The time-honoured Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) is the feature on the nine-race program at Morphettville on Saturday.
Group 3 Alexandra Stakes winner Chica Fuerte has opened the short-priced favourite in betting, while there’s also been strong support for last week’s Lindop Stakes winner Ecumenical on the short backup.
We’ve analysed each contest and our best bets can be found below.
Ladbrokes have previews the meeting and hopefully found a few winners.
Race 1 – 12:36PM Happy 90th Birthday Colin Wilson Handicap (1200m)
Difficult race to start the day, but it does look a winnable one for the Andrew Clarken-trained Magna Bella.
The mare by Magnus capped off her spring running fourth in the Listed Kilmore Cup over the mile after winning her previous start by close to two lengths at the Parks track.
She’s done some of her best racing over the 1200m in the past and has also found the money on four occasions fresh. After a pretty impressive trial last month when placed behind Li’l Kontra, the $7.00 at time of publish looks outstanding value.
Race 2 – 1:11PM Benchmark 72 Handicap (2025m)
Looks a good race for Blue Ocean to finally break through and claim his second win.
This is his first look at Morphettville, but the son of Ocean Park does look suited dropping back in class after finding the money in three of his last four runs.
He came from a long way back last time out at Sandown to grab second behind Bondi Sands over a touch further, a run he’s only going to improve on now with fitness on his side.
Barrier 1 should see him get back and run on again, and there’s no doubt the four-year-old has the turn of foot to finish.
Race 3 – 1:46PM Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m)
Highly Discreet has burned punters on more than one occasion since her maiden win on debut last April, but this does look a winnable race for her now third-up from a spell.
The Street Boss filly worked home strongly from an awkward position last time out in a much tougher race for third over the track and trip.
She’s been kept fresh for this, and should be doing her best work late in what is a much easier race.
Race 4 – 2:21PM Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1050m)
Should be a good battle here between the two Godolphin runners.
Cloudy broke through for her maiden two runs back in a dead heat with Seradess under Jamie Kah at Bendigo. She’s since gone on to run fourth over the same track and trip, and I like the fact she’s got some form around Talindert winner Ingratiating during the spring.
Translation went all-the-way to score by 3.5L at Cranbourne a fortnight ago. She’ll strip fitter for that, and will no doubt try and run them ragged again from the front.
Princess Raffles is better than her price suggests. She failed to finish off at the Parks track last time out, but keep in mind she’s found the placings now in three of her four runs. The bigger track and the rise to 1200m should suit.
Race 5 – 3:02PM Autumn Racing Carnival at Morphettville May 1-15 Handicap (1600m)
Exalted Traveller has been up for a while, but he’s well deserving of another win after finding the placings in three of his last four starts.
The gelding trained by Grant Young won over the 1500m at Gawler back in February and has been a very consistent customer ever since.
He was unlucky not to find the money at Listed level two runs back over the mile in the CS Hayes Memorial Cup before going on to finish a length second to Don’tdreamit’sover three weeks ago over a touch shorter.
Rates highly on that form and should be in this for a long way.
Race 6 – 3:46PM South Beef Handicap (1520m)
Echo Boomer looks a nice price after timing her run well to grab second behind Oh Mo over the same track and trip last time out.
The wide barrier leaves Todd Pannell with some work to do, but considering she won in her Morphettville debut back in January over the mile from another awkward draw, there’s nothing to say she can’t do it again.
Race 7 – 4:26PM Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m)
Chica Fuerte comes in search of her double after winning the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes at The Valley last month by close to a length to Love Sensation.
The run prior saw her make up enormous ground from out wide to finish a narrow runner-up to Starelle in the Kewney Stakes at Flemington – two runs that give her a class edge over most of this field.
The daughter of Hinchinbrook is unproven over the 1800m, but based on the form she’s shown this prep, she should take some serious beating if Todd Pannell can land somewhere just off the speed.
Race 8 – 5:01PM Furphy Handicap (1200m)
He’s A Balter loves racing over the 1200m where he’s won twice and placed twice previously.
He failed to fire two runs back from a wide position at Pakenham before a vet found him lame in both front legs, but he did bounce-back nicely for a narrow runner-up at Murray Bridge in his next start.
Fresh from a 42-day let-up, he does have some work to do from the barrier, but it should suit his ‘get back, run on’ style of racing. Todd Pannell in the saddle is also a huge plus.
Race 9 – 5:40PM Barossa Fine Foods Handicap (1100m)
Future Force makes her debut for the Will Clarken stable looking to atone for a luckless effort last time out at Sandown over a touch further.
The filly by Written Tycoon was caught four-wide the trip that day, but I’m willing to forgive her based on the form she showed prior.
The three-year-old placed first-up at Geelong in a Benchmark 64 over this same distance before running on well for third over the 1300m at Sandown on the quick backup.
After drawing a much kinder gate, this ex-Snowden runner looks a little over the odds.
