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Ladbrokes Blog: Matrice Stakes Day Preview 2024

3 minute read

The Matrice Stakes will headline a bumper nine race program at Morphettville this Saturday. The Listed sprint feature is one of two black type events to be run on the day, with the newly named, Clare Lindop Stakes to be contested for the three year old fillies.

Picture: SA Jockey Club

For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.

The rail will be out 5m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a good 4.

We've had a close look at all nine races on the program and our thoughts can be found below.

RACE 1 - 11:44PM: THE PHOTOBASE GROUP HANDICAP BM76 (2500 METRES)

Cherokee Brave has been racing well and looks ready for this trip.

Only lightly raced, the son of Saxon Warrior broke his maiden in good style with an authoritative five length victory when second up from a break. 

He then chased home hard at Pakenham to get within a length of the winner and last start, taking on a BM70 Handicap around the Valley, he got back and was doing his best work late in what was a on pace dominated race. 

This is another rise in grade but he looks a promising stayer and with the inside draw, he's set to enjoy a soft run.

Liam Riordan will do the steering for Flemington based trainer Danny O'Brien.

1 unit – CHEROKEE BRAVE

  BET NOW: Morpettville Race 1  

RACE 2 - 12:17PM: STONEHAVEN WINES HANDICAP BM68 2YO (1050 METRES)

Grinzinger Love has just had the one race start and performed very well down the Flemington straight.

The Hellbent filly made her debut in the Listed Festival stakes where she finished third behind Bold Bastille and Drifting, who have both since saluted again at stakes level. 

Also worth noting is the fact she put up a 5.5 length gap back to fourth.

She will have taken good natural benefit from the outing, Liam Riordan goes onboard and with any luck from the wide draw, she should prove hard to beat.

1 unit – GRINZINGER LOVE

  BET NOW: Morpettville Race 2  

RACE 3 - 12:52PM: ADELAIDE RACING CARNIVAL AT MORPETTVILLE HANDICAP BM72 3YO C&G (1600 METRES) 

It's been six weeks since Warlords resumed with a determined win over 1400m on the Lakeside.

He has been scratched on a few occasions since and hasn't been seen in any jump outs or trials but if he wasn't ready, I'm certain the team wouldn't be bringing him all this way. 

Prepared at Cranbourne by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the son of Saxon Warrior showed good ability early on, kicking off his career in fine style with a win at Sale before a couple of lacklustre performances.

Sent for a break, he returned a gelding and it looks to have had the desired effect.

Todd Pannell goes aboard, he's drawn to get all the favours and I think he'll be well suited out to the mile.

1 unit – WARLORDS

  BET NOW: Morpettville Race 3  

RACE 4 - 1:27PM: THOMAS FARMS HANDICAP BM82 (1600 METRES)

Air Assault comes off an impressive all the way win in the Listed Morphettville Guineas.

Sent to the lead under Jason Holder, he travelled well and showed a strong kick in the straight to put up a margin and hold off any challengers. 

A son of Justify, he's proven himself a quality three year old, having won the Group Three SA Sires Produce Stakes here on the Parks track in the Spring before finishing third in the Group Two Moonee Valley Vase. 

Sent for a break after failing to see out the trip in the Victoria Derby he looks to have come back in top order and will be afforded every chance once again under Jason Holder. 

1 unit – AIR ASSAULT

  BET NOW: Morphettville Race 4  

RACE 5 - 2:07PM: WINNING EDGE PRESENTATIONS HANDICAP 1MW (1050 METRES)

Celui resumes.

The son of Toronado has won three of his seven starts and looks to have plenty of upside. 

Prepared by Brent Stanley, the colt contested the Inglis Inglis Millennium at just his third start, where he lead but was run down late.

Following that he was sent for a break and resumed last campaign with a commanding victory at Bendigo.

He then made it back to back wins scoring Moonee Valley before tackling the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The team clearly have a high opinion of him and he looks well placed here.

With two very easy jump outs wins he looks to have come back in top order and from the low draw he's set to receive every chance.

1 unit – CELUI

  BET NOW: Morpettville Race 5  

RACE 6 - 2:47PM: CHARLIE HOILE HANDICAP 0-64 (1800 METRES)

Princeofcambridge has been racing well but just hasn't had the best of luck this campaign.

The son of Super Easy knuckled upon jumping two runs back and his rider reported that he never felt comfortable throughout the event.

He was very good last start at Cranbourne but just found one better on the night, and the horse that finished in behind him, came out to win at Caulfield last weekend.  

Whilst he's yet to step out past a mile, the way he's racing suggests he'll relish the 1800m. 

He does have the awkward gate to overcome but if he can slot in and find cover he'll be doing his best work late.

1 unit – PRINCEOFCAMBRIDGE

  BET NOW: Morpettville Race 6  

RACE 7 - 3:28PM: MATRICE STAKES LISTED (1200 METRES)

Nunthorpe produced a terrific first up run in the Listed Abell Stakes three weeks ago.

From a wide gate she settled in a lovely spot in behind the leaders and chased hard but just couldn't reel in Indian Pacific. 

Unbeaten in two second up runs, the Playing God mare will have taken improvement from the run and looks ready to peak.

A winner of four from nine, she's now been stakes placed on two occasions and the form around her is solid.

She gets in with just 54.5kgs and has drawn to get the right run under Will Price, who takes the mount for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

1 unit – NUNTHORPE

  BET NOW: Morphettville Race 7  

RACE 8 - 4:09PM: CLARE LINDOP STAKES (FORMALLY LAILA STAKES) 3YO FILLIES LISTED (1600 METRES)

Quickster comes off a deserved maiden win on the Hillside.

The Shamus Award filly started at a very short quote and whilst it was only a very slender margin, the form has been franked with the runner up saluting easily on Wednesday. 

Prepared by the Moody / Coleman team, she was only narrowly beaten on debut and then stepped straight up to stakes grade, finishing fourth in the Group Two Moonee Valley Fillies Classic before a solid effort in the Group One Thousand Guineas.  

She'll relish getting out to the mile and has drawn beautifully in gate two.

1 unit – QUICKSTER

  BET NOW: Morphettville Race 8  

RACE 9 - 4:49PM: SKYCITY HANDICAP BM64 (1200 METRES)

Shootoose didn't have any luck at all when resuming over 1000m on the Parks track.

Taken back off the outside gate, the son of Shooting to Win was never really in the hunt and had no luck at all in the straight.

He will have taken benefit from the run and will appreciate the rise to 1200m.

A three time winner over this trip, he does boast a very good second up record and drops sharply in grade.

With the drop in class comes the rise in weight, so the team have elected to claim, engaging Maggie Collet to do the steering and take 2kgs off. 

1 unit – SHOOTOOSE

  BET NOW: Morphettville Race 9  


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