BEST BET: LOMBARDO (Race 1)
EACH-WAY: SIR KALAHAD (Race 3)
VALUE: SPINOLA BAY (Race 9)
RACE 1 - 11:37AM Barossa Fine Foods Handicap (1000 METRES)
LOMBARDO is the interesting runner first-up. It's been over a year since winning here as a $1.65 favourite. He draws a good barrier and has been backed off the map after opening $3.40. He should be winning here after two handy jump-outs. GREAT LEVELLER is a nice horse who returned to form running 3rd behind Aadelad here last time and shapes as the danger. HINCHPIN was easy first-up from a spell at Bendigo but was placed in the Sires’ Produce. SPECIALISM is a former WA galloper now with Will Clarken and has trialled at Balaklava, FRENCH ROCK was good winning first-up for the Jolly stable at Balaklava and CHAMPAGNE DREAMS strips fitter for one run back from a break and was a winner here in March.
SELECTIONS: LOMBARDO, Great Leveller, Hinchpin
RACE 2 - 12:12PM Irish Race Day at Morphettville - Saturday August 14 Handicap (1550 METRES)
Good clash here with GREETINGS NED coming off a super impressive win coming off the speed to bolt in here last time. He gets in well with the claim and should be fighting out the finish. JAAMINT has been a revelation and was well ridden to score at Gawler last week. She maps to get another perfect run and has solid claims. DOMINUS has a handy record and was a Pakenham winner two starts back before being placed there on the synthetic last time. He draws a nice gate with Todd Pannell booked to ride. TIBETAN made good ground from back in the field behind Icecrusher here first-up from a break and should take plenty of benefit out of that. MOTELL is racing well and must be given some thought, TURN TABLE made good ground behind She’s A Karaka last time and has some appeal at a price.
SELECTIONS: GREETINGS NED, Jaamint, Dominus
RACE 3 - 12:47PM TAB Handicap (1000 METRES)
SIR KALAHAD was an impressive Sandown winner two starts back before working hard throughout behind Corner Pocket a Caulfield last time. He has the inside gate and looks hard to beat here. BRIMARVI VEHERO has been racing in great form and was game behind Larimer Street last time. His overall record here is very good and he should be thereabouts. CELTIC BLAST shapes as the leader and wasn’t beaten far behind Aadelad last time. THOMPSON’S REWARD resumes and his best form would be right in the mix here. AADELAD was a good winner here last time, HEAVENLY BRIDGES draws a sticky gate for a roll forward horse with speed drawn underneath.
SELECTIONS: SIR KALAHAD, Brimarvi Vehero, Thompson’s Reward
RACE 4 - 1:22PM 36° South Beef Handicap (1250 METRES)
VIOLINIST was a $1.60 favourite winning at Mornington three starts back and wasn’t beaten far at Listed level in Desirable Stakes at Flemington in November. She hasn’t raced since the Twilight Glow but is in very good hands and should be hard to beat here. CLAP is an interesting runner-up first-up for the Jolly’s on the back of a Ballarat maiden win on the synthetic when a short price-favourite. HARPUNA draws an inside gate and should be right in the finish, he was good behind He’s A Balter at Murray Bridge last time. OBI draws a tricky gate but has been placed at his past five, three of those were as favourite. ROTHMOORE blew like the wind when resuming, he should get more favourable conditions here and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: VIOLINIST, Harpuna, Clap
RACE 5 - 2:02PM Oaklands Plate (1400 METRES)
Wide open race. MAC ‘N’ CHEESE has been sent out favourite at both runs and came from well back to be narrowly beaten at Sandown last time. That run at 1400m should have her well placed in a race like this and she draws a perfect barrier. BLERIOT was super impressive two starts back before taking on the older horses. She wasn’t disgraced after racing up on speed at Murray Bridge, while stablemate GOSDEN was OK on debut behind Brother’s Shadow back in January and has had a couple of trials for this. TONNEOFGRIT was only beaten 2.5 lengths behind Jigsaw at Caulfield last time and was a Geelong winner at his previous outing. BELLE OF YORKES was beaten by Bleriot two runs back before scoring at nice odds at Murray Bridge last time. ROXY BLUE was very good two starts back behind Seradess and was strong in the market first-up from a spell when she tired late at Murray Bridge.
SELECTIONS: MAC ‘N’ CHEESE, Bleriot, Tonneofgrit
RACE 6 - 2:42PM The Junction Handicap (1400 METRES)
Looks a nice race for LAKE’S FOLLY who was placed behind Frankie Pinot at Morphettville two starts back before a handy run behind Smart Alick at Gawler when he should have finished a lot closer. He maps well from the barrier and gets his chance. FIELDS OF IVY has a good record and was a Ballarat winner three starts back and was narrowly beaten there before running down the track at Geelong. She wears the blinkers again. REFRESHED was a Geelong winner three starts back and was OK at Echuca last time out. Todd Pannell rides. TURFITT was a good winner at Morphettville two runs back and should be thereabouts.
SELECTIONS: LAKE’S FOLLY, Fields Of Ivy, Refreshed
RACE 7 - 3:20PM Schild Estate Handicap (1950 METRES)
STAN THE CADDY has a good record here and led when he was only grabbed late behind Irish Butterfly at Murray Bridge, His two runs back have been solid and he’s going to give this a shake if he can roll forward and control the speed. NUDGE BAR loves the heavy conditions and was a strong winner at Moe last time out. This is a step up but he did win his only start here and looks to have solid each-way appeal. SPRING BREAK has very good form on soft conditions and came from well back to in at Casterton last time. The extra trip is a plus despite the rise in class. MUNTHAM MISSILE was a Penola winner two starts back before a handy Edenhope run. She has a good winning strike-rate and draws well but has to carry weight now without the claim. LOVE IN PEACE was solid in the market and beaten a tick over three lengths behind Irish Butterfly and has the blinkers off.
SELECTIONS: STAN THE CADDY, Nudge Bar, Spring Break
RACE 8 - 3:57PM Furphy Handicap (1400 METRES)
Hard not to impressed by FRANKIE PINOT who finished sharply coming off the speed last time and is unbeaten in two starts on heavy tracks. He draws to get a gun run and should be fighting out the finish. STRUCK BY was sent out favourite when resuming when he tried late behind Zoushine at Murray Bridge. He has a great record but has never seen a heavy track which would be a slight concern. REYNOLDS has done a big job since coming to SA and had a break after beating Does It here in May. He won three of four last time in and should be in the finish but will be better over a touch further. TYPHOON HARMONY was a Geelong winner two starts back before being sent out favourite behind The Dec at Geelong last start.
SELECTIONS: FRANKIE PINOT, Struck By, Reynolds
RACE 9 - 4:35PM Weslo Security Handicap (1300 METRES)
GREAT DIVINER is a nice horse and he was a good winner over Munster at Murray Bridge last time out and that form has been franked since. ZOIST was a good winner over Melody Man at Murray Bridge last time. She’s won three of six starts and should be fighting out the finish despite a sticky gate. SPINOLA BAY is progressing well and was a good winner back in class before making ground behind Zoushine last time. SHORT STORIES was a good winner three starts back at nice odds and his three runs since have been solid. MUFFLA made good ground from a long way back first-up behind Zoushine and must be given some thought. VICTORY TEARS was a Ballarat winner on debut and draws a middle gate. VICTORY CLUB won two on end before a good effort behind Winning Weather.
SELECTIONS: GREAT DIVINER, Zoist, Spinola Bay
