The only black type thoroughbred race in the country this week will be contested at Morphettville on Saturday, and the Listed Lightning Stakes headlines a nine-race program.
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (8) range.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 12:22PM – Terry Howe Printing Maiden Plate, (1050m)
Samurai Sun has improved for two starts since debuting and on exposed form, I think that she looks the runner to beat in the first on Lightning Stakes Day.
Samurai Sun finished fourth, beaten less than two lengths at Murray Bridge on debut, and returned another lovely effort to only just miss last time.
Fitter third-up, she can fight out the finish, and we can have an each-way play at around the $7 mark.
Race 2 – 12:57PM – Adelaide Galvanising Handicap, (1600m)
Reynolds can record another win in the second race on Lightning Stakes Day.
The Exceed And Excel gelding recorded three wins and a placing from four starts last time, and he returned from a short prep to fill the minors here a fortnight ago.
I’m confident that run will have brought him right on, and he is my best bet on the program.
Race 3 – 1:32pm – The Junction Handicap, (1500m)
Clap has recorded two wins from as many starts this time and looms as the runner to beat again in this contest.
The Team Jolly-trained gelding broke his maiden with complete ease when resuming at Ballarat, and he franked that effort with another nice win in a better race here last time.
I concede that he will need luck from the wide draw, but fitter third-up and under Jake Toeroek, I think he will win.
Race 4 – 2:07pm – Furphy Handicap, (1100m)
I’m keen to take on the resuming favourite Yulong Phelps in this contest, and I think that Jyoti has genuine claims on winning at a price ($11 at publish).
Jyoti is yet to win in two starts back from a break, but there has been a lot to like about both hit-outs, each result in third placings.
Barend Vorster knows the horse well and with clear passage in the straight, I think he can run another bold race.
Race 5 – 2:42pm – Happy 40th Jason Gentle Handicap, (2500m)
Clever Man will take winning form into Race 5 at Morphettville on Saturday and he is primed to strike again.
The Trevor White-trained gelding tuned up with a couple of fair efforts earlier in his prep, and he returned to winning form in BM54 company at Gawler in June.
Since that effort, he has hardly looked back, finishing second in BM58 company and duly saluting at Murray Bridge last time.
This is another rise in class, but he is rock-hard fit, drawn ideally and can fight out the finish.
Race 6 – 3:22pm – Accolade Wines Handicap, (1800m)
This is a drop in class for Denero and I’m confident that he’ll prove tough to beat.
The Pierro gelding has been stepping out in Victorian metro company since resuming, and he was last seen finishing fifth behind the likes of Bartholomeu Dias over a mile at Flemington.
The small rise in trip looks perfect at this point of his prep and he needs only even luck to be in the finish of something like this.
Race 7 – 4:02pm – Leader Computers, Locally Built, Proudly Australian Handicap, (1050m)
He has been a frustrating horse for punters this prep, but I’m going to give Octane another chance at a price in Race 7 ($15 at publish).
We know how good he can be at his best, and he is Stakes performed in several previous campaigns.
I do think that there has been a bit more to like about his recent efforts than those earlier in his prep, and we can have an each-way play at odds this week.
Race 8 – 4:42pm – Listed Lightning Stakes, (1050m)
This is an open edition of the Lightning Stakes and there is a case to be made for several gallopers, including Dirty Thoughts.
Dirty Thoughts has been a consistent performer in Saturday metro grade in Victoria during his last couple of preparations, and he returned to the races with a credible performance to fill the minors behind a fit Kalkarni Royale at Flemington a fortnight ago.
I thought that run would bring his right on, and this looks the perfect bit of black type for him.
Race 9 – 5:22pm – Blight’s Electrical Handicap, (1200m)
Great Diviner is chasing a hat-trick of wins when he contests the last on Lightning Stakes Day, and he looks well placed to pull it off.
The son of Shamus Award hasn’t returned a poor effort this time, but his last two performances suggested that the penny has well and truly dropped, and a repeat would see him winning again.