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Best win of the Adelaide Carnival? Best ride?

Highlights flowed from the 2020 Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival, which ended with another brilliant day of racing at Morphettville last Saturday. 

The carnival showcased some of Australia’s top thoroughbred talent, along with some rising stars of the turf, and a slew of talented jockeys. 

So, what performances stood out? 

Ours are below. Click here to have your say, for your chance to WIN a double pass to next years Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival!  

BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE CARNIVAL

NOMINEES:

MAY 2

Oceanex (Port Adelaide Cup): Overcame a tough run to win the Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) in fine style. Franked the form with a convincing win in the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on Saturday, sealing a spot in the 2020 Melbourne Cup.

Jungle Edge (DC McKay Stakes): Flew the gates, and never looked like losing the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m). Damp track helped big time, but still a great run by the nine-year-old marvel.

MAY 9

Game Keeper (Adelaide Guineas): A horse going places, judging by the dominant win in the Listed Adelaide Guineas over a mile. Rounded them up out wide and sailed past the field. Big win.

Miss Mandito: Even though it wasn’t a black-type race, Miss Mandito put in a mighty effort to win over 1200m on Derby Day, seeing plenty of the Morphettville track, but still proving too good for a big field.

Russian Camelot (SA Derby): Last and wide for most of the run, Russian Camelot was still classy enough to power home and claim the 2500m SA Derby at Group 1 level. Watch out springtime!

May 16:

Extra Time: (National Stakes): Blinkers on and a longer trip seemed to make all the difference for Extra Time in the Group 3 National Stakes (1200m). No one – including his jockey – expected Extra Time to lead, but he did and thrashed the field.

Star Hills: Another non-black type race, but a noteworthy win to Star Hills in a 1050m event on the final day of the carnival. Trapped wide for much of the trip, Star Hills still proved too strong.

Trekking: (Furphy Goodwood): Trekking had a good run, but still deserves a mention for his outstanding win in the Group 1 Goodwood, SA’s biggest race. Now a dual Group 1 winner and maybe more to come.

BEST RIDE

NOMINATIONS:

May 2

Barend Vorster (Shrouded in Mist, Queen of the South Stakes): Took advantage of others’ reluctance to lead, and duly delivered on Shrouded in Mist in the Group 3 Queen of the South Stakes.

Todd Pannell (Bella Vella, TAB Classic): A ride not dissimilar to his effort on Despatch in the Goodwood in 2019. Todd Pannell got Bella Vella into a nice rhythm in the Group 1 TAB Classic, and never looked like being beaten. Great placement by trainer Will Clarken too.

May 9

Georgina Cartwright (Dixon Street): Kept her cool aboard three-year-old filly Dixon Street in the opening race on Derby Day. Had a wayward riderless horse to deal with, along with the task of trying to win the 1000m race. Handled both tasks successfully, coolly and with aplomb.

May 16

Jason Holder (Gytrash, Goodwood): Managed to slot in ‘one-off’ from a potentially tricky barrier aboard Gytrash. Gave his horse every chance from that draw and was only run down in the final few strides.

Jason Holder (Extra Time, National Stakes): Dug up two-year-old Extra Time – sporting blinkers for the first time – early in the race, then found himself leading on the previously slow-starter. Let the horse do its thing and reaped the reward with a convincing win.

John Allen (Trekking, Goodwood): Didn’t put a foot wrong on Trekking, and without such a spot-on ride, would have struggled to pick up Gytrash, given the winning margin was so slender.

RACE OF THE CARNIVAL:

Australasian Oaks: Great finish, as Toffee Tongue railed up to nab the Group 1 feature.

SA Derby: This epic race was one for the ages. It featured a crack field, plus a potential superstar doing it tough in the run and ultimately overhauling both an SA fan favourite and a VRC Derby winner.

Goodwood: Brilliant finish and an outstanding group of sprinters. The Goodwood continues to grow in prestige every year.

BEST MOMENTS FROM RACECALLER BRETT DAVIS

May 2

“You’ve never too old, you’re just too lazy…”

Great spontaneity calling cult hero, rising 10-year-old Jungle Edge’s scintillating win in the DC McKay Stakes.

May 9

“Be My Star scraped in…”

Gutsy call from Brett, as Lakhani Rose finished at a rate of knots, and looked to have pinched the race from Be My Star. The official beaten margin was a nose. Well done!

May 16

Proud Miss Stakes

Showed great concentration to absolutely nail the last race of the carnival, including spotting winner Humma Humma just in time, among the big field.

Tell us your favourite Autumn Carnival Moment from the past three weeks, for your chance to WIN a double pass to next years Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival! Click here to enter now! 

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