3 minute read
There’s Group 1 action from South Australia with the 2024 running of the South Australian Derby at Morphettville the feature race of the day.
Race 8 Morphettville
Bold Soul @ 8.00
Race 8 Eagle Farm
Wee Nessy @ 7.00
Race 8 Hawkesbury
Detonator Jack @ 3.80
Soul for Derby success
The previously mentioned Group 1 South Australian Derby over 2500m has attracted a field of 19, with Coco Sun expected to jump as favourite with Jamie Kah set to ride.
The filly came home fifth in the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks over this distance at Flemington in November and acquitted herself well that day despite being beaten over nine lengths.
The youngster was spelled following that effort and she won her first two starts at a lower level this prep, including by three lengths over 1600m at Bendigo last month.
Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy she won a Benchmark 70 handicap that day and has since placed third in the 2000m Group 1 Australasian Oaks at this track.
However tackling colts and geldings here she looks opposable, with BOLD SOUL selected in this event.
Trained by Patrick Payne, the gelding showed good form in Tasmania earlier this year winning both the Guineas and Derby there.
The pick returned to the mainland with a good third when beaten just over two lengths in the Adelaide Guineas over 1800m here on 13th April.
The selection arrives here on the back of a half-length success in the 2000m Group 3 Chairman's Stakes, which was held on a good 4 track here a week ago.
Jake Noonan, on board for each of the son of Embellish's last four starts, is again in the saddle and the pair are taken to record a Group 1 win together.
Nessy for Victory glory
The Group 2 Victory Stakes, the eighth race of the day at Eagle Farm, is the feature in Queensland with Antino expected to have his supporters first up.
Trainer Tony Gollan's gelding followed up a victory in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes over 1500m on the Hillside track at Sandown with a Group 1 second at Caulfield.
That Group 1 effort came in the 1600m Toorak Handicap, with the five-year-old absent since finishing 10th in the Five Diamonds at Rosehill two starts later.
Vlad Duric takes the ride here and, while his mount holds obvious claims on his first start of the year, WEE NESSY is preferred on this occasion.
Trained by Mick Price & Michael Kent, the filly finished third at Group 3 level on her first two starts this prep.
The most recent of those saw her beaten less than two lengths in the Birthday Card Stakes over this distance on a good 4 track at Rosehill.
The selection followed that third up with a victory in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes over the same trip at Randwick on 13th April.
Adam Hyeronimus' mount has an inside barrier here and looks capable of making his first start in Queensland a winning one.
Jack to triumph in Gold Cup
The Ciaron Maher team send out DETONATOR JACK in the third of three Group 3 races at Hawkesbury, the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
The five-year-old has shown good form in two starts this prep and is taken to deliver a victory in the 1600m handicap contest.
Set to carry top weight here, the pick resumed with a good third when beaten just over half-a-length in the Ajax Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill in March.
The selection raced on a soft 6 track that day and performed well once more when sixth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile over 1600m at Randwick last time out.
The gelding raced on a heavy 8 track at Randwick but has shown good form on a sound surface in the past and looks up to recording a win on his third start this prep.
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