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Morphettville Parks – Saturday 4th June 2022
Call Me Alvin (Race 3)
Loved the return of the Zebedee gelding who fought really hard with 58kg for a 0.1 length defeat. He was headed around the 200m mark before picking up again over the final 50m and really making it a contest. I want to follow him into his next start as his natural progression with favour him, especially against his own age group.
Murray Bridge – Saturday 28th May 2022
Legless Lady (Race 3)
Happy to stick with the form around Starts With Hello as I reckon he is a pretty good sort and this girl was 3/4 wide the entire trip and took him right up to the finish line. It was a big effort considering she was first-up after 245 days off, they obviously had a big opinion of her as her two races to start her career were in Listed and Group 3 grade. Happy to follow her as she looks to break her maiden status.
Sidearm (Race 6)
This preparation, the Will Clarken trained Sidearm had drawn barrier 12 of 15 and barrier 12 of 12, and in both starts he has hit the line with gusto. Since coming to South Australia, he has been trained as a sprinter despite his best form when with John O’Shea being over 1400m-1600m. he will be peaking in fitness next start and a good draw will mean a good bet.
Morphettville – Saturday 21st May 2022
No Blackbookers this week. Last day of the carnival will see a lot of horses go for small breaks for the spring or beyond. Happy to wait a week.
Morphettville – Saturday 14th May 2022
Kolokar (Race 1) – (Next start: 11th)
When you see this runner in the form guides again, you’re going to see a distant eighth but the son of Vadamos should be respected from this run. Inside the 600m, he raced in restricted room and had to be checked before being held up from the 400m to the 200m before they decided to shift wider and hit the line well. Considering he was in the middle of the market and being first-up, I expect a much more improved run next start.
Morphettville – Saturday 7th May 2022
Winning Revolution (Race 3) – (Next start: 1st)
It was a tremendous debut for this Winning Rupert two-year-old as he debuted in the Listed Without Fear Stakes. He led them throughout the contest before being headed by the eventual winner Aitch Two Oh. As he was headed though, he managed to fight back and make the winner work to the line, and I loved his fight, especially after leading the entire way. He is destined for a few wins in his first preparation and I want to follow him wherever he goes.
Belle Plaisir (Race 6) – (Next start: 1st)
Many will be following Foxy Frida from the race which is understandable but I thought this girl ran equally as well. She sat fifth throughout before being shuffled back to ninth on the turn as runners started tiring and she was tightened for room at the 300m mark, still sitting at least eighth. She really picked up over the final 150m, finishing the race off in fourth, just 1.3 lengths off the winner and amongst the classier group class mares in placings and beyond. Considering she was only second-up, her best is yet to come.
Morphettville – Saturday 30th April 2022
Defining (Race 4) – (Next start: 6th)
All the eyes were on her rival Illation in the finale of this race but I quite liked the run of Defining. She sat outside of the eventual winner on the turn and as she was met with a wall of horses, Illation make a quick move to the inside and bolted away. Although she wasn’t halted for long, it was long enough to make it near impossible to get close to the winner. When she got clear, she flew home nicely into second, 3.5 lengths off the winner. She was never going to beat the boom colt, but I believe she finishes a lot closer had she not been momentarily held up.
Street Delight (Race 5) – (Next start: 5th)
Another filly who got held up at a key stage. She followed Hope At Hand on the rail around the bend before she was held up from just prior to the 300m mark until after the 200m, where Oli dragged her back so he could head to the outside. By the time the 100m mark came, Street Delight was near enough to last on the outside of the field, at least six-seven lengths off the eventual winner. She really picked up from there to finish four lengths back in fourth and should have finished a lot closer to the winner. She should be spot on for a shot at the Sires’ Produce in a fortnight if they decide to go there, where I am sure she will be competitive.
Morphettville – Saturday 23rd April 2022
Solar Blast – (Next start: 8th) / Pompeii Empire (Race 2)
Solar Blast was near enough to last on straightening on Saturday, at least three lengths off the leading horses. By the 200m mark he was still second last, and by the 100m mark, he had made up a ton of ground before going down two lengths on the line. He was a touch wayward towards the end of the race but he had made a long sustained run by that point, and it was his debut run. I am expecting him to improve dramatically off that. Pompeii Empire to my eyes was more impressive in terms of his manners but being stuck three-wide the trip didn’t help. He finished three lengths back in fourth and I won’t be sacking him after that performance, also being his debut run.
Extremely Lucky – (Next start: 5th) / Smokin Val (Race 4) – (Next start: 6th)
I loved both of these runners coming into this but both had runs to forget. Extremely Lucky was extremely unlucky on straightening and really didn’t get any clear air until the 50m mark, where he really picked up and savaged the line. He will improve nicely off that run and I am happy to stick with him. Smokin Val was another who had a torrid run throughout and looked to have dipped on the final bend. Once she started to switch gears in the straight, she was met with nothing but horse flesh and wasn’t fully tested at the line. I think she can be competitive in a similar grade next start.
Pudding (Race 7) – (Next start: 9th)
This bloke was at least five lengths off the leaders on straightening, after drawing a widish barrier and having to drift back further than they intended to not be caught wide. By the time the 100m mark rolled around, he was still at least three-four lengths off the leaders but still making good headway before going down by just under two lengths on the line. I would like to see him with a kinder draw and slightly up in grade so that he gets a big or weight relief, especially over the mile. He will be one to keep a close eye one.