It's finally here! The UBET Festival of Racing kicks off on Saturday with the Group 1 Schweppes Australasian Oaks and the UBET Classic to highlight the card.
We get the thoughts of our South Australian racing experts for their selections on the first day of the carnival!
Adam McGrath - Racing.com
Oaks Tip: Sopressa
This talented filly shower her class last start with a dominant performance in the Auraria Stakes over 1800m. Harry Coffey retains the ride and he believed she still had plenty left to give despite her 4.3L victory. The extra distance will suit and she’ll just need some luck from barrier one.
UBET Classic Tip: Quilista
The former West Aussie mare has gone into a league of her own. She’s looking for four wins in a row and things are starting to play into her hands. She’s drawn perfectly in barrier 2, Damian Lane is in scintillating form and the rain is also beneficial for her.
Best Bet: Silent Warrior (Race 2, Number 8)
The Stawell Cup winner was unlucky last start with conditions not suiting and a late jockey change. Jamie Kah takes the ride again and it looks an extremely suitable option for the talented galloped
James Jordan - Racing.com
Oaks Tip: Savacool
Follows a very similar path to Egg Tart who was successful last year. Looks like a long-range plan from Chris Waller and her last start tells me she's on track.
UBET Classic Tip: Secret Agenda
Won this last year coming into it with similar formlines and starting a similar price. I thought she looked a run short in the parade ring last start and her run ended late. Added fitness and some cut in the ground will help her, great each-way bet at the $12
Best Bet: Savapinski (Race 8, Number 1)
Compressed weight scale here sees only 3.5kgs top to bottom. Her first up run was good enough over the 1400m to suggest she'll be cherry ripe for the mile. She was a good winner 2nd up last preparation and Tim Clark sticks with her over the stablemate.
Terry McAuliffe - Racecaller
Oaks Tip: Sopressa
Terrific edition this year with just Tony McEvoy flying the flag for S.A. with his two fillies Bring Me Roses and Temple Of Bel. Darren Weir has a serious hand in the race with three runners, Think Bleue, Sopressa and Pleasuring and all are capable of landing the prize. I'm sticking with Sopressa who has come through the two traditional lead up races here in S.A. Luckless in the Laelia Stakes, she well and truly atoned last time out in the Auraria Stakes. She'll jump from the same gate (one) with the same rider (Harry Coffey) as she did in the Auraria where she smashed her rivals winning by in excess of four lengths.
UBET Classic Tip: Viddora
Like the Schweppes Oaks a wonderful line up for the second of Saturday’s Group 1’s. Going to be parochial and stick with the local star Viddora. Lost no admirers with her first up second to Dainty Tess a fortnight ago where somen things didn’t quite go her way. I'm a little concerned about her tardiness at barrier rise and where she could end up in traffic from gate one, but there is no doubting her ability to go one better than last year. In an outstanding race with multiple Group 1 winners Shoals is my second pick.
Best Bet: Waging War (Race 2, Number 2)
Has come back from a long spell in outstanding form. Produced an upset win at cricket score odds at Morphettville before he followed up with a luckless second at the same venue. He then travelled to Melbourne and scored an effortless win last start at Caulfield in a rich Vobis Gold Mile race. He jumps up to the 2000 metres this weekend but this will hold no fears as he has already won up to 2200 metres.
Ben Scadden - The Advertiser
Oaks Tip: Savacool
Loved the way she hit the line at Caulfield last time. Chris Waller, who won this race last year with Egg Tart, has a big opinion of her and looks like she'll thrive over 2000m.
UBET Classic Tip: Secret Agenda
This is a cracking race but I think last year's winner looks good value at double-figure odds. She's drawn out but can press forward and she absolutely thrives on soft tracks.
Best Bet: Ken's Dream (Race 3, Number 5)
He's a quality horse who hasn't had much luck recently. He has an impeccable soft-track record and looks very well-graded in this.
Lincoln Moore - The Advertiser
Oaks Tip: Savacool
Comes to Adelaide with strong winning form and looks the right horse to give top trainer Chris Waller his second successive Oaks.
UBET Classic Tip: Super Cash
Above average mare who has been set for this race al prep. Has some very strong formline having beaten the likes of Chautaqua and Merchant Navy and looks perfectly drawn to break her Group 1 hoodoo
Best Bet: Ken's Dream (Race 3, Number 5)
Has drawn out and will love the sting out of the ground.
