3 minute read
BEST BETS AVIATRESS (Race 1) WARMONGER (Race 3)
EACH-WAY CAMPIONESSA (Race 6) ZAPATEO (Race 8)
RACE 1 - 12:02PM Grand Syndicates Handicap (1100 METRES)
Aviatress looks a smart filly who won her first two at Murray Bridge and Morphettville before she went to Flemington and made good ground running 4th behind Mumbai Muse in the G3 Red Roses. She won a recent trial ahead of her return and should take some beating. SACHEM is a former Victorian first-up for the Clarken/O'Shea stable. His form is over further, but the blinkers come off here at he was $26 to $9 when markets opened. MEETMEIN MELBOURNE has been in the Money at eight of 12 over the border and was solid last time out when he finished off strongly beaten 1.8 lengths behind Excess at Caulfield. WALLY WEST has his share of ability but has won just the one race. He is and capable of running a race here with the blinkers going on here. THE GREAT BABY has a good record and was just nailed late by Prairie Flower here last time. He should run well. COOL THE JETS has trialled well for his return.
SELECTIONS: 12 AVIATRESS, 13 Sachem, 5 Meetmein Melbourne, 11 Wally West PLAY: Keen on AVIATRESS but is short enough.
RACE 2 - 12:37PM Breeders' Stakes (1200 METRES)
Growing Empire was narrowly beaten in Sydney on debut before going to Melbourne and beating Bittercreek at Moonee Valley in the Listed St Albans. He draws out but looks well placed here. KARAVAS was an impressive Murray Bridge winner on debut and then won the Ottawa Stakes in Flemington before subsequently. She was brave first-up when she pulled good ground off Lincolnshire in the Dequetteville and the jump to 1200m looks ideal. Stablemate PURE AQUA was impressive sitting handy to the speed before beating Cosmic Ride to win the Listed Without Fear last time, she draws out but gets Jamie Kah. KHADIME was good winning at Sandown on debut and draws a middle barrier. FLATTERED made ground behind Tobeornottobe at Flemington. FLYER draws out, was only beaten 5.5 lengths in the Blue Diamond behind Hayasugi but gets Craig Williams and blinkers.
SELECTIONS: 1 GROWING EMPIRE, 7 Karavas, 8 Pure Aqua, 11 Khadime PLAY: Something on GROWING EMPIRE.
RACE 3 - 1:12PM PFD Food Services Chairman's Stakes (2000 METRES)
Air Assault has been brilliant winning his past three and was again strong through the line when he led throughout in the Port Guineas beating WARMONGER who made good ground and should appreciate the extra trip. BOLD SOUL was the eye catcher in that race coming from well back to run 3rd. The Price/Kent Jnr also have SHINJUKU who was scratched at the gates in the Port Guineas, he made ground in the G2 Alister Clark last time and won his previous two in Victoria. TULSA KING is the third of their runners, a Pakenham maiden winner before he was narrowly beaten at Pakenham last time and the extra trip should suit. STEEL BLAZE was a Canterbury winner four runs back and comes out of the G2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill when beaten 5 lengths behind Wymark. HARVEST MOON was another who made ground in the Air Assault race last time.
SELECTIONS: 3 WARMONGER, 2 Bold Soul, 1 Air Assault, 4 Shinjuku PLAY: Keen on WARMONGER.
RACE 4 - 1:47PM John Hawkes Stakes (Formerly D C McKay Stakes) (1100 METRES)
Sans Doute has won seven of 15 and her past three at Flemington, the latest in the Listed Bob Hoystead beating Najem Suhail. She draws out but is flying. WHAT YOU NEED is an exciting galloper who was beaten 1.2 lengths in the Sans Doute race at Flemington and has won three of four. SGHIRRIPA won the G3 Standish three runs back and then produced sizzling sectionals when beaten 2.2 lengths behind Queman in the Oakleigh Plate. He was good again when 3.5 lengths behind Cylinder in the G1 Newmarket last time and has won four of his six starts here on his home deck. CELSIUS STAR has been brilliant here in SA and comes off a smart win in the Hill Railway at Oakbank. EXTREMELY LUCKY is an interesting runner. He created some hype here before going to the Waller stable and has trialled well back here in SA beating MASTER EIGHT who is another former local who comes back to Australia from Hong Kong where he won his first five and his recent form has been at the top level behind the likes of Lucky Sweynesse. PRESS DOWN was very good first-up when 3rd behind Benedetta in the Irwin. ASTON RAPOVA was super when 2nd behind Austmarr in the Manihi and draws a nice gate. ATHELRIC was only fair in the Irwin Stakes last time but gets an inside gate and JMac!
SELECTIONS: 4 SANS DOUTE, 6 What You Need, 1 Sghirripa, 5 Celsius Star PLAY: Something on SANS DOUTE each-way.
RACE 5 - 2:22PM Sportsbet Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200 METRES)
Arkansaw Kid has a good record running 4th in the G1 Coolmore, 3rd in the G3 Blue Sapphire and 2nd in both the Sandown Guineas and Sunlight Classic, behind Estriella, before he was beaten 1.53 lengths behind Joliestar in the G2 Arrowfield at Randwick last time. SKYBIRD is a smart filly who won her first three starts before running 3rd behind Joliestar in the 1000 Guineas and then 5th beaten 3.17 lengths behind Atlantic Spirit at Bendigo last time. She draws a perfect gate. PIVOT CITY comes off a 2.25 lengths Sandown win and was 5th behind Legacies prior. Stablemate GUMDROPS was solid beaten 2.3 lengths behind SIR SWAY in the Redelva. MOESHA draws wide but was narrowly beaten by Inhibitions at Caulfield last time. The third horse ran well in last week's Nitschke Stakes. Stablemate PARADISE CITY has won three of four and was a 0.46 length winner over Poifect at Sandown last time. She looks a filly with upside. ZOURION is a Kiwi filly with a good record and she was on speed in the 1000 Guineas behind Joliestar.
SELECTIONS: 1 ARKANSAW KID, 8 Skybird, 5 Pivot City, 12 Paradise City PLAY: Backing ARKASAW KID.
RACE 6 - 2:57PM Queen Of The South Stakes (1600 METRES)
Campionessa is a G1 winning mare who won the G2 Peter Young at Caulfield three starts back and was only beaten 2.66 lengths behind Zougotcha at Randwick in the Queen Of The Turf. She draws out but looks perfectly placed in a race like this. LEGACIES led throughout to beat Regal Vow at Caulfield last time, she draws a good gate with Jamie Kah to ride. SEONEE beat See You In Heaven here in the Macdonald Stakes last August and has been very good in two runs back the latest 2nd behind Here To Shock at Caulfield. She gets the inside gate and is sure to be in the mix. FOXY FRIDA has been two wins from her four runs here and has been 2nd in this race the last two years. She finished off strongly beaten 1.33 lengths behind El Soleado in the Golden Mile at Bendigo and she's going to be in the finish. LADY JONES was good winning at Bendigo last time out. SELECTIONS: 1 CAMPIONESSA, 18 Legacies, 5 Seonee, 3 Foxy Frida PLAY: Backing CAMPIONESSA.
RACE 7 - 3:37PM Sportsbet Australasian Oaks (2000 METRES)
One of the best editions in recent memory with the top three horses from the New Zealand Oaks lining up - Pulchritudinous, who defeated POSITIVITY and QALI AL FARRASHA. Chris Waller has CONCELLO who ticks a lot of boxes coming off a 1.84 lengths 3rd behind Good Banter and subsequent Oaks winner Autumn Angel in the G3 Adrian Knox at Randwick. VIBRANT SUN was super winning the Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley last time out. She's a filly on the rise who looks well placed here despite the depth. WINGS OF SONG was super impressive coming off a freshen-up when she was a dominant 2 length winner in the Auraria Stakes last time, beating QUICKSTER who covered ground and stablemate MOLLYNICKERS who was back to her best, her previous form was super. COCO SUN has been well backed since markets opened and has been impressive winning her two runs this time in. QUEEN OF DRAGONS was 4th behind Orchestral in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Randwick last time and maps to get a gun run here.
SELECTIONS: 11 CONCELLO, 6 Vibrant Sun, 2 Wings Of Song, 5 Queen of Dragons PLAY: Backing CONCELLO.
RACE 8 - 4:12PM Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (1200 METRES)
Zapateo was placed in this race last year before running 3rd again in the Goodwood and comes back to Adelaide in arguably better form coming off a G1 win in the Galaxy in Sydney. She was runner-up behind PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE in the G2 Challenge Stakes at her previous and draws perfectly with Jamie Kah to ride. ESTRIELLA is the filly on the rise who comes off her third win in succession in the Listed Sunlight Classic, she's a star on the rise and might simply be too sharp from these from the wide gate. Stablemate I AM ME has been in great form and comes off a 3rd behind Imperatriz in the Williams Reid at Moonee Valley. She maps to get a gun run again here. BENEDETTA has been in great form and was very good winning the Irwin Stakes last time out beating CLIMBING STARR who is flying and her stablemate STRETAN ANGEL looks ready to peak third-up here and will appreciate the drop in weight. ROOTS is a quality mare who has been set to for this and gets J Mac from a sticky gate. LEARNING TO FLY has won three of six and was good behind Kimochi in the G2 Lightfingers last time at Randwick.
SELECTIONS: 1 ZAPATEO, 12 Estriella, 4 Benedetta, 5 Roots PLAY: Backing ZAPATEO each-way.
RACE 9 - 4:50PM Thomas Farms Handicap (1600 METRES)
Mr Maestro is a good horse on his day with four wins from 17. He won three in succession during September/October 2022 in Melbourne, was OK last time when beaten 3.85 lengths behind Here To Shock at Caulfield and his best is right up to winning a race like this and worth an each-way ticket. CHICAGO STORM was back to his best leading throughout to beat My Khalifa in the City Of Adelaide Stakes last time. He draws a good barrier. ALPINE FLYER raced on speed and stuck on OK second-up when beaten 3.9 lengths in the same race. SECOND TO NUN has been in great form she was beaten 3.9 lengths in the same race. PRINCE JOFRA has been in great form and must be respected. I'M A DEXSTAR has been racing well.
SELECTIONS: 3 MR MAESTRO, 1 Chicago Storm, 9 Alpine Flyer, 10 I'm A Dexstar PLAY: Something on MR MAESTRO each-way.
