Betsy’s Set: Morphettville

Race 1

(8) Golden Guru was well supported last start in a listed 3YO race but left himself too much to do late off only a moderate tempo and couldn’t make up the ground on the winner. This race is a solid drop in grade despite the fact he takes on the older horses he could prove too classy.

(2) Goldfields Grey to control the tempo of the race and be hard to catch if he gets his own way out in front, his last start L600m suggests he will handle a jump to the 1800m.

(5) Paganini has improved into the placings in his last two starts and this doesnt appear too much stronger than those races. (11) Lai Flipper is another who maps to be prominent on speed and in the race for a long time

Selections:
(8) Golden Guru
(2) Goldfields Grey
(5) Paganini
(11) Lai Flipper
Suggested Bet: No bet, Golden Guru has the talent to win in this grade but against older horses now is the small query at the price

Race 2

The Stokes stable have a big opinion of what (4) Harmonic Dancer could be capable of and he has looked sharp at trial level but is yet to transfer that to the races. He has been well supported in his 2 career starts and the last start looked a handy form race so he should be well suited with this drop back down in grade. \

(9) Forever A Diamond has run into the placings in her last two starts and looks a likely leader of the race, might need an even tempo to see out a strong 1200m.

(5) Johnny The Jet was well supported on debut but never got a good run from a wide position, could be forgiven for that performance and watch for market moves again.

(3) Flying Zulu was finishing strongly last start so a rise in trip should suit and if they overdo it on speed he looks well set up.

Selections:
(4) Harmonic Dancer
(9) Forever A Diamond
(5) Johnny The Jet
(3) Flying Zulu
Suggested Bet: Harmonic Dancer (Win)

Race 3

(15) Vercelli has been an eye catcher at the trials of late. An ex-NSW runner from the Messara/Gavranich stable, now in the hands of Travis Doudle, she has had a long time away from the races which is the risk, but she maps well with a light weight and wouldn’t be a surprise here.

(1) Act Natural was well supported last start and appeared to have every chance before being run down. He rates highly and is consistent but just hasn’t been able to win in 8 starts. The wide barrier isn’t ideal but expect he will be well supported again.

(12) Ratadash ran well in a maiden that has had form franked recently with 2 subsequent winners, which is a form line that reads well.

(6) Royal Scripture resumes for his 2nd prep, he raced well in a recent trial and indicated improvement, a low draw will help

Selections:
(15) Vercelli
(1) Act Natural
(12) Ratadash
(4) Mr Zeus
Suggested Bet: Vercelli (EW)

Race 4

Some of these runners continue to meet and mix form lines but (3) Alpine Rocket brings different form from Victoria. He battled on last start, but in a much harder race and will be better suited in this grade and at the 2500m.

(1) Smiling Assassin rates highly and is dropping sharply in grade, he will have a big weight but his most recent win came in a heavy weight race so you know he can handle it.

(6) Ambitious Creek looks the likely leader of the race and will carry a lot less weight than some of the main chances, he could take some catching.

(8) Foxy Eagle next, she has good fitness but would have to find improvement for this.

Selections:
(3) Alpine Rocket
(1) Smiling Assassin
(4) Grinzinger Joy
(8) Foxy Eagle
Suggested Bet: No bet, not an appealing race to be betting into over this trip

Race 5

Being forgiving of the last start of (2) Bad Detective who pulled up lame. Prior to that race his form was solid in higher rated races, so down slightly in grade and maps for a soft lead, expecting improvement.

(3) Morlaix is another last start winner who was hitting the line well so will appreciate rising in distance, she maps to get a similar run as she did when she won last start.

(1) Mellifluent dropped in grade last start but never got a good run from a wide barrier. He still stuck on late, which suggests he will be suited rising in trip and draws much better today.

(7) Urbanise wasn’t far behind Morlaix in their last start so doesnt have to improve much to be a winning hope again.

Selections:
(2) Bad Detective
(3) Morlaix
(1) Mellifluent
(7) Urbanise
Suggested Bet: No bet, if Bad Detective isn’t at his best coming back from being lame, it is a very open race.

Race 6

(2) Collated relished a rise in trip last start to put in a career best performance. She needs to take a step up in grade now and may need luck early from the wide barrier, but her recent form is good enough to rise through the grades.

There is a chance they overdo it up on speed in this race and they might give (9) Utah the run of the race. He can settle close enough to the leaders here from barrier 1 and should find a position in run without doing much work early so gets the gun run. (1) Bit Of A Rebel won The Halidon Cup over this 1800m trip in his last start with a tough on-speed run. Maps well again here and should lead, but needs to handle a bigger weight now which might test late.

(6) Ima Shelby showed improvement last start when finishing in the placings for the first time this prep. He can mix his form but gets a good run from barrier 2.

Selections:
(2) Collated
(9) Utah
(1) Bit Of A Rebel
(6) Ima Shelby
Suggested Bet: No bet, would have more confidence betting if Collated drew a barrier

Race 7

The John Letts Cup is the Listed level feature race of this meeting.

(1) Air Assault was the winner of this race last year and looks to be hitting form at the right time to be winning again. He won The Gawler Cup last start and is now ideally set up, peaking in fitness 3rd up where he has a strong record (5:3-0-0) and he has won 3/3 starts over this track/distance.

(4) Sav On Ice won The Balaklava Cup two starts back before contesting a group race in Victoria that has since produced strong form. He comes in fresh, and this is his first look at a 1800m trip.

(7) Pudding has finished 2nd in his last 4 starts, all in similar level races, so he is never far away and now up to the 1800m suits where he has won over this track/distance twice.

(9) Darknconfidential looks to take a step up in grade for this, but is in career best form having won his last 3 starts, deserves a crack at this race.

Selections:
(1) Air Assault
(4) Sav On Ice
(7) Pudding
(9) Darknconfidential
Suggested Bet: Air Assault (Win)

Race 8

(2) There Goes My Hero & (1) Rob The Bank finished 1 & 2 in their last start but prefer the set up There Goes My Hero gets here. He draws to the inside which should give him a softer run than last time and he is fitter 2nd up now, he has yet to miss the top 3 in four 2nd up starts.

If the other two runners overdo it head to head up on speed, it should be (3) Threatening who can run over the top of them late given the way he has been hitting the line this prep, back to the 1200m looks to suit.

Rob The Bank does have the winning form against key rivals last start, but gets a tougher set up here.

(10) Tottori drops slightly in grade, which suits, and he has talent but has had little luck this prep, will need luck here from a wide barrier but is capable if the luck comes.

Selections:
(2) There Goes My Hero
(3) Threatening
(1) Rob The Bank
(10) Tottori
Suggested Bet: No bet, the race tempo is the unknown. If they overdo it out in front it could open the race up for multiple runners to swoop

Race 9

(2) All Too Mysti resumes here today. She has a good 1st up record and was consistent last prep so with a good set up here from an inside barrier and an apprentice claim she should get every chance to get run of the race.

(1) One Kind dropped in grade last start to salute at Clare. Rates well in this field again off that and should settle handy in the run, her chances increase if the track has some sting out of it as she won’t appreciate a good surface.

(6) Vallencourt has mixed form of late but is down in grade here, drawn wide but has good early speed so should manage to cross them quickly.

(3) Cararada was solid when resuming but generally improves 2nd up and will be suited up in trip.

Selections:
(2) All Too Mysti
(1) One Kind
(6) Vallencourt
(3) Cararada
Suggested Bet: No bet, would want a few in this quaddie leg to feel comfortable

Race 10

Lightly raced (1) Heaven Rocks resumes here today, his best performances of his career have all come when fresh into a prep so 1st up here could suit. He has showed good talent in the early parts of his career but mixed form badly last prep. The fact the stable have stuck with him suggest they may have got him back to his best.

(8) De Luca missed the start last time and was further back in the field than she would prefer, she still hit the line strongly, so if she can jump clean today and settle closer, she should be in the finish.

(9) Shadowfax hasn’t shown a lot in the first two runs of his prep, but he is drawn for a good run near the speed with a strong jockey aboard so he has the scope to improve. (3) Ambello drops in grade and is drawn a low barrier which could help him find improvement.

Selections:
(1) Heaven Rocks
(8) De Luca
(9) Shadowfax
(3) Ambello
Suggested Bet: No bet, Heaven Rocks should win this if he is switched on, but you are taking him on trust given how he finished last prep