A stacked nine-race card will take place at Morphettville on Monday, headlined by the Group 2 Adelaide Cup over 3200m.
The time-honoured staying race is one of the traditional lead-ups ahead of both the Sydney Cup and the Melbourne Cup, and there is no shortage of value to be found in this year’s edition.
We’ve run the rule over the entire program and our best bets can be found below.
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Race 1 – 1:00pm – Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1200m)
Somewatt Fabulous raced well without winning in three starts during the spring and looks to be in for another big prep if his recent trial win on the Parks track is anything to go by.
Richard and Chantelle Jolly’s three-year-old filly owns a strong fresh record with a win and a placing to her name, while she’s also drawn to get the gun run from the inside draw.
This is a drop back in class, and with next to no weight on her back, she can be expected to run well.
Race 2 – 1:35pm – Listed Thomas Farms Cinderella Stakes (1050m)
There’s a case to be made for a few here, but I’m happy to have See You In Heaven on top.
The two-year-old daughter of Divine Prophet put the writing on the wall with an impressive debut win at Flemington in the Ottawa Stakes on Oaks Day, before quickly being put away in time for the autumn.
She won her trial by nearly three lengths on the Parks track last month and should have no trouble finding the front form the inside draw.
Race 3 – 2:10pm – G.H. Mumm Handicap (1600m)
Heir Of Tavistock has been up for a while, but he’s held his form well to return two placings from his last three starts.
Richard Wilson’s six-year-old stuck on well for third over 1800m in his last assignment and was strong to the line over the mile on the Parks track the start prior.
He’s rock-hard fit now with six runs under his belt, while Jacob Opperman has been riding a stack of winners of late.
Race 4 – 2:45pm – Winning Edge Presentation Handicap (1050m)
Okay To Pay is an honest type that has so far found the money in six of his nine starts.
He rolled forward and faded badly at The Valley two weeks ago running sixth, but should appreciate getting back out to a bigger track now over more distance.
Barrier 10 is the only knock, but with five wins to his name over the trip and the claim put to good use, he has a real claims.
Race 5 – 3:20pm – Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m)
Out to the mile second-up looks ideal for Ecumenical.
The four-year-old mare got up to run a place over much shorter here two weeks ago and has typically done some of her best work in her second run back.
The Mick Huxtable-trained mare stepped out in much tougher races than this during the spring in Melbourne, while she’s always been a good Morphettville horse with three wins and two placings to her name.
Race 6 – 4:00pm – Listed Terry Howe Printing Matrice Stakes (1200m)
Tricky race with a case to be made for a few.
Larimer Street was an impressive two-length winner at Murray Bridge two weeks ago and that run suggests he’ll handle the step up to 1200m now.
The son of Brazen Beau won his maiden over this trip a couple of years ago at The Valley and also competed in much tougher contests than this as a two-year-old.
He’s been strong in all three runs this time in work and we’re getting a nice price for him at time of publish.
Race 7 – 4:45pm – Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m)
Daqiansweet Junior is a very consistent type that is deserving of his status as co-favourite in this year’s Adelaide Cup.
The Phillip Stokes-trained four-year-old won narrowly at Caulfield on Boxing Day, a form line that reads well with the two place getters Nerve Not Verve and Look Closely going on to win later in their prep.
He proved that was no fluke with a win at The Valley a month later, while his run in the Torney Cup three weeks ago for second was equally full of merit.
Jamie Kah sticks in the saddle, and from gate 2, they should be finishing over the top of most of these late.
Race 8 – 5:25pm – Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m)
Kung Fu Fighting has made only the two starts to date, but he couldn’t have been more impressive winning on debut at Murray Bridge before running third over the mile on New Year’s Day.
He’s since had a trial in between runs and looks ideally placed stepping out over 1600m in his return.
Damian Lane has been in outstanding form over the last week, and they should have no trouble finding cover from barrier 6.
Race 9 – 6:05pm – Grand Syndicates Handicap (1200m)
This looks a nice bounce-back race for Sparkup.
The son of Magnus had genuine excuses two runs back when second over this track and trip, while the tempo never really suited two weeks ago in a similar race.
He was scratched from a Saturday race to line up here, and I like the fact the stable have tinkered with his gear a little. Gets the added services of Damian Lane for the first time and should be tough to beat.
