The 2018 South Australian Derby (2500m) has drawn a quality field of staying three-year-olds to Morphettville on Saturday and we are set for an open betting race with plenty of value on offer.
This looks to be another feature race that is master trainer Darren Weir’s to lose, as he will saddle four horses including the exciting race favourite Leicester ($4) and live hope Civil Disobedience ($15)
Leicester was a strong and consistent performer for Weir upon resuming in late January and posted two wins and two places through four starts, before a luckless transition to black type company when fourth in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) on April 14th.
The Wanted gelding mustered a superior staying performance when he attacked the line for a comfortable win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes (2035m) last time out and looks like he’ll only improve upon stepping out in trip.
The horse has already attracted plenty of interest in betting and at the time of publish, is $4.40 into $4.
Civil Disobedience has drawn awkwardly into the South Australian Derby field, but he clearly harbours good staying ability and could prove over the odds.
The Raise The Flag followed a similar path to several of Weir’s three-year-old stayers in recent years and took his place in the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) on February 9th, winning the race by more than three lengths.
Finishing a credible seventh in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in early March, the horse has been fair to the line in the two Derby lead-up races in Adelaide, but will enjoy getting back out to the longer trip.
Chris Waller only has one horse in the South Australian Derby field this year, but he is a live chance of taking the Group 1 feature race with Tangled ($7).
Tangled stamped himself as a horse to follow as a two-year-old, but he has continued to improve at three and is arguably offered his best chance of a maiden win at the highest level in this race.
Having finished second behind Ace High in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) most notably in spring, the Snitzel colt took a couple of runs to find his best this time, but savaged the line for second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) third-up in March.
Having worked home well for third in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) during The Championships, Tangled was last seen finishing second in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) on April 21st and will face no tougher opponents in this race.
Kiwi raider Sherrif is an interesting South Australian Derby accepter and looks like he has the ability to pull off an upset at double-figure odds.
The High Chaparral gelding resumed for an easy win over 1400m at Pukekohe in February before storming home from the tail of the field to finish second over a mile at Te Rapa.
Having made a successful transition to black type company by winning the Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) on March 31st, Sherrif was last seen finishing fifth in the Group 2 Valachi Downs Championship (2100m) on heavy going, on April 21st.