Summary of Best Bets:
- Best Bet: Race 7 – (6) Gazelle
- Next Best: Race 6 – (2) Chur Nibble
- Best Value: Race 8 – (3) Steel Tsunami
Turf Talk:
- The track is currently rated a Soft 6 with showers forecast for race day. It is unlikely to improve and could potentially downgrade depending on how much rain falls.
- The rail moves out to +12m 900m-Winning Post, +12m Winning Post-1800m and +9m the remainder.
- Murray Bridge is a big, open track, so despite the rail pushing out it should still play fairly. Expect runners to come down the middle of the straight, with those finding cover in the run generally advantaged.
Key Stats:
- Alysha Warren’s 1.5kg claim is important at this time of year and she is in super form, with 14 winners from her last 100 rides at a POT of +35.1%.
- Harry Grace is riding winners consistently with 13 from his last 100 rides, but those haven’t come at much value and his POT return for punters is -27.7%.
- Travis Doudle had a successful weekend with three winners and has produced 19 winners from his last 100 runners at a POT of +18.4%.
Race 1
(12) Stand Alone was a big improver in her second-up run at Mount Gambier when finishing in the placings. This sprint trip should suit again with her early speed and light weight making her tough to catch.
(3) Glouf resumes for his second preparation. This is easier than the first two races he contested in his career and he looked solid in a recent trial, so can be capable of firing fresh.
(1) Summertime Madness was solid when resuming and running into third at Balaklava. He is fitter now and the more spacious Murray Bridge circuit suits, although he will need luck from a wide barrier.
(2) Four On The Floor resumes for a new stable. This looks easier than any of the Maidens he contested in Victoria and he looked handy in a recent trial, making him capable of a strong first-up performance.
Selections:
(12) Stand Alone
(3) Glouf
(1) Summertime Madness
(2) Four On The Floor
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 2
(7) Katrina’s Legacy ran well on debut at Balaklava behind a sharp winner, with the pair putting a big gap on the rest of the field. He looks a key speed influence and should improve second-up, making him capable of breaking through.
(8) Latibulate is on debut after winning a jump-out before a quieter trial. He maps to get a lovely run from barrier three with a senior jockey aboard.
(12) Patanjali has mixed her form this preparation but looks capable of improving back to this distance range and on the bigger track.
(2) Blazing Red sets up for the right run out of barrier 1 and should put himself in a nice position in run to give him his best chance.
Selections:
(7) Katrina’s Legacy
(8) Latibulate
(12) Patanjali
(2) Blazing Red
Suggested Bet: (7) Katrina’s Legacy (Win)
Race 3
(10) Love Kaye made a strong start for her new stable at Balaklava, producing some of the best closing sectionals of the meeting to finish second. She maps for a much kinder run from barrier three and should relish the rise in trip.
(12) Polar Eyes ran well behind a smart winner last start and maps to enjoy an economical run from a low draw, giving her another strong chance.
(8) Took Gardner has finished runner-up at both career starts and looks ready for the rise in distance. The claim from an in-form apprentice is another positive.
(2) Mr Ribtickler never got into the race first-up at Balaklava. His trial form beforehand was excellent and he can improve sharply, although the wide gate is the obvious query.
Selections:
(10) Love Kaye
(12) Polar Eyes
(8) Took Gardner
(2) Mr Ribtickler
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 4
Veteran (1) France’s Boy looks well placed dropping back in grade. The last time he contested this level he was a winner at Gawler, he handles all conditions and should get every chance.
(2) Robert The Puss also looks capable of improvement coming back in class and should appreciate the slight rise in distance.
(7) Covert Witness disappointed when dropping in grade last start but may simply not have been suited by that track. Back to the more spacious Murray Bridge circuit and jumping from barrier one should suit.
(6) Retourne is at peak fitness deep into the preparation and can improve coming back in trip. Any improvement in the track conditions would only enhance his chances.
Selections:
(1) France’s Boy
(2) Robert The Puss
(7) Covert Witness
(6) Retourne
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 5
(4) United Legend was scratched from a very winnable race on Sunday to contest this and looks well placed. His recent form stacks up nicely for a race of this nature and his Murray Bridge record of three starts for two wins and a placing is hard to ignore.
(2) High Society Girl has been only fair this preparation but she traditionally improves with racing. Fourth-up, back in grade and up to a more suitable trip all point towards improvement.
(7) Rikki Rikkardo has been racing consistently in similar grade races and should enjoy a soft run from barrier one, making her another genuine winning hope.
(1) Empirestateofmind resumed from a long spell in an unsuitable race where he finished last. He strips fitter second-up, rises to a more suitable distance and has the scope to improve sharply.
Selections:
(4) United Legend
(2) High Society Girl
(7) Rikki Rikkardo
(1) Empirestateofmind
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 6
(2) Chur Nibble resumes from a break after competing in much stronger company last campaign. He has performed well fresh previously, looked sharp in a recent trial and looks ideally placed dropping back in grade.
(3) Dreams Fulfilled has been only fair in recent starts but those efforts came in stronger races. The drop in class and rise to 1400m look ideal.
(11) She Rex has tackled stronger company since breaking through in Maiden grade. She maps to enjoy a soft run from barrier three and her effort over the concluding stages last time suggests the 1400m will suit.
(9) Hazy Daze couldn’t match them first-up but should derive plenty of benefit from that run and can improve second-up with a kinder run in transit.
Selections:
(2) Chur Nibble
(3) Dreams Fulfilled
(11) She Rex
(9) Hazy Daze
Suggested Bet: (2) Chur Nibble (Win)
Race 7
(6) Gazelle smashed her rivals when breaking her maiden at Mount Gambier before stepping sharply in grade at this track, where she flashed home to be beaten just half a length in city company. She drops back in class here and the rise in distance looks ideal. If she reproduces either of her last two runs, she’ll prove very hard to hold out.
(7) Stolen Kiss looks well placed to improve dropping back in grade and should appreciate getting onto more favourable track conditions than she faced last start.
(8) Make Me A Star showed ability early this campaign before finding stronger company beyond her at her past two starts. Back in grade and returning to a track where she has a good record, she should be charging late.
(4) One Kind failed to fire last time but may not have handled the dirt surface. Back onto a Soft track and drawn to enjoy the run of the race, she can bounce back.
Selections:
(6) Gazelle
(7) Stolen Kiss
(8) Make Me A Star
(4) One Kind
Suggested Bet: (6) Gazelle (Win)
Race 8
(3) Steel Tsunami was overrun when resuming from a lengthy spell in stronger company. He drops back in grade here, strips fitter and should enjoy the run from barrier one over the 900m.
(2) Sioux Warrior couldn’t be racing any better after winning his past two starts. He rates highly again and gets further assistance from Alysha Warren’s 1.5kg claim.
(5) Koratora looks capable of improving back in grade. She has good early speed and may well find the front from barrier two.
(1) Squad was a winner two starts ago before tackling a stronger race and failing last time. Can bounce back down in grade and has early speed which could suit over this sprint trip.
Selections:
(3) Steel Tsunami
(2) Sioux Warrior
(5) Koratora
(1) Squad
Suggested Bet: (3) Steel Tsunami (Eachway)
Race 9
A very open race closes the program.
(11) Kalosyni mixed her form last preparation but looks to have found a suitable first-up assignment. She has won fresh previously, maps to enjoy a soft run and gets in well at the weights.
(2) Flying Ace resumed for his new stable with a midfield finish and should strip fitter second-up. An inside draw gives him every chance to settle much closer in the run.
(9) Shalhavmusik resumes after racing in stronger company last campaign. He drops in grade and has previously won at Murray Bridge.
There isn’t a great deal of early speed in this race which could see (3) Ilovenews find a good position quickly in the run jumping from barrier 1. He is fitter 2nd up also so has scope to improve on last start.
Selections:
(11) Kalosyni
(2) Flying Ace
(9) Shalhavmusik
(12) Mondello
Suggested Bet: No bet
