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Here’s hoping for better luck at Morphettville on Saturday after our two ‘best’ from last week finished out of the money.
A couple of ‘Black Type’ races are set down for decision on Saturday – the Listed Penang Trophy over 1800m and the Listed Sportingbet W H Wylie Quality Handicap over 1100m – races six and seven respectively.
At this stage the track is rated a Dead4 with the rail out three metres from the 1200m to 500m and then true for the remainder.
It is a good card on the main circuit in Adelaide on Saturday and the two best ‘plays’ come up in the two main races of the day.
The Tony McEvoy-trained Iconic is going to be extremely hard to stop in the W H Wylie Quality Handicap after his impressive first-up victory at Moonee Valley on August 23.
He was coming off a 155 day break when scoring by the barest possible margin in the Listed Carlyon Stakes over 1000m.
McEvoy said post-race that Iconic has ‘bad legs’ and because of that he has given the gelding plenty of time to get over the rigours of that first-up performance.
Lightly-raced, having had four wins from 13 starts, Iconic has also performed creditably at a higher level than what he is lining-up against on Saturday.
He chased home Lankan Rupee when second in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield in February when that galloper was nearing the peak of his powers before finding the Group 1 sprinters too classy in the Oakleigh Plate again at Caulfield.
Iconic has been a much travelled galloper having raced previously in Victoria, New South Wales and at Morphettville where he ran a close second in the Group 3 National Stakes over 1200m as a two-year-old.
In-form jockey Dom Tourneur takes the ride on the gelding on Saturday and from barrier 5 is expected to be hard to hold out.
In the Penang Trophy, Gamblin’ Guru is worth another chance following a lacklustre performance in the Listed Balaklava Cup over 1600m on September 3.
Gamblin’ Guru returned from a break with a good fourth, beaten 2.2 lengths, in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes over 1400m on the ‘Parks’ circuit on August 23 before his disappointing Balaklava run.
Last campaign Gamblin’ Guru was successful in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas over this course and distance before stepping up to 2000m and taking out the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes.
Coming back to his home track is sure to assist Gamblin’ Guru who will be ridden by Clare Lindop.
She doesn’t have fond memories of the last time she rode Gamblin Guru at Morphettville, as he fell putting her on the sidelines with a bunch of broken ribs.
Drawing off the track a shade should be a plus for the son of New Approach who likes a bit of galloping room in his races and he should get that here.
Good luck and good punting.
Play Of The Day: Race 7 #6 Iconic @$2.90
Each Way Play: Race 6 #3 Gamblin’ Guru @$8.50