Spring Stakes - 2020 - Back A Winner

2020 Spring Stakes Race Details

Race 7 at Morphettville on Saturday 15 August 2020 is the Group 3 Spring Stakes.

The Spring Stakes is a 1200 metre weight-for-age race run by the South Australian Jockey Club Club at Morphettville. It is held during August and is the first Group race of the racing season in South Australia.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Spring Stakes page.

Spring Stakes 2020 Preview

Track: Good Weather: Fine

There is a field of 11 runners for the $120,000 Spring Stakes following the scratching of Arkham Knight. Eight of them are resuming from a spell, one has had one race since resuming and the other two have had at least four starts this campaign.The early favourite is Behemoth who is first-up from a 13 week spell and won a Balaklava trial convincingly last week. Second favourite is Dalasan who won this race in 2019 as a three-year-old and is hoping to defend his title. Third favourite is Kemalpasa who has a record of 2 wins and 4 placings from 6 goes at this track and distance combination.

Extra Time is the only three-year-old in the race and won the Group 3 National Stakes over 1200m at his last outing here. More Than Exceed likes this track with 3 wins and 2 places from 5 races here. Rainmoth finished 2nd over 1100m at Morphettville last start when resuming and goes well second-up. Morvada resumes after 16 weeks and has a poor first-up record, while Fox Hall has not a win for a long time. All other runners are currently 33 to 1 or longer.

2020 Spring Stakes Runner by Runner

1. Dalasan

He won this race in 2019 and has won 7 of his 15 starts, with 4 of those wins at this track. He followed a 1.3 length win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over 2035m with a 1.9 length 2nd in the Group 1 SA Derby over 2500m on 9 May . He resumes here after a 14 week spell and goes well first-up. No horse has had multiple wins in this race for over twenty years, but this horse might be able to do it. He’s a strong chance.

2. Behemoth

This All Too Hard gelding resumes from a 13 week spell and was a strong winner of a Balaklava trial on 6 August indicating he is ready to go. One of the main chances.

3. Kemalpasa

He won the Group 2 TAB Stakes over 1200m at Flemington last November, and seven of his nine wins have been at this distance. He disappointed at his last start when he only beat one runner home in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes before spelling. He ran 2nd in a Balaklava trial recently and is an each-way chance.

4. More Than Exceed

This More Than Ready gelding has an excellent record at this track. His latest run was a 1.25 length win in the Mildura Cup over 1300m at Swan Hill. He is one of the chances and should run a place.

5. Morvada

He didn’t beat many home at his last two starts and he appears safely held.

6. Fox Hall

This Foxwedge gelding seems to run best when fresh and is first-up from a 26 week spell. Rough place chance.

7. Crown Fontein

His recent racing makes it look as if this race might be too tough.

8. Balf’s Choice

This eight-yer-old has been away from the track for over a year so I would prefer just to watch him go around.

9. Master Chum

He has always been in the trifecta at his previous 6 runs at Morphettville so he might be capable of snagging a place at good each-way odds.

10. Arkham Knight – SCRATCHED

11. Rainmoth

She is the only mare in the race and has 4 wins and 2 places from her 8 -race career. Not the worst.

12. Extra Time

Last outing he won the Group 3 National Stakes by 3.4 lengths at this track and distance. He resumes from a 13 week spell and goes well first -up. It would be no surprise to see him in the finish.