Group 1 racing continues this Saturday in South Australia with the running of the $500,000 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
The Listed Adelaide Guineas also makes up part of the nine-race program, and you can find our best bets for the entire meeting below.
This isn’t a race I’m overly keen to get involved in, but in saying that, it does look like a winnable one for Star Of Uma in her return from a spell.
The lightly-raced filly by I Am Invincible won by four lengths here at Morphettville first-up during the spring before going one better to claim a double two weeks later under Barend Vorster.
She capped things off with a third in the Listed Twilight Glow at Sandown over further and has since enjoyed a soft trial on the Parks track in early April.
This looks within her grasp if Vorster can shuffle back early and produce her late.
Some good odds available for Princess Raffles here after finishing fourth in her last two starts behind Cloudy in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes and the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes two weeks ago.
Travis Doudle’s lightly-raced filly came from well-back to finish in the mix on both occasions, so the step up to the 1400m looks ideal for her now with four runs under her belt this prep.
She’ll likely settle towards the rear again, but with next to no weight on her back, she should be charging the line.
Tricky race to navigate, but it looks a winnable one for Neodium based on recent efforts.
Phillip Stokes’ four-year-old rattled off back-to-back wins over this track and trip in March and wasn’t far off a hat-trick when a nose second to Frankel Star last time out over the 1500m at Gawler.
This is tougher again, but he drops 4kg’s with Kayla Crowther retaining the ride, and if she can offset the awkward gate nice and early, the pair should prove tough to catch.
Happy to give Debt Collector a second chance after failing to fire first-up over shorter.
He’s drawn to get a similar run in transit on Saturday from an almost identical gate, but as his second-up record suggests, he tends to go well with a run under his belt.
It’s likely the six-year-old by Time Thief was always looking for further with three wins to his name over 1200m. Should be doing his best work late.
This looks a lovely contest for Button Express to kick off her campaign after making only one start during the spring at Moonee Valley.
The mare by Shamexpress finished only half a length fourth that night over the 1000m behind The Commoner, so there’s plenty to suggest she can put up a fight here fresh.
Danny O’Brien’s four-year-old has won previously first-up and she does get the added favour of Damian Lane in the saddle in search of her third win.
Reynolds is two-from-three since journeying over from Hong Kong and he seems to be holding his fitness nicely.
The classy five-year-old by Exceed and Excel won first-up at Oakbank by 3.5L over 1400m before gapping his rivals by another impressive margin second-up at Morphettville over further.
His latest saw him finish a length third over the mile at Marburg, but I think he’s worth forgiving on that run after coming off the bit a little too early.
With Damian Lane now riding, the 1800m might just be ideal for him.
Big fan of Lindsay Park sending Personal around on the quick backup after she was denied by Media Award last week in the Australasian Oaks.
Last year she won the VRC Oaks on a five-day turnaround, so this looks a lovely option for her with plenty of consistency and fitness also on her side.
To be fair, the wide gate does make things difficult for Damien Oliver, but considering most of these haven’t raced over 2500m before, she should be in the mix towards the pointy end of the race.
Finding it hard to bet around Cherry Tortoni despite the fact this is his first look at Morphettville.
Things kind of didn’t go to plan for Patrick Payne’s three-year-old in Melbourne, but he has had a trial in between runs following a last-start fifth in the Tulloch at Rosehill.
Three starts back he finished only half a length to Lunar Fox over the mile in the Australian Guineas, so there’s plenty to suggest he’ll handle the step back to the mile.
There’s no doubt he’ll settle towards the rear like usual, but with even luck, he should prove too good for most of these.
Soul Obsession strips fitter for her first-up run when third to Streetcar Stranger, who she meets 4kg’s better off at the weights on Saturday.
The Freedman-trained I Am Invincible filly looked to be on her way to a win down the straight before shying away from a gap down the inside.
She’ll only be better for that run though, and considering she’s a proven 1100m horse, I think she’ll be tough to hold out with Will Price’s apprentice claim put to good use.