South Australian Derby Tips, Field Preview and Selections – 2021

The 2021 Adelaide Racing Carnival continues at Morphettville on Saturday with a capacity field of three-year-olds lining up in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m).

Favourites have typically dominated this race over the last decade with Danny O’Brien’s Irish raider Russian Camelot first past the judge last year as a $2.90 chance.

This year, Australian Derby winner Explosive Jack has been installed at short odds in Ladbrokes betting, while there’s also plenty to like about the Lindsay Park-trained Personal coming off last week’s narrow runner-up to Media Award in the Australasian Oaks.

For our thoughts on all 16 runners, be sure to read our entire 2021 South Australian Derby Preview here!

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Explosive Jack
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s lightly-raced colt Explosive Jack will venture to South Australia for the first time on Saturday in search of back-to-back Group 1’s.

The New Zealand import has been installed as the short-priced favourite after nabbing Young Werther right on the line to win the Australian Derby three weeks ago as a 16-1 shot, and does appear suited to the wide gate after making up enormous ground last time out from a five-wide position.

The three-year-old has win twice previously on soft tracks, so he should appreciate any rain about.

Royal Mile
Royal Mile has found in the money in all eight of his starts so far as he continues to progress through the grades in style.

The three-year-old son of Danerich won his first race at Saturday grade three back over the mile at Morphettville and has since gone on to add two more victories to his resume by impressive margins in the Port Adelaide Guineas and the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes.

He was a slight query stepping up beyond 2000m last time out on the Parks track, but he quickly proved his doubters wrong by leading all the way to win by more than a length.

Jacob Opperman has plenty to work with from the inside draw and there is no doubt the pair will look to make their own luck again on speed.

Liqueuro
Liqueuro gets his chance at a hat-trick on Saturday coming off two impressive wins in the St Leger Trial at Bendigo and the Listed Galilee Final at Caulfield.

The gelding by Fiorente actually beat home Explosive Jack two runs back with a bursting run in the late stages, while his performance last time out to lead all-the-way was equally impressive.

This is his toughest assignment to date, but the 2500m looks no problem for him based one recent efforts, and the added chance of rain will only strengthen his claims.

Let’s Karaka Deel
Let’s Karaka Deel is looking to break a run of recent placings that includes a narrow runner-up to Dom To Shoot in the Mornington Guineas and a clear second to Royal Mile in the Port Adelaide Guineas.

Unlike most others in the field, the colt by Dundeel is one of the few with a run on the board over this trip after finishing only two lengths fifth to Johnny Get Angry in the Victoria Derby last year at Flemington.

Ben Allen does have some work to do from the awkward alley, but his recent form stacks up well.

Azaly
Azaly struggled to make up ground last time out in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes on the Parks track.

That was his first look at Group level and he’ll only find this tougher.

Deepstrike
Bit of a query on Deepstrike after he failed to fire in the Chairman’s in his first start beyond 1800m.

He won his previous two starts at Pakenham and Sandown in much easier company, but whether he handles the extra trip on Saturday in an even tougher race remains to be seen.

Miletus
Miletus finished off fairly for seventh in the Chairman’s following a comfortable win at Sale in a Benchmark 64 the start prior.

Despite his struggles last time out, he does look a talented stayer in the making after also winning at Sale over 2226m last December.

Barrier 5 should see him settle behind the speed and he could be worth a look in exotics with Jamie Mott back on board.

Montepulciano
Montepulciano was the surprise place-getter in the Chairman’s when second to Royal Mile after finishing off strongly from midfield.

The son of All Too Hard has been racing well without winning this campaign and was also competitive two back in the Port Adelaide Guineas for fifth.

Like most, he’s a query up to 2500m, but he could be a little over the odds based on recent efforts.

Nobel Heights
Nobel Heights won well first-up at Sandown over the mile and showed plenty of improvement in his first start at Group level last time out for fifth in the Chairman’s.

The way he finished off from well-back in that race was impressive to say the least, so there’s no question he’ll see out the 2500m.

Unlike his last two starts, he’s drawn much more kindly in barrier 4 and must be included in your numbers.

Abreed
Agreed won well on debut at Geelong last November but has mixed his form since returning to work.

He ran last in the Mornington Guineas over the mile three runs back and was never a factor last time out in the Chairman’s.

Would need to improve drastically to be any real factor.

Solar Apex
Solar Apex has been a consistent customer this time in work, albeit against much easier company.

The son of Deep Impact has found the placings in his last three starts at Kensington, Newcastle and Canterbury since resuming and tends to do some of his best work with a few runs under his belt.

The Chris Waller-trained galloper is facing black-type company for the first time on Saturday and should be better for it.

Suppression
Suppression journeys to Morphettville for the first time coming off a last start second at Bendigo over 2400m.

This looks tougher though and the wide gate only complicates matters.

Token Spirit
Token Spirit showed some improvement in his last start when 1.5L second to Heroic Fighter at Pakenham over 2200m.

He did win his maiden at Ballina beyond 2000m during the spring before going on run a very bold sixth in the Victoria Derby over this same trip.

He’s fitter now for three runs back and could be a sneaky knockout chance at odds.

Ichibansan
Ichibansan has been around the mark of late running fourth in the Port Adelaide Guineas before achieving a similar result last time out in the Chairman’s.

So far, he’s 0-9 on his home track though and is tough to recommend from an awkward gate.

Personal
Personal returns on the quick backup after being pipped right on the line by $61 pop Media Award in last week’s Australasian Oaks.

The filly by Fastnet Rock won the Group 1 VRC Oaks over this same trip at Flemington during the spring however, so the rise to 2500m should suit her at this stage of her campaign.

Another wide gate does make life tricky for Damien Oliver again, but she does have most of these covered on class alone.

Shebringzit
Shebringzit was one of the surprise place-getters in the Chairman’s after making up big ground coming out of the turn to run third behind Royal Mile and Montepulciano.

She has been up for a while, so whether she has enough left in reserve to see out an extra 500m remains the query.

South Australian Derby Tips

Personal at $6.50

This content was provided by Ladbrokes. View the original source at the Ladbrokes Blog.
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