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Balaklava Cup Preview

BEST BET: VICTORIA QUAY (Race 4)

EACH-WAY: SAVATOXL (Race 7)

VALUE: HOLY SANGRIA (Race 9)

 

RACE 1 - 11:35AM Agfert / SABOIS Three-Year-Old Class One Handicap (Heat 5 Rebel Raider Series) (1050 METRES)

Tough little start today with some nice three-year-olds stepping out. Liked the run of ALLEBOOM last time when he closed late behind Mileva in town. He was a winner here, beating So You Can back in May, is second-up and probably looking for a touch further. Stablemate RICHED is a winner this track and trip and had specking behind The Multiplier at Morphettville on Saturday, so is on the quick back-up. CHAMPAGNE AFFAIR ran really well behind Galaxy Keeper first-up from a break and the McEvoy filly WHO RUNS THE WORLD was sent out a $1.65 favourite when she beat all but Smokin’ Val at Murray Bridge last time. CASE CLOSED, a son of Valentia on debut for Will Clarken, is the big watch. He was a little slow into stride, but showed natural speed and wasn’t knocked around last week in a Murray Bridge jump out he could’ve won comfortably. Keep an eye on the betting.

SELECTINS: CASE CLOSED, Alleboom, Who Runs The World

 

RACE 2 - 12:10PM Taylors Wines / SABOIS+ Maiden/ Class One Plate (2200 METRES)

Open race and I think ENBARR can improve, third up for James Dodgson. He was a Warracknabeal winner four runs back and I thought his first-up effort, making ground at Bordertown from a long way back, was solid, before he had specking and settled back in a stronger race in town won by Flow Meter. MULLAGHMORE had specking at a big price and ran a really good race in town on Saturday behind Waikato Express. If he handles the quick back-up will take beating on that performance. AZZUREOUS is lightly-raced but certainly looking for ground. He was good first-up, didn’t handle a heavy track at Gawler before a good effort there back on top of the ground behind Frankel Star a fortnight back. LINE DANCER stuck on pretty well up on the speed behind Austin Raider and steps from 1550m to 2200m here. MAGNUS MAN is a winner over 2100m and draws to be in the mix.

SELECTIONS: ENBARR, Mullaghmore, Azzureous

 

RACE 3 - 12:45PM Adelaide Galvanising Industries / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)

Another race with a lot of unknown quantities. GARDEN PARTY trialled three times in Sydney for Mark Newham before coming to SA. She was narrowly beaten last time by an unraced stablemate, Solar Flash, who has since won another Warwick Farm trial by 2.5 lengths. KORUTO was a $145k yearling who won a recent Morphettville trial and did enough in two starts earlier in the year to measure-up strongly here. VANCITY GEM is a $130k yearling who showed good improvement in winning her second trial at Gawler recently. Her mother was a Group 1 winner. THE BIG GOODBYE has trialled OK, draws an inside gate and has no weight on his back with the claim for Jacob Opperman.

SELECTIONS: VANCITY GEM, Garden Party, Koruto

 

RACE 4 - 1:20PM Atlas Event & Party Hire / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)

Looks a nice race for VICTORIA QUAY who was slow into stride on debut, followed the fence and didn’t have a lot go right, copping a squeeze in the straight before closing late behind Pimm’s Party. She jumps from 1200m out to the mile and this looks her race with the blinkers and pacifiers going on. Stablemate GHARAAM was $2.10 favourite on debut, settled back and failed to make any impression on the winner Talamo. Gharaam is bred to be a nice horse and gets out to the mile. PASSING PHASE has been racing well and placed behind Tibetan and Melody Man at her past couple. That’s solid form for this. PLYMPTON has been working towards a win but this is start number 13, while DUCK DIVE ran well at a price at Gawler, making ground from well back, and goes from 1500m to 1600m.

SELECTIONS: VICTORIA QUAY, Gharaam, Passing Phase

 

RACE 5 - 1:55PM Haulmark Class 2 Handicap (1600 METRES)

Plenty to like about ALLACCIATO, who scored at nice odds at Murray Bridge. That was her first run for almost a year. She defeated subsequent winner Conconi and the stable is flying. She looks right in the mix from a good gate. FLORIANO is a half-sister to Alcopop, who shot to promise on this day 11 years ago, winning the Cup. She ran well fresh behind Rapid Raiser at Gawler before a handy run in town. Nice gate and she’s in this up to her ears. JAY PEE BEE broke his maiden, winning by 10.4 lengths at Port Augusta last time. This is a step up in class, but it’s hard to ignore the winning margin and he was placed at his previous four. OUR DEEP AGENDA hasn’t done a lot in two runs this time in but draws well and looks an improver. LEORBIT was a good winner two back at Gawler before a shocker in town on Saturday when he was beaten 20 lengths. He can improve. JACK’S A CRACKER made good ground last time and must be respected.

SELECTIONS: FLORIANO, Allacciato, Jay Pee Bee

 

RACE 6 - 2:30PM BMD Benchmark 54 Handicap (1050 METRES)

Open race and not one I’m overly keen on. TURF TAPPER has been going pretty well, finished off nicely behind Extra Mile at Gawler last time and is a winner here. UNDESIRE was a Strathalbyn winner in February and was placed here last August. HANEDA hasn’t raced since breaking her maiden at Strathalbyn last October and wasn’t knocked around in a recent Strathalbyn jump-out. NEWBAY FLYER ran well behind Vindex at Murray Bridge last time. GRAVITY has trialled pretty well for his return but has never won first-up.

SELECTIONS: TURF TAPPER, Undesire, Haneda

 

RACE 7 - 3:05PM TQCSI Balaklava Cup (1600 METRES)

The big one of the day and a capacity field. SAVATOXL has a real X-factor heading into this. His form in NT is very good, his trial was nothing short of brilliant, but the barrier is anything but that. He has early tactical speed and if he has any luck will take beating here. His McEvoy stablemates WINNING PARTNER and EAST INDIAMAN both have strong chances. WINNING PARTNER has been racing well in Melbourne, with two solid efforts, before battling on a heavy track last time, while EAST INDIAMAN was good first-up, closing late behind Peloton. Another McEvoy runner, FOX HALL, ran super first-up in the Spring Stakes and gets the blinkers on, but faces a sticky wide gate. The fifth of the McEvoy runners BLOW TORCH hasn’t done a lot wrong. PELOTON also hasn’t done much wrong in all three SA starts and was strong through the line last time, plus the stable is flying. MASTER CHUM has been heavily backed in early markets on the back of two good runs this campaign. He was only beaten 2.9 lengths behind Sky Punch in the Leon Macdonald Stakes last time. BALF’S CHOICE made good ground behind Sky Punch in the Leon Macdonald Stakes, is a dual winner here and won the 2018 Cup. HANDSOME RETUN is back from two smart wins on the dirt in the Port Augusta and Katherine Cups, draws well and Todd Pannell opts for him in preference to stablemate FINAL HEARING, who I thought was solid last start behind PELOTON and gets blinkers for the first time. MONGOLIAN MARSHALL will most likely ride the speed and stuck on well last time behind Sky Punch in the Macdonald Stakes. TUBBY TWO TRACKS is racing very well, draws a nice gate and will be right in this now he’s gained a start, while ANALYTICA is going well and worked home well last start.

SELECTIONS: SAVATOXL, Final Hearing, Winning Partner

 

RACE 8 - 3:40PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 62 Handicap (1200 METRES)

WEDGETAIL was sent out favourite at his first run since February when fifth behind Taken Off at Morphettville. He strips fitter, has a good second-up record and looks hard to beat. Stablemate ZEPPA was a big drifter first-up from a spell when third behind So You Can and Crown Mint, and that form is solid for a race like this. KAYSERI followed a good effort behind Promoter with a smart win in town when well backed, while SKILLED BUNCH was a good winner over Annika last time out and is back in trip but is another horse with upside. WOUNDED SOLIDER has been in good form and must be respected in this sort of race.

SELECTIONS: ZEPPA, Kayseri, Wedgetail

 

RACE 9 - 4:15PM TAB Mares Benchmark 58 Handicap (Heat 1 Viddora Series) (1300 METRES)

PAY THE MAN is lightly-raced and is a winner here back in March, but over 1600m. She’s had two trials in readiness for her return and looks the one to beat on paper. TRIP will ride the speed from the good gate, her form this time in has been very good and she’ll give them something to chase. This is probably a touch easier than her past couple, but the 1300m will be the query. HOLY SANGRIA has a win and placing from three starts here and Todd Pannell takes the ride. SASSY MANEUVER has won three races and could run into the multiples. SHEZA LITTLE POSH can improve second-up and DELUXE DESIGN has some appeal at a price.

SELECTIONS: PAY THE MAN, Trip, Holy Sangria

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