Mitch Lewis takes a runner-by-runner look at Saturday’s Group 1 Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville, where a wide-open sprint contest brings together strong interstate form, local chances and a few lightly weighted runners ready to peak.
#2 Enriched
Trainer: M Freedman
Jockey: C Schofield
Comes through some of the stronger recent sprinting form lines in NSW, including the Group 1 Galaxy. He was last in that race, but not too far away from the winner in terms of margins. He hasn’t been at his best in recent runs, so needs to find improvement to be a chance.
#3 Grand Larceny
Trainer: M, W & J Hawkes
Jockey: B Melham
Exploded through the pack to win the recent John Hawkes Stakes over 1100m. He has always shown promise, but it feels like he hasn’t quite found his career peak yet. That huge performance last start has the writing on the wall that he can be a winning chance here. Now fitter second-up and capable in the conditions, he may surprise at big odds.
WATCH: Grand Larceny win the John Hawkes Stakes
#4 Desert Lightning
Trainer: P Moody & K Coleman
Jockey: L Nolen
Went around at similar odds at Mornington in what is likely an easier race than this. While he is fitter second-up and maps well in a race with little speed, he needs to find quick improvement on recent form to be a winning chance.
#5 Watchme Win
Trainer: A Gluyas
Jockey: J Holder
Has run second in his two lead-up races into this grand final, both times finishing within 1L of the winner. He has been a third-up winner previously and looks ready for the 1200m after what he produced in the John Hawkes. He looks likely to get back from the wide barrier, so can be flashing late if he gets the right run, but will likely be coming wide around the turn.
#6 Super Smink
Trainer: D Morton
Jockey: J Opperman
She was a big winner to kick off this campaign when taking out the R N Irwin Stakes, then looked a good chance in the Sangster Stakes, but she was wide throughout and eventually faded in the straight. She is drawn wide again, so risks getting caught wide in the run, but potentially this track will suit her better. Needs the right luck.
#7 Tycoon Star
Trainer: B, W & JD Hayes
Jockey: L Currie
Was an easy winner of the Tobin Bronze Stakes two weeks ago, which is generally one of the better form races in the lead-up to a Goodwood. He appears to be going as well as ever and with a light weight he looks suited. The wide barrier looks tricky on paper, but with no speed in the race and the inside lanes expected to be inferior, the draw may not prove to be a huge negative. Expect him to be a strong chance.
#8 Recon
Trainer: P Carey & H Walker
Jockey: P Moloney
Took out the Mornington sprint feature, the Hareeba, last start, but this is much harder now. He likely needs to find improvement to be a winning chance and given his limited form on wet tracks, that could prove tough.
WATCH: Recon win the Hareeba Stakes
#9 Sghirripa
Trainer: S & C Oxlade
Jockey: L Stojakovic
Has been well down on his best form of late, so will likely go around at big odds and deservedly so. If he is any rough winning chance, he may want a wetter track as he will go in the heavy, so any rain on race day could give him a small chance.
#10 Meridius
Trainer: L Kennewell
Jockey: C Parnham
Drops back to 1200m for this, but it looks like a sharp jump in level from the races he has been contesting so far this prep. He should be one of the rougher chances given the rise in grade and the tricky race map. A heavy track may give him a slightly better chance.
#11 Power Beau
Trainer: W Brown
Jockey: W Price
Was a surprise winner of the Listed City Of Marion Stakes earlier this year, but he hasn’t quite managed to find that level again so far this prep. There looks to be no early speed in this race, so he will likely push forward and lead. He can be a small chance if he gets cheap sectionals out in front.
#12 Midtown Boss
Trainer: M Laurie
Jockey: D Stackhouse
Ran on well late when finishing fourth in the Irwin Stakes recently. He was coming off a long spell that day, so can improve with the extra fitness now, but the track conditions don’t look ideal for his chances.
#13 Flying For Fun
Trainer: B Heys
Jockey: Z Lloyd
Appeared to be the sick beat of the Sangster when she was held up at a critical time before getting out and running some of the fastest closing sectionals of the race to miss by a small margin. If she can get a clear run in the straight this time and produce those fast closing splits again, she may prove hard to hold out. Her limited wet-track form is the risk.
#14 New York Lustre
Trainer: E Jusufovic
Jockey: K Crowther
Ran third in the John Hawkes Stakes when resuming. Now she comes into this fitter second-up, rising in distance and with wet-track form. With the race having little speed, she could settle in a positive position and may surprise at big odds given she can handle all conditions.
#15 Talkanco
Trainer: D & B Pearce
Jockey: L Fiore
Ran a huge race in The Quokka to finish within 1L of Jigsaw and Rey Magnerio, which is strong form for this. She gets a light weight on her back here, so expect she can be flying late if she gets the right run. The risk is barrier 2, with the inside lanes likely to be inferior, and she is relatively untested in wet conditions.
#16 Extragalactic
Trainer: T Edmonds
Jockey: L Cartwright
Ran the fastest last 600m of the race in the Tobin Bronze behind Tycoon Star and drops 4kg for this. The light weight should set her up to be running on late again. She needs to find another career peak to be a winning chance, but with the light weight she could be set up to do so.
WATCH: Extragalactic run second to Tycoon Star in the Tobin Bronze
Selections:
(3) Grand Larceny
(13) Flying For Fun
(7) Tycoon Star
Suggested Bet: (3) Grand Larceny – Eachway
