A strong nine race card has been assembled for Morphettville this Saturday where it is Christmas Handicap Day. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is out thirteen metres from the 1200m-Winning Post; Out nine metres for the remainder.
Christmas Handicap 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Christmas Handicap
Race 1. (13:06) Derek Bonner's 50th Plate 1050m
Tricky juvenile race to start the meeting. I’m with 3 Yulong Turbo (Bet Now: $3.00), on debut for the Hayes/Dabernig team. He comes here off the back of a jumpout win at Flemington where he led throughout and was strong to the line and through it in winning. Stable gets Vorster to steer for start one and this race, as a whole, looks weak.
Market will be fascinating with 1 Own The Night (Bet Now: $2.25), who is having start two for Maher/Eustace. Debuted during Cup Week at Flemington in the Maribyrnong Plate when down the track behind Finance Tycoon and was found to be lame post race. Subsequent trial was good and stable has a great record when they bring them to SA.
4 Bleriot (Bet Now: $4.60) is third pick but she’s right in this I feel. Trialled and jumped out well prior to debuting here two weeks ago where she chased strongly from off the speed, but was just no match for what looks a smart animal in Gulf Of Suez. Has the run under the belt and Zechner is really riding well at the moment.
Race 2. (13:41) Holdfast Insurance (bm66) 1200m
I’m keen on 6 Alotafun (Bet Now: $5.50) measuring up to these. Is having start two for Shayne Cahill after an electric debut maiden win at Gawler. Wide no cover for the trip but she still powered clear late, was dominant and ran very sharp time relative to the meeting with her time being a tick under six lengths faster than the benchmark race the same afternoon. Think she’s smart and can take this out.
1 Winning Weather (Bet Now: $2.30) is three weeks between runs for the Macdonald/Gluyas team since leading throughout to win over 1250m on the Parks track. Was there to be beaten but found plenty under pressure and was too good. Harder here but the form around her reads quite well and back to 1200m is no issue.
5 The Big Goodbye (Bet Now: $3.20) has done a good job this time in. Got his maiden win out of the way two back at Port Lincoln before racing here two weeks ago where he was off the speed and tried hard, but couldn’t wear down stablemate Alleboom, who was in front and near the rail, which was the A1 spot to be for the afternoon. Off that, hard to beat here.
Race 3. (14:16) Furphy Hcp (c2) 1050m
I’m keen on 1 Mayan (Bet Now: $6.00). Team McEvoy trained gelding that had two runs in the Spring. Found wet tracks on both occasions and didn’t really travel at all in each run. Has been given a couple of months break, he finds firmer footing here from gate one, sitting off a hot speed…his best would see him win. Market will be a good guide.
8 Baraconi (Bet Now: $4.00) looks suited back to 1050m for the Mick Huxtable camp. Ran over 1100m two weeks back here when near a strong speed and she kept finding under pressure. Just couldn’t quite get the win but far from disgraced in defeat when third to Alleboom. Like her back to 1050m, hard fit and in form.
4 Lord Varys (Bet Now: $13.00) is capable. I’d be forgiving of his run at Balaklava last time out. Was caught wide no cover for the trip but even allowing for that, thought his finale was a tad weak when third to the well supported Glory Game. He’s racing well and has run well in town before so don’t entirely dismiss him.
Race 4. (14:51) Tab Long May We Play (bm58) 1200m
4 Four Of A Kind (Bet Now: $4.20) is a Phillip Stokes trained mare that has been pretty good in two runs back from a spell. Resumed with a second to The Raven on the Parks track before racing over 1100m here two weeks ago where she had to do work in the run but stayed on and was sound in defeat behind Beeokay. Back to Mares grade, she’s likeable third up.
8 Sharply Attired (Bet Now: $6.00) is a tick over two weeks between runs for John Macmillan since racing on the Parks track. Had a good run just off the speed and loomed large to win. Just couldn’t quite finish it off when a narrow second to Sowpods. Looks to have returned in good order and I think is a leading chance here.
5 Issara (Bet Now: $21.00) is a knockout chance at odds. Impressive winner first up over 1100m before staying at that trip here two weeks back and the track pattern was just against her, so forget she went around behind Beeokay. Has more upside than most here and if the track is playing fairly, she can win this without surprising.
Race 5. (15:31) Pike & Joyce (bm72) 1100m
Bit of a throw at the stumps here with 7 Atomic Lokade (Bet Now: $15.00) for the Grant Kluske camp. Three weeks between runs since racing on Ballarat Cup Day where she got back in the run and was never really a winning threat, but liked the way she finished her race off behind Riding The Wave. Gets in really well after the claim, sits off a good speed and will be strong at the end.
8 Westport (Bet Now: $2.60) is a Team McEvoy trained mare that resumes. Hasn’t raced since April 11 on the Parks track when struggling and was quite disappointing I thought behind Night Express. Has a good fresh record and thought the recent trial was more than encouraging, so keen to see how she goes.
3 Saorsa (Bet Now: $7.00) is flying for Jon O’Connor. The breaks didn’t happen for Zechner when he raced here last time out and no doubt if he gets a clear run throughout in the straight, he wins the race instead of a luckless fifth to Li’l Kontra. He is bursting to win a race and I think he gets a great chance here against this lot.
Race 6. (16:11) Peter Elberg Funerals (bm58) 1200m
3 Munster (Bet Now: $2.00) is a former Kiwi for Michael Hickmott that made his Australian debut on the Parks track when on speed and when Eaton asked for an effort, the response wasn’t instant, but he stayed on and was only beaten 0.7L by Sowpods. He’s got upside to come and stable is flying, so giving him another chance.
5 Call Me Shamus (Bet Now: $7.50) is a son of Shamus Award for Phillip Stokes that resumes. This guy is fresh, having not raced since July 11 when down the track over 1700m at Gawler behind Getouttheway. Think he’s more effective over a slightly shorter trip and looks to have trialled up really well leading in. Market will be the guide.
10 He Will Boom (Bet Now: $11.00) looks to be going well. Bets were landed at odds when he won here on Cup Day before going to Balaklava where he was back near last in the run and made up good ground late. Form around him does read well and if he’s within range on the turn, he’ll take some holding out at the end.
Race 7. (16:51) Adelaide Galvanising Xmas Hcp 1200m
6 Too Good Too Hard (Bet Now: $3.00) is a leading chance. Phillip Stokes trained mare who comes through the City Of Marion when back, wide with cover, and spotting those in front a big start. Too much start in the end, but her finale was outstanding. Just hope she can settle a pair or two closer in the run and prove strong late.
5 One More Jack (Bet Now: $4.50) is an absolute beauty for Shane Oxlade who has been the find of 2020 for SA racing, now being a Stakes winner after taking out the City Of Marion two weeks ago. He was chasing from a fair way out and looked gone a few times, but kept finding and eventually wore them down. Hard to beat.
Giving respect to 13 Lakhani Rose (Bet Now: $18.00) here. David Jolly trained mare who does have a booming finish on her. She just lost sight of the bunny in the City Of Marion. Had far too much to do, but loved the way she picked up late in the piece behind One More Jack. If she’s within range on the turn, she has the turn of foot to beat these.
Race 8. (17:31) Metal-link (bm64) 1800m
8 Serious Spender (Bet Now: $5.50) isn’t the most reliable mare going around but weight relief from last time out is leaning me her way. Looked the winner when racing at this track/distance two weeks ago but was caught late by Skilful Steps. Think she’s racing well and well enough IMO to take out a race like this. Hard to beat.
7 Skillful Steps (Bet Now: $3.10) is a Team Jolly trained gelding that is two weeks between runs since being given a 12/10 by Gatt, saving ground before getting splits nearer the best part of the track and he was able to finish best and get a deserving win. Now he has that on the board, he could well go on with it here.
10 Deluxe Design (Bet Now: $13.00) doesn’t have the greatest of winning strike rates, but she’s knocking on the door to win one. Looked like it would come two weeks back at this track/distance but had to settle for a close up second to Skillful Steps. Racing well, nearing a win…is it here though? Only time will tell but a win wouldn’t shock.
Race 9. (18:11) Twilight Races At M'ville-bm68 1541m
5 Pearl Bandit… (Bet Now: $4.60) surely he will win one soon. He’s absolutely bursting to win a race in town this time in. He just keeps finding one or two better, which was the case yet again two weeks ago at this track/distance when a closing second to Black Syrah. He’s clearly knocking on the door to win one and gets another great chance.
9 Hankstar… (Bet Now: $11.00) has to be seriously respected here. Peter Nolan trained gelding that is around a month between runs since winning impressively from off the speed on the Parks track. On paper, looked a moderate race, but since, there has been four winners to come from it, which clearly reads well. Just has to overcome the gate.
8 Magnetic Edge… (Bet Now: $10.00) is on the seven day back up for John Hickmott after racing here last Saturday. I’d be very forgiving of his failure behind Territory Titan. Rain hit during the day and the track became very sticky and shifty. He didn’t handle it. Track should be firmer this time around and prior form was good.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Two Number 6 Alotafun
NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 1 Mayan
LONG SHOT: Race Five Number 7 Atomic Lokade
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 3, 5
Leg Two: 2, 5, 6, 13, 15
Leg Three: 1, 7, 8, 10
Leg Four: 5, 6, 8, 9
$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful
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