3 minute read
RACE 1 - 12:17PM G.H. Mumm Plate (1050 METRES)
Richard and Chantelle Jolly have SPLISH SPLASH and KALASEC on debut. Likewise Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas have two in TE PANI and GUMERACHA CRACKER who gets blinkers on for his debut. I thought TE PANI was good late running 2nd behind Splish Splash in that recent jump-out and would appreciate the extra distance under race conditions. Angelique is a Victorian and the only horse to race running 10th at Group 3 level on debut when she showed speed and stuck on OK, and she draws a nice gate.
SELECTIONS: 5 TE PANI, 4 Splish Splash, 2 Angelique, 1 Kalasec
PLAY: Backing TE PANI here.
RACE 2 - 12:52PM Twilight Races at Morphettville - Friday December 16th Handicap (1800 METRES)
Hopon Harry jumps back in trip and down in weight which looks ideal for him. He was a good winner on the Parks two starts beating Oh Mo and looks perfectly placed here. Morty has a great record with 3 wins from 4 starts this track and trip and he looks the danger after a good effort behind Montign last time. Wild Imagination draws a nice gate and was a good winner over Residue last start, Wild Willy finished third in that race and his form is solid. Lake's Folly doesn't run too many bad races and Call Me Shamus should appreciate getting back up in trip.
SELECTIONS: 3 HOPON HARRY, 1 Morty, 7 Wild Imagination, 4 Lake's Folly
PLAY: Keen on HOPON HARRY.
RACE 3 - 1:27PM HT Capital Handicap (2500 METRES)
Sous Les Nuages was a winner on the Parks on 2400m three starts back and his latest was in behind a very nice horse in White Marlin on Cup Day. The 2500m looks ideal, he draws a good gate and can regain winning form here. Robe Raider has been around the mark and should have almost won two runs back and then was OK behind Sebonna last time. Busker's Ballad has been racing well and is well weighted after the claim. Clever Man has a good record at the trip and could be an improver here. Darlamax has a great record when he comes to SA and is another who can improve.
SELECTIONS: 2 SOUS LES NUAGES, 6 Robe Raider, 4 Busker's Ballad, 1 Clever Man
PLAY: Backing SOUS LES NUAGES.
RACE 4 - 2:02PM Westonians Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)
La Defense caught the eye on debut making good ground behind stablemate Wakanjeja. He draws a middle gate and looks the one to beat with that experience under his belt. Validated made ground on debut in the same race and draws a nice barrier. Ice Symphony has shown ability and has jumped out well and draws a nice gate. FALAISE has trialled nicely but draws a sticky gate. SIR LEAPALOT ran 2nd in a recent trial and draws a nice barrier.
SELECTIONS: 5 LA DEFENSE, 9 Validated, 4 Ice Symphony, 2 Falaise
PLAY: Backing LA DEFENSE.
RACE 5 - 2:42PM Tom Schnaars Bucks Handicap (1200 METRES)
WHO'S CLANG was a winner on the Parks on debut and then stuck on well when 3rd behind Dancing Stream after covering ground from a wide gate. FOXY FEMME draws wide but was super impressive on debut at Gawler before racing a touch keenly there last time. LUCKY FORTUNA draws out but looked good winning at Balaklava on debut and her latest behind Zufasta was good for a race like this. PONTEDERA looked good beating Tapinforpar on the Parks last time out and draws a nice gate here. FLY THE LINE ran well on debut behind Hot Sparky before proving too strong for Crown Moshe here last time. He draws a middle gate. WINNING REVOLUTION has ability and was runner-up behind The Magistrate here at his SA debut, gets the claim and should run well. SPANISH STROLL was a good winner two starts back and maps well from the barrier. SIPSMITH comes off a god Gawler win and must be given some thought. FLYWAY is a former NSW galloper first-up for Scott Westover and was a Goulburn winner before a break.
SELECTIONS: 4 WHO'S CLANG, 7 Foxy Femme, 12 Lucky Fortuna, 1 Pontedera
PLAY: Backing WHO'S CLANG.
RACE 6 - 3:22PM Grand Syndicates Handicap (1800 METRES)
EAGLELOU draws a nice gate and was good behind Yardstick at Balaklava before a soft 2 length win at Gawler. He has plenty of upside and can handle the step up to city class. RESIDUE won well here three starts back and was well backed when 2nd behind Wild Imagination last time. He gets in OK after the claim and maps to be on speed from barrier. ENTITLED PRINCESS has been just behind the placings at both SA runs and is another drawn to get a nice run behind the speed. FOX GEM draws the inside and has been good his past couple. BALLROOM DANCER is chasing three wins on end, WHEELS OF COURAGE has been racing well but draws a sticky gate. UNDERSTATEMENT is another who has been racing well and must be included in quaddies.
SELECTIONS: 3 EAGLELOU, 1 Residue, 5 Entitled Princess, 2 Ballroom Dancer
PLAY: Backing EAGLELOU each-way.
RACE 7 - 4:02PM Brenton Costello's 80th Handicap (1050 METRES)
JEAN VALJEAN is a watch here first-up for Will Clarken. He's shown plenty in 10 starts winning here two starts back before a good run behind Ocean Reward and looks perfectly placed from the good barrier in a race where there should be good tempo. SABERMATIC ran an odds-on favourite when 7th behind Rodeo last time. He bolted in on a soft track at his previous and looks a big threat here. He's another who can sit off the speed and be strong late. HOLLOWED GROUND his first-up in SA and has trialled well. His three wins have all been in front and he can give them something to chase here. Stablemate INSPIRED SUN has trialled OK and he raced very well when last in work. QUEMAN has good speed and has trialled well, he draws a sticky barrier. QEYAADY is first-up for Michael Hickmott and I thought his trial at Strathalbyn was OK for his first-up run. He's a massive price. ANJOPIN has been racing well and maps to get a nice run here. WONDERWOMEN is first-up for Aaron Bain and must be kept safe.
SELECTIONS: 12 JEAN VALJEAN, 13 Sabermatic, 1 Hollowed Ground, 8 Qeyaady
PLAY: Keen on JEAN VALJEAN.
RACE 8 - 4:42PM Adelaide Galvanising Industries Christmas Handicap (1200 METRES)
STREETCAR STRANGER was solid second-up from a spell when 4th behind Jigsaw in the Doveton Stakes. He's been in the money at all three runs here and can be the one getting over the top of the leaders. STRUCK BY has been solid in all three runs this time in, he'll roll forward and he's going to give them something to chase here with the big drop in weight. MANHATTEN TIMES is bursting to break through and should be suited form the gate. He beat all but DIAMONDS in the City of Marion last time and they will be sweeping again late. OCEAN BEYOND is back in trip and draws out but is more than capable in a race like this. SECOND SLIP gets blinkers for the first time. SCREWED DOWN should settle nice and handy to the lead and must be respected.
SELECTIONS: 2 STREETCAR STRANGER, 8 Struck By, 9 Manhatten Times, 7 Diamonds
PLAY: Something on STREETCAR STRANGER each-way (2/3).
RACE 9 - 5:20PM Happy 40th Adam Dente Handicap (1200 METRES)
SMOKIN' VAL is bursting to win a race and she was good behind Aston Rapova last time. She gets in very well after the claim, draws a gate and this looks her chance to find winning form. OUTPOST gets in well with the claim and was a winner here three starts back, he was good in the Aston Rapova race last time, can ride the speed and take running down. TEST THE LAW is also accepted at Moonee Valley and should strip fitter for a good run first-up from a spell. TAHNEE TRADITION had very good market support first-up from a spell when down the track at Warrnambool and she is more than capable of being in the mix here. MISS LANGTRY is more than capable of improving in a race like this, back in trip. KONG has been racing well and must be respected. WHEELS is a watch first-up in SA, LAST GIRL LOVE can improve second-up.
SELECTIONS: 7 SMOKIN' VAL, 4 Outpost, 10 Tahnee Tradition, 13 Test The Law
PLAY: Something small on TAHNEE TRADITION at odds (1/4).
