Nine races have been set for this Saturday’s Robert Sangster Stakes Day meeting at Morphettville.
The track is currently rated a Soft 5 with some rain forecast heading into the weekend.
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Race 1 – 11:47pm – Thomas Farms Handicap (1600m)
Eagles Crag has been waiting a couple of weeks to return, but providing it isn’t too wet here, you have to think he takes his place.
The son of Fastnet Rock has done some of his best racing fresh, as we saw at Benalla during the spring when he scored by two lengths.
Not sure where he winds up from the tricky draw, but if Jamie Kah can take him forward early and stalk the speed, he should be tough to hold out.
Race 2 – 12:52pm – G.H. Mumm Handicap (1200m)
Tricky race, so I’m happy to take a flyer on Peter Moody’s seven-year-old Carbone.
The old boy doesn’t win out of turn, but he did run a huge race first-up here at Morphhettville last month to just miss out on the spoils.
The turn of foot he showed racing from last to first was impressive and drawn low with the claim put to good use, he has to be respected on that.
Race 3 – 1:27pm – Listed Without Fear Stakes (1050m)
Aitch Two Oh looks to have a fitness edge and a class edge over most of her rivals here.
The Headwater filly won well on debut here on Boxing Day and proved that was no fluke scoring by five lengths on the Parks track first-up in March.
She ran a clear second to See You In Heaven last month in the Dequetteville, a run that was slightly disappointing as she appeared to have her chance 200m out from home.
Still, kept fresh and back on the short course, she’s the one they have to beat.
Race 4 – 2:02pm – Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m)
Maseratie Bay steps out in search of his hat-trick and should take some beating if John Allen can mimic Jye McNeil’s ride last time out at Caulfield.
The Maher and Eustace five-year-old rolled forward and made every post a winner over 2400m, and he’ll now carry around a few kgs extra for his troubles.
The form out of that has been franked with Steel Prince going on to win a couple of weeks ago though, and with some soft track form to his name, I think Maseratie Bay will be tough to beat.
Bet Now: 2 Units Maseratie Bay
Race 5 – 2:37pm – Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m)
Bacchanalia has been a tough horse to follow this prep, but his best is good enough to win a race like this.
The Godolphin three-year-old made it a hat-trick with a win in the Gosford Guineas late last year and is worth forgiving on his recent run in the Redelva Stakes where he weakened late on a firmer track.
He’s the type of horse that likes some sting out of the ground, and back out to 1200m from a much kinder draw, I expect him to improve.
Race 6 – 3:12pm – Queen of the South Stakes (1600m)
We’re getting a nice price in the Queen Of The South Stakes for Belle Plaisir on the back of a dominant win at Oakbank last month.
The Proisir mare settled midfield and exploded with a big turn of foot to win by 1.5L first-up, and I quite like the fact she’s been kept fresh with a few weeks between runs.
Her form over this trip is solid, and she’ll appreciate any extra rain about with a few wins to her name on soft going.
Race 7 – 3:52pm – Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m)
Quite like the look of Savatoxl ahead of his second run back in the DC McKay Stakes.
The McEvoy-trained six-year-old found himself too far back to strike in The Discovery at Sale a few weeks ago where he also had a tricky barrier to contend with.
He hasn’t drawn that much kinder on this occasion, but he’s typically done his best racing here at Morphettville with three wins to his name from five starts. His second-up record reads just as well and he should be a little more handy in the run this time.
Race 8 – 4:32pm – Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m)
The Robert Sangster Stakes is always a wide-open race, and this year’s edition is no exception.
The Freedman-trained Argentina has seen plenty of support throughout the week, and it’s not hard to see why.
The daughter of Frankel was an impressive winner on debut at Flemington last year before resuming at Caulfield in February where she won the Kevin Hayes Stakes over 1200m.
She then went on to run second in the Kewney Stakes back at Flemington, form that has since been franked with the winner Barb Raider going on to grab a place in last week’s Australasian Oaks.
This is tougher, but kept fresh and with the in-form Mark Zahra steering, I think she’ll run well.
Race 9 – 5:05pm – Furphy Handicap (1050m)
Hardly an ideal race to wrap up the day, but it does look a winnable one for Chosen Blonde first-up.
The daughter of Choisir ran some big races during the summer, most notably finishing runner-up here at Morphettville over the track and trip before heading to Caulfield where she closed out her prep running third.
She’s got a tricky barrier to contend with, but her fresh form reads well and she doesn’t mind some sting out of the track. Should give a good sight on speed and prove tough to run down.
