A nine-race program has been assembled this Saturday at Morphettville, headlined by the Group 3 Auraria Stakes between the three-year-old fillies.
The Listed Dequetteville Stakes and the Port Adelaide Guineas will also take place, and you can find our best bets for the entire meeting below.
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Race 1 – 12:42pm – Benchmark 76 (1200m)
This looks a nice race for Point Blaze in her third run back.
The daughter of Shamus Award ran on well for fourth in a Stakes race over the track and trip first-up and is worth forgiving on her latest run at The Valley where she likely found the tight turns not to her liking.
She’s placed previously at this stage of her prep and will likely roll forward and settle just behind the pace.
Race 2 – 1:17pm – Thomas Farms Handicap (2032m)
Morty has been up for a while but he’s he’d his form nicely to return a win and a place over his last two starts.
The four-year-old out of the Shayne Cahill stable won narrowly over 1800m here two runs back before venturing to The Valley where he ran third after being held up at the top of the straight.
Out to 2200m now looks ideal and I also like the fact Barend Vorster back in the saddle. Form from his won over Sanblas two back also reads well.
Race 3 – 1:52pm – The Junction Handicap (1050m)
Quite like Magic Max here given he has an edge over No’s 1 and 2 having raced at Morphettville in the past.
The son of Magnus won on the Parks track close to a month ago by an impressive three lengths and continues to improve with each start.
This is tougher, but he’s found the money in three of his five starts over this trip now and gets in well with the claim. Should settle midfield and with even luck, be finishing off strongly.
Race 4 – 2:27pm – Happy 60th CP Handicap (1600m)
Fulton Street doesn’t win out of turn, but he is a proven miler with five wins next to his name.
The son of Street Cry stuck on well for fifth last week over 1200m and has handled racing on the quick backup previously.
I expect him to be a little more handy this time around from barrier 6 and it helps knowing he’s won previously over the track and distance.
Race 5 – 3:07pm – Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1050m)
Sticking with Bistro in the first black-type race of the day, the Listed Dequetteville Stakes.
The two-year-old filly by Street Boss put the writing on the wall on debut at Sandown last year winning by a length before resuming from a freshen-up to run fifth in the Blue Diamond Preview.
She showed real improvement to win the Listed Cinderella Stakes over the track and trip a few weeks ago, a form line that looks okay with second place-getter Runaway Belle going on to run well at Bendigo last week.
Fitter now, she’ll take beating up on the speed.
Race 6 – 3:47pm – M’s Fabulous Birthday Handicap (1526m)
Cafe Rizu ran some good races in Melbourne last winter and has since resumed nicely to win first-up on the Parks track a couple of weeks ago.
She gets in well with the claim in what is a slightly easier race, and although she has an awkward gate to contend with, I think she’s got the talent to put most of these away.
If Ben Price can ride her a peach like he did a fortnight ago and save her best for late, the pair should be tough to hold out.
Race 7 – 4:27pm – Group 3 Auraria Stakes (1800m)
Plenty of quality engaged in the feature and there really is a case to be made for a few.
Bon’s A Pearla ran third to Hitotsu in the Australian Guineas two back, but I’ve got Mac ’N’ Cheese on top here in search of her hat-trick.
The lightly-raced Sebring filly was sensational last-start winning the Claire Lindop by three lengths, a performance that suggested she’ll handle 1800m for the first time.
Barend Vorster sticks, and she should be finishing over the top of most of these in the late stages.
Race 8 – 5:02pm – Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m)
Daisies is a smart type that has won much tougher races than this during her short career.
The Sebring filly took out the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield during the spring and has since resumed to win the Alexandra Stakes at The Valley second-up.
She looks ready for 1800m now third-up and just needs a touch of luck from the wide gate to go her way.
Race 9 – 5:40pm – Benchmark 60 Handicap (1100m)
Three Tears tends to give an honest effort and I expect the same from her here in the last.
The daughter of Helmet just got up to win at Mount Gambier fresh and was only beaten late on the Parks track a couple of weeks ago by Aston Rapova.
She’s placed over this trip in the past and might be ridden a little more patiently this time around from the wide gate.