The Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival continues this Saturday at Morphettville with the time-honoured South Australian Derby between the three-year-olds.
A capacity field of stayers will step out over 2500m, all competing in a share of over $500,000.
Godolphin is looking to add to its mantlepiece with short-priced favourite Alegron, while Ciaron Maher and David Eustace can win the race for a second year in a row with undefeated colt, Detonator Jack.
Favourites have a strong record in this race with Russian Camelot and Explosive Jack both saluting over the last two years, and our thoughts on each runner can be found in our 2022 South Australian Derby Preview.
1. Alegron (3)
- Record: 13-2:2:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-1-0
- Trainer: James Cummings
- Jockey: Damien Oliver
- Odds: $2.70
Looks to have a class edge over his rivals coming off a placing in the ATC Derby three runs back at Randwick before going on to win the VRC St Leger at Flemington. The way he let down that day was impressive to say the least and he should appreciate getting back to 2500m now with some fitness under his belt. Does look a query if there’s rain about but has now placed in three of his four starts at Group 1 level. The one they have to beat.
2. Teewaters (1)
- Record: 9-1:1:3
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-1
- Trainer: Archie Alexander
- Jockey: Declan Bates
- Odds: $31.00
Fitter for three runs back but has struggled to make much of an impression recently. Beaten by eight lengths in the Easter Cup at Caulfield and the Chairman’s Stakes here at Morphettville and is likely to find this too tough.
3. Jungle Magnate (12)
- Record: 8-3:1:1
- Track: 2:1-1-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr
- Jockey: Mark Zahra
- Odds: $8.50
Won the Chairman’s Stakes last time out, a race that has produced five winners of the Derby in the past. Showed a strong turn of foot to peel away from midfield and ran some impressive races during the spring, most notably for third in the Moonee Valley Vase. Has placed on rain-affected going in the past and just needs a touch of luck to go his way from the awkward draw.
4. Commander Harry (8)
- Record: 8-1:2:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 1:0-0-0
- Trainer: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- Jockey: Daniel Moor
- Odds: $19.00
Strips fitter for three runs back and appears to have found some form now. Ran a place at Mornington second-up over the mile and finished off fairly at Sandown a few weeks ago over further. Facing Group 1 company for the second time and is worth forgiving on his run in the Victoria Derby last year.
5. Harleymoven (11)
- Record: 11-4:3:0
- Track: 6:2-3-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
- Jockey: Ryan Hurdle
- Odds: $7.50
Recent form reads well for this. Spanked them by four lengths two back in the Port Adelaide Guineas and was beaten less than a length in the Chairman’s after overcoming a wide run. Hard fit now at this stage of his prep and has a win on wet going to his name. Should settle a little closer this time and be in it for a long way.
6. Detonator Jack (15)
- Record: 3-3:0:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
- Jockey: John Allen
- Odds: $4.50
Undefeated gelding out of a leading stable. Put the writing on the wall winning by three lengths at Bendigo on debut and has since risen through the grades in impressive style. Facing his toughest challenge to date but is racing like 2500m will suit. The draw leaves him with work to do, but this is clearly the assignment he’s been set for quite some time.
7. The Nephew (4)
- Record: 10-3:1:1
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Patrick Payne
- Jockey: Billy Egan
- Odds: $26.00
Ran on nicely for second behind Detonator Jack two back and clearly didn’t handle the heavy going at Sandown in his latest. No stranger to winning a Derby though after taking out the Tasmanian edition by three-quarters of a length back in February. Should appreciate a firmer track and is worth a thought in multiples.
8. Son Of Emperor (19)
- Record: 9-3:2:0
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr
- Jockey: Jason Holder
- Odds: $26.00
Denied his hat-trick in the Chairman’s Stakes where he finished a disappointing second-last. Was found out that day and is only going to find this tougher up in grade.
9. Saint Tropez (17)
- Record: 10-3:0:2
- Track: 2:0-0-1
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Lloyd Kennewell
- Jockey: Beau Mertens
- Odds: $34.00
Settled midfield in the Chairman’s last time out and made up some late ground to run third. Should be plenty fit now for four runs back but does look a genuine query over this distance.
10. Water Into Wine (7)
- Record: 6-3:1:0
- Track: 2:0-1-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Tony & Calvin McEvoy
- Jockey: Barend Vorster
- Odds: $41.00
Tends to run an honest race, albeit it against much easier opposition. Won in a small field at Geelong last time out but is facing a sharp rise in grade here. Cannot entertain.
11. Yaphet (13)
- Record: 11-2:3:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Cliff Brown
- Jockey: Ben Allen
- Odds: $16.00
Won narrowly two back at Sale and finished off well last week at Caulfield 2.5L behind Elzamee. Racing on the quick backup for the first time and does have some wet track form on the resume. Looks capable of running a place.
12. King Of Pharaohs (16)
- Record: 8-2:1:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Roslyn Day
- Jockey: Callan Murray
- Odds: $61.00
Won two back on a heavy track at Bendigo but failed to repeat that success at Warrnambool last week. Should improve on that run but has a mountain of work to do from the draw.
13. Claidheamh Mor (18)
- Record: 6-2:0:0
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Gemma Rielly
- Jockey: Joe Bowditch
- Odds: $31.00
Won his maiden two back at Kilmore and was a clear three-length winner at Mornington a couple of weeks ago in a Class 2. Gets out past 2000m for the first time and would prefer to watch.
14. Sebastian The Fox (20)
- Record: 12-2:0:2
- Track: 0:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Shay Keating
- Jockey: Jake Noonan
- Odds: $91.00
Won two back at Kilmore as the short-priced favourite but finished only fairly at Geelong two weeks ago. Would need to improve lengths to be a factor here.
15. Phere The Ex (6)
- Record: 8-1:0:3
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
- Jockey: Luke Nolen
- Odds: $41.00
Broke his maiden two runs back at Cranbourne with a late dive at the line. Far from disgraced when fifth in the Chairman’s and was placed in the Geelong Classic last year. Could be a chance at knockout odds.
16. Lady Chant (5)
- Record: 6-1:2:1
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 0:0-0-0
- Trainer: Brock Lewthwaite
- Jockey: Ms Kayla Crowther
- Odds: $61.00
Winner of the Group 3 WA Oaks three runs back over 2400m. Went on to run well in the WATC Derby a few weeks later but was no match in the Australasian Oaks last time out. Back out in trip should help her improve.
Emergencies
- 17. Texas Tea (10)
- 18. Turfie (9)
- 19. Bring The Stars (14)
- 20. Six Foot Long (2)
