Nine races have been assembled this Saturday at Morphettville to celebrate the final day of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
The Group 1 The Goodwood headlines the program, while there are also five other races of black type to be contested.
We’ve cast our eyes over the entire meeting and offer our best bets below.
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Race 1 – Rexcel Handicap (2015m)
Does It has been up for a while, but he’s done well to hold his form and return a pair of wins from his last three starts.
The son of Pins held on late to win the Oakbank Cup on rain-affected going two back before finishing a good gap back in third in the Port Adelaide Cup two weeks ago behind Splendiferous.
Back to 2400m should suit on firmer footing, and there’s no knock on his fitness.
Race 2 – Thomas Farms Handicap (2015m)
No surprise to find Will Clarken’s lightly raced three-year-old Extremely Luck well-backed.
The son of Extreme Choice won his maiden by a clear margin on debut at Murray Bridge late last and now presents third-up into his second campaign ready to strike.
The sectionals he rattled off in the Group 2 Tobin Bronze a couple of weeks ago were impressive to say the least, and he should find this a touch easier back in grade on a more suitable surface.
Race 3 – Carbine Club of SA Inc Handicap (1200m)
Deep race, so I’m happy to have something on Brother’s Shadow at a decent price.
The Travis Doudle-trained four-year-old has made only seven starts to date, returning three wins and a place.
He was strong late last week when fifth behind Queman over shorter, a run he can improve on after being held up at a crucial stage down the straight. Fitter and drawn well, he’s in with a chance.
Race 4 – Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m)
See You In Heaven basically picks herself here.
The daughter of Divine Prophet steps out in search of her hat-trick after winning the Breeders Stakes by nearly two lengths three weeks ago, while her win the start prior in the Dequetteville was equally as dominant.
How she handles 1200m on a much firmer surface is the main query, but drawn to get the rails run, she’s hard to bet against in the former National Stakes.
Race 5 – Listed Dominant Centaurea Stakes (2015m)
Last-start Queen of the South winner Silent Sovereign goes on top for mine.
The McEvoy-trained mare proved too strong from out wide over the mile, defeating Foxy Frida late, and I think she’ll appreciate the rise to 2000m now with a few runs under her belt.
The daughter of Dalakhani won over this trip at Ballarat during the spring and she’s drawn to get back and run on again from barrier 12. Her form here at Morphettville also reads well.
Race 6 – Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m)
Morrissette has been only plain since winning her maiden at Warrnambool first-up, but I thought she showed plenty in the run home a couple of weeks ago in the Oaks.
The daughter of Pierro probably got a little too far back in the run, but she still made up good ground to finish eighth.
She’s drawn to get a much kinder run in transit here from the low gate in the SA Fillies Classic, while she also ran a big race over 2500m in the VRC Oaks at Flemington during the spring. Firm track is the big query, but hard fit and with the blinkers on, I think she only runs well.
Race 7 – Group 3 R A Lee Stakes (1600m)
Dalasan doesn’t win out of turn but considering some of the company he’s raced against recently, you have to think he adds to his record here.
The five-year-old hasn’t been seen since running fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick last month, but he’s always been a good fresh horse with a pair of wins and a pair of placings to his name.
More importantly, he hasn’t missed the money in six starts on his home track, while this is also a big drop in class for the RA Lee Stakes.
Race 8 – Group 1 The Furphy Goodwood (1200m)
Another wide-open edition of The Goodwood with a case to be made for a few.
The Astrologist has competed at Group 1 level in three of his last four starts, most notably running second to boil-over winner Roch ‘N’ Horse in the Newmarket at Flemington, and two-lengths sixth to September Run in the William Reid at The Valley.
His most recent venture saw him only beaten late at Caulfield in the Vobis Gold Sprint where he rolled forward and was gunned down late. Still, he’s a four-time winner over 1200m and drops 4kg’s under Fred Kersley, making him one of the better value bets in the race.
Race 9 – Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m)
Miss Albania has raced well without winning this time in work, running fifth on all three occasions.
She deserved to win the D C McKay Stakes here at Morphettville a fortnight ago where she struggled for room down the straight, a much-improved effort on her previous run at Caulfield.
John Allen has a job on his hands from the wide gate, but back to her own sex and on a firmer track, she’s in with a good chance to win this season’s Proud Miss Stakes.
