Murray Bridge will play host to South Australia’s major metro meeting this Saturday with a 10-race card.
Adelaide form expert Ben Said shares his thoughts in this week’s preview.
Very tricky race to kick off Saturday racing at Murray Bridge with only one horse in the field having a race start.
Mystical Wisdom was the horse I landed on with low confidence, nice jump outs and trials looks well schooled for his debut and we can have something on him each way in a very open race.
She is knocking on the door this mare.
I thought she was really good last start to run second, her figures out of the race are more than good enough to be winning here, her main danger is Kalbarri who has to overcome barrier 15, which looks tricky.
We have a clear map advantage and she looks well placed to go one better on Saturday.
Garachico looks very well placed dropping back in grade here, he was poor last start but that was in the Andrew Ramsden behind The Map, who is the best stayer in SA and has booked a ticket into the Melbourne Cup.
He will look to control this race from the front, I like the drop back in distance, he is rock hard fit and will take plenty of catching back in grade.
Walk Like An Angel gets a nice drop back in company here off her last run behind Skybird in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze, she wasn’t disgraced in that event.
She will be much better suited here from the good draw, she can settle nice and handy in the run, she looks a great chance Eway, Jason Holder knows her well and gets back on board I expect her to start favourite and be hard to beat.
I am happy to forgive Komachi’s last run when I liked him last start, he never really got a crack at them in clear air.
The big, spacious Murray Bridge track should suit him well and having drawn a low gate, he can settle closer in the run.
Komachi has some good tempo on paper which should ensure that he gets his chance to hit the line strongly and give us a great run at an each way price.
We were with Merchant Boss last weekend and I like him on the quick seven day back up here.
He has a middle draw which I don’t mind, as he can roll across the field under his own steam, rather than having to bustle through like last start, he should be cherry ripe off last weeks run on the quick back up and he looks the one to beat with his main danger Wine Baron being first up.
Ti Tree Lad was very very good defying the pattern of racing at the Bool, coming from well back in the field to win strongly.
This race looks tougher and Maracourt is going to be hard to beat but is short enough, plus he did not have any luck last weekend and is on the seven day back up.
At the current price Ti Tree Lad is a nice play each way, he looks progressive enough to be winning a Saturday race this time of year.
Fox Gem has really hit his straps his last couple of starts, he was beaten in midweek grade last start having to lump the 62.5kg on the day.
Thankfully here he drops 6kg on his last performance, which should help when going up in grade, but he looks progressive enough to be able to take the step with a light weight.
He will give them a start and charge at them late with Lachlan Neindorf going on.
Press Down finds a very suitable assignment here off his figures his last couple of starts, I have him marked clear favourite.
He’s got a good draw in Barrier 3 and has a good record at the track, last start he was only 2.1 lengths off Extremely Lucky who then went on to contest the Group 1 Goodwood.
He looks very well placed here third up and is ready to win.
Huge run first up when well supported in the market, he was a touch disappointing last start when we had him on top.
I think after such a big run first up, he put in a touch of a flat one second up, there is good speed in this race, he will get his chance to run on hard late, third up now from a spell he should be cherry ripe and be very hard to beat.