Best Bets
Race 2 No.3 Mic Drop (Next Best)
Race 4 No.2 Darknconfidential (Value)
Race 8 No.1 Declared (Best)
Race 10 No.10 Angel Torque
Track
- Racing on the course proper for Saturday’s meeting
- Forecast for warm weather so the meeting will kick off on a Good 4 with potential of an upgrade to a Good 3 later in the day
- The rail will be in the True position for the first time since 22/11/25
- Generally an even track, with lanes 4–8 in the straight producing the majority of winners, though a dry track could favour on-speed runners
Stats
- Caitlin Jones is in hot form, riding 17 winners in her last 100 rides with a POT of +41.7%, and is booked for 3 rides today
- Darryl Dodson brings just one runner to the meeting but continues to produce strong results, saddling 19 winners from his last 100 starters at a POT of +54.6%
Race 1
Only the one 2YO in this race has race experience with majority of the field making their debuts.
The McEvoy Stable bring (5) Expensive Taste across the border for her debut, she has won two trials at Flemington and maps well from a low barrier, sets up well here.
Local (4) Ole Go won a recent trial at Murray Bridge in good time for the day, that trial suggested he could be a progressive type and expecting he will show good speed.
(1) Our Brave Boy is the only runner in the field who has race experience when running 2nd at Pakenham, he will jump from barrier 1 which could be an advantage.
(2) Big Wigs looks the next best of the runners coming out of the trials having been trialling in Victoria recently.
Selections:
(5) Expensive Taste
(4) Ole Go
(1) Our Brave Boy
(2) Big Wigs
Suggested Bet: Tough to split out of the trials, no bet
Race 2
(3) Mic Drop rated highly when winning last start making her debut for a new stable, she is 4 weeks between runs but generally performs well fresh and at this distance (5:3-0-0) so expecting she can hard to beat again in a similar race to what she won last time.
(5) Blanc Visage won well 1st up at Gawler on a track that wasn’t expected to suit and looks likely to be better suited in this set up on a track that is generally more even. She has won previously when 2nd up so has scope to perform well again.
(4) Daisydoo is on the quick back up having run 2nd last weekend and has now finished in the placings 3 times this prep, this is a similar level but she gets in lighter at the weights after an apprentice claim.
(1) Shisuta Bo was found to be lame last start so forgive that run and her form previous was much better, she rates highly down in grade but may be better over further
Selections:
(3) Mic Drop
(5) Blanc Visage
(4) Daisydoo
(1) Shisuta Bo
Suggested Bet: (3) Mic Drop (Win)
Race 3
(2) Chur Nibble was well supported to win last start but was caught late by (6) Mrs Penny Cracker. Backing (2) Chur Nibble to be able to turn the tables here with a swing at the weights and dropping back to the 1600m trip should suit better if he gets a soft run.
(8) Rubini has previously taken time in a prep to find winning form and can peak here 3rd up now and getting in with a light weight should set her up well to be hitting the line strongly.
(6) Mrs Penny Cracker is in super form including a last start win and again could threaten here in a similar grade, she remains light at the weights after an apprentice claim.
(1) Smother was a winner 1st up to win his maiden, he was slow away last start so had some excuses for the poor run, he can bounce back if he gets away better this time
Selections:
(2) Chur Nibble
(8) Rubini
(6) Mrs Penny Cracker
(1) Smother
Suggested Bet: Tough field to split, no bet
Race 4
Looks a really good race with a lot of in form runners but (2) Darknconfidential has opened up a big price for a runner who was in consistent form late last year and ran a very good race Cranbourne Cup day when up in grade. He comes into this race fresh now and coming back to the 1600m trip where he has won 3 of 6 starts, can surprise these runners at odds.
(7) Teardrop Rotation ran well at Flemington last time last start off the back of two wins to kick off this prep, she drops back in grade here today which should suit, she deserves to be favourite based on recent form.
(5) Komachi has been performing well in similar races recently winning two of his past three, he has a super record over this track/distance set up and will likely be finishing off strongly.
(6) I Catchem Fox continues to run well this prep, he gets in well at the weights after an apprentice claim and maps for a positive run, goes well on dry tracks so conditions may suit.
Selections:
(2) Darknconfidential
(7) Teardrop Rotation
(5) Komachi
(6) I Catchem Fox
Suggested Bet: (2) Darknconfidential (Each Way)
Race 5
(1) Discreetly Blue was solid when resuming at Gawler to run into 3rd, he was well supported to win there and fitter now 2nd up at this track I’m expecting he can be an improver with a better set up.
(8) She Rex makes her debut for a new stable today, she trialled well recently at Gawler and hasn’t missed the placings in two previous 1st up runs, she can fire fresh with a positive race map.
(9) Prestige Ka Ying has been competitive in potentially stronger Maidens in her previous two starts; she may find this an easier assignment and maps well jumping from barrier 3.
(2) Elite Thunder resumes, he showed signs of talent in his debut prep but perhaps didn’t appreciate the wet tracks, can improve here on a dry surface.
Selections:
(1) Discreetly Blue
(8) She Rex
(9) Prestige Ka Ying
(2) Elite Thunder
Suggested Bet: Low appeal Maiden, no bet
Race 6
(5) Wild Winner is a runner who can bounce back from a poor performance last start, she rose in trip and in grade which may not have suited so she gets a better set up here today and a much better race map from a low barrier. Her form earlier this prep was super so if she can recapture that she sets up well.
(3) Mellifluent has hit the line strongly in his last two starts over the 1600m, he looks suited at the 1800m trip now if he can perform on the dry ground, he should be strong through the line again.
(6) Coorong Tycoon has been around the mark in two runs this prep including a 2nd placing last start behind the in form Full Of Courage, which is a form line that reads well, back to the 1800m trip looks ideal.
(9) Thinkingnintynine needs to take a step up in class to be a chance here but maps as the likely leader of the race and with a light weight could take catching if given a soft time of it out in front.
Selections:
(5) Wild Winner
(3) Mellifluent
(6) Coorong Tycoon
(9) Thinkingnintynine
Suggested Bet: Low confidence, no bet
Race 7
(3) Sghirripa hasn’t been anywhere near his best this prep in stronger races over in Victoria and has been freshened since those performances, he looks better suited back in his home state and a recent trial win suggests he can find his better form again. Last time we saw him over the track/distance set up he was a close 2nd at Group 3 level.
(8) Prairie Flower had little luck in The Christmas Handicap here recently but hit the line strongly when getting clear air, it is always the risk with her race pattern that she needs luck and maps to be out the back again here today, but expect she will be strong late.
(1) Klabel was the winner of the Listed Christmas Handicap, this listed race sets up similar for him again and he maps well to the inside but may cop more pressure on speed today.
(9) Lingani resumes, she has a super record over this track/distance set up and can fire fresh, but her best usually comes on wet tracks.
Selections:
(3) Sghirripa
(8) Prairie Flower
(1) Klabel
(9) Lingani
Suggested Bet: No bet (E/W temptation Sghirripa at double figures)
Race 8
(1) Declared resumed with an impressive win at Murray Bridge last time out and looked to have more gears to give when soft through the line, fitter 2nd up off that strong performance looks to give him a strong chance again and with a soft race map he should be in an ideal position and have every chance again.
(2) Yasuke resumes today, he is a runner who performs well fresh having won twice 1st up previously, maps well here jumping from barrier 3.
(4) Bristler tired last start having got caught up on speed in a fast run race, he again maps as the leader but should get a softer time of it out in front so expecting improvement here.
(8) Purfect Line has been hard for punters to catch through his career but has found good form early in this prep, he showed improvement last start and looks likely to get a favourable set up in these conditions.
Selections:
(1) Declared
(2) Yasuke
(4) Bristler
(8) Purfect Line
Suggested Bet: (1) Declared (Win)
Race 9
(6) Vaniteux & (2) All Too Mysti ran 1st & 2nd last start at Strathalbyn and again look like key chances here but feel (6) Vaniteux can turn the tables today. She gets a good weight swing after an apprentice claim and with a light weight and a positive race map, she should take some catching from out in front. (2) All Too Mysti does have the winning form and should be respected in this field.
(4) Saint Boom stuck on well in her last start when she had to endure a wide run through the race. She has been in consistent form this prep and will be suited on an even track if they can make up ground.
(8) Brown Nose Day Gal was a winner in an easier race last start and needs to take a step up, but she jumps from a low barrier and has good early speed so should race in good position
Selections:
(6) Vaniteux
(2) All Too Mysti
(4) Saint Boom
(8) Brown Nose Day Gal
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 10
Sticking with (10) Angel Torque here today who is on the quick back up after a close 3rd last week at Murray Bridge. She found herself 2nd in the run on a fast tempo and was caught late on the line. This is a slight drop in grade for her today and she may be better suited here today if she can find some cover in the run and get a chance to win off a more moderate To600m.
(1) Vexatious Dancer is sharply down in grade having contested a Listed race in her last start, last time she contested this grade she was a winner and a dry track will suit her.
(7) Thunder Shoc won well last start over this track/distance running some of the fastest closing splits of the day, this requires another step up in level, but she is in good enough form to handle that.
(8) Star Sirius kicked off her preparation in a stronger race at Geelong and looks likely to be better suited here today down in grade and fitter 2nd up.
Selections:
(10) Angel Torque
(1) Vexatious Dancer
(7) Thunder Shoc
(8) Star Sirius
Suggested Bet: (10) Angel Torque (Win)
