concerns for Eventually ($7.50) with Teagan Voorham aboard in a last lunge victory in the staying contest, the Skybeau Series Final (2500m).
It was an emotional win for trainer Sarah Rutten who acknowledged a special moment for one of the seven-year-old’s part owners.
“Mick O’Loughlin does a lot for the stable and he’s got cancer,” Rutten said.
“I gifted him a percentage in this horse and he goes and feeds her a bunch of thistles every day. He loves her.
“To see her win today adds a bit more meaning as he’s quite sick.”
Winless since December, Rutten said that she had Adelaide Cup aspirations for Eventually this year but surgery to remove two bone chips scuppered those plans earlier this year.
Oxford Blue lifts for Mile Final
The gelding was a beaten favourite last start at Bordertown but with Campbell Rawiller in the saddle, Oxford Blue would not be denied in the Country Mile Final (1600m) as the $2.80 favourite.
Looking beaten when entering the Morphettville straight, the four-year-old raised another effort in the last 150 metres when Crown Mint ($21) looked to have the race in his keeping.
Previously trained in Victoria, Oxford Blue transferred to Stephen Theodore’s stable in July this year.
A winner over a mile here in testing conditions, Oxford Blue had previously shown staying potential earlier having finished third in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) in October 2024.
Nothing Vexatious about Rawiller’s form
Campbell Rawiller notched a running double steering Vexatious Dancer ($#) to victory in the Country Sprint Series Final (1200m) at benchmark 70 level.
Trained by Nicole Irwin, the five-year-old mare followed up on the winning outing at Bordertown last start to take out the $65,000 event.
Significantly for trainer Nicole Irwin, this was her 204th career winner for an 11% strike-rate according to Racing and Sports with a positive return on investment of 1.21 across more than 1800 runners through her career.
“It looked ugly to the eye, the ride at Bordertown, and it was,” Rawiller said.
“But gear and getting up in trip made the difference.”
Tough Storm defies them again
Dropping back in distance suited reliable galloper Chicago Storm ($12) to take out one of the highlights of the day, the Gytrash Series Final over 1200-metres.
The seven-year-old’s record now stands at 32 starts for 11 wins and 10 placings including two victories this preparation and both with top SA jockey Rochelle Milnes aboard.
“Whether he would come back to form now was the trick as he proved himself when he was a younger horse,” Milnes said.
“He’s older now and he’s a lot more settled so it is good for him to find that form again.
Crowther acknowledges the horse’s effort to carry 60-kilos especially in the testing weather and conditions.
Komachi, Clarken and Crowther on Happy Trails
Komachi began will from the barriers and set the scene to upset race favourite Dual Pressure ($#) in the Happy Trails Series Final (1600m).
While Dual Pressure was in a winning position at the top of the straight, Komachi handled the soft track better in the run home.
“He’s an old grump to ride,” jockey Kayla Crowther said of the seven-year-old.
“He’s pretty good now but he was probably worse a year ago but he has settled down a lot.
“He used to take off in his gallops and you were a passenger on him but he has really come back and is working really nicely this time.
Crowther noted that coming from behind in the run and ‘creeping up on them’ is the key to having this horse in a winning postion.
Worsfold’s unrestricted in dashing display
He might not have bullocked through the field like his form West Coast premiership captain’s namesake but Worsfold ($11) was given as much of a dream steer as one would hope for in winning the Restricted Series Final (1800m).
Jockey Todd Pannell had the nine-year-old settled with cover in the early stages of the journey and pulled out to the centre of the Morphettville track to draw away for a 4½-length victory.
He took his record to six wins and eight placings in 33 starts which has included a consistent preparation this time of two seconds with this victory.
“He quickened like he was on top of the ground,” Pannell said.
“He did a good job carrying 63½-kilos last start and still carried 60 today.”
Punters knocked out in the Viddora
Caitlin Tootell gave quaddie players a clip when she steered Starlite Valley to victory in the Viddora Series Final (1200m) at $41.
Significantly, the win edged the 28-year-old closer to a major milestone with her 99th career victory.
For the seven-year-old Kym Healy-trained mare it was her first win since taking out a benchmark 78 race at Morphettville in June 2024.
A century for Tootel
Another running double to remember and this time for Tootell with Ginner Sinner’s win in the Riziz Series Final (1200m).
The 28-year-old notched her 100th career winner aboard the $4.60 favourite in a time that began with her first ride at Murray Bridge in January 2023.
Currently sitting second on the South Australian Jockeys’ Premiership table, Tootell took her 2025/26 season tally to 30 winners.
Riziz Series Final | Ginger SinnerGinger Sinner provides Caitlin Tootell with her 100th winner of her careerCh. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our appREPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/eG2rh9b7YY
