Group 1 racing will return to Morphettville in South Australia next weekend, and a fitting curtain raiser will take place on Saturday.
Nine races will be run and won on Chairman’s Stakes Day and I’ve previewed the lot below!
There’s virtually no good form to divulge ahead of Race 1 at Morphettville on Saturday several debutants are prominent in the market.
I’m happy to wait until Race 2 to open my account.
Soul Obsession looks to have found top gear and can record another win on Chairman’s Stakes Day.
The I Am Invincible filly finished a close second at each of her first two starts back from a spell this time, and has since won two at Moe and here at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
She’s rock-hard fit, drawn to effect and can win again.
I Remember You didn’t show much in her first start back from a spell last week, but she tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under her belt, and I am happy to give her another chance.
The former Tasmanian had two start in her first prep for Will Clarken, and tailed off to finish seventh, beaten a little less than five lengths last week.
Jake Toeroek can slot in behind the early pace from barrier 8 and improvement would see the horse into the finish.
Born To Play is unlucky not to have already win since resuming this time, and she can break back into the winner’s stall at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Redoute’s Choice mare hasn’t run a bad race since transferring to the care of Team McEvoy and has returned lovely efforts here and at Oakbank this time.
Fitter third-up and under these conditions, she might not be offered a better opportunity on a Saturday.
This shapes as one of the more open races at Morphettville on Saturday and Johnny Chutzpah has claims on winning.
The three-year-old son of Exosphere was a consistent performer without recording an elusive win during his debut prep, but clearly flourished in his time away from the track, and resumed for a lovely win at Benalla a couple of weeks ago.
This is harder, but he harbours plenty of upside and can continue his rise through the grades.
Annavisto has been a strong and consistent performer since resuming and the Nitschke Stakes looks a nice bit of black type for her.
The Reliable Man filly has recorded three wins and a second placing in four starts since resuming, and charged in to win the Bendigo Guineas two back before repeating that effort and result over 1400m at Caulfield.
She is another runner who is at peak fitness for Chairman’s Stakes Day and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Groundswell has also accepted into the Anniversary Vase at Caulfield and I am confident that he is a winning chance in both races, so I’m going to put him on top here as well.
The well-bred four-year-old has improved since his gelding last spring, and while he needed his first run this time to tune up, his was very impressive in leading all the way at Bendigo last time out.
Fitter third-up and from the good draw, he’ll take plenty of beating in something like this.
An intriguing field of eleven juveniles will assemble for the Breeders’ Stakes and at publish, we’re faced with $5 the field and two race favourites.
He’s Xceptional has been racing well in Victoria and I am happy to keep him on top of my selections.
He’s Xceptional broke his maiden in style at Cranbourne when resuming and has finished second in each of his two subsequent race starts at The Valley and Caulfield respectively.
This is the toughest task that he has been set, but he clearly has ability, and we can have an each-way play at around the $8 mark.
Casino Seveteen has been a different horse since transferring to the care of Travis Doudle and he shapes as a winning chance in Saturday’s feature race at Morphettville.
The Casino Prince gelding was fair at best during his time under Lloyd Kennewell, but won each of his first three starts back this time before filling the minors in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas last time out.
He’d need to improve again to make up the lengths on Royal Mile, but I think he’ll be absolutely cherry ripe for this race, and we can have an each-way play at the price.