Group 1 racing continues this week at Morphettville, and it is shaping up as another cracking race.
There are 20 entries and two emergencies for the $500,000 sprint, which has ensured that it will be a great betting race.
As of Tuesday night, the favourites were at around the $7 mark, which means there is plenty of value to be found.
The Morphettville track plays pretty fair – if anything it suits front runners a little.
The 1200-metre start line takes the sting out of drawing a wide barrier, as it allows a 300-metre dash before the turn into the straight. Obviously it is still desirable to draw close to the fence but it is not the end of the world if a runner draws a wide gate.
In saying that, punters have obviously been a little worried by this Tuesday’s barrier draw as the early favourite Sistene Demon has eased a little in the betting after drawing near the car park in barrier 20.
But after seeing the four-year-old gelding’s last start, where he won by six lengths in a Group 3 at Caulfield jumping from barrier 14, it is a brave man to say he can’t win this race.
Joint at the top of the betting with Sistene Demon is the Gai Waterhouse mare, Driefontein. She has won her last two starts, most recently winning the Group 1 Sangster Classic where she powered away to win by 1.5 lengths. She has drawn barrier three and looks in good enough form to make it three wins in row.
One runner who will be looking to stop Driefontein’s winning form is Platelet. She won this race last year and ran second behind Driefontein in the Sangster Classic last start.
She will be jumping from wide in the field after drawing barrier 17 but she should enjoy some give in the ground. Showers are expected at the end of the week and the track is expected to be in the ‘slow’ range.
Platelet has three wins and two places in her five starts on rain-affected ground.
While the forecast may suit Platelet, it has dampened Session’s chances a bit. He ran an impressive fourth behind Lankan Rupee two starts back, which reads as pretty good form leading into this race. But, unfortunately, he has struggled on rain-affected tracks in the past, so if it gets worse than ‘slow’, not a lot will be expected of him. Drawing barrier 16 will also not assist his claims.
A runner that ticks a lot of the boxes when reading the form heading into this race is Unpretentious.
He has drawn favourably in barrier six, has wet track form and looked the winner last start in the Group 1 William Reid. He was the widest runner round the bend and shot to the front, only to be run down at the line. His first start this prep was also impressive, when he flew home from near last to fifth in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Those two runs suggest to me that he is ready to win a Group 1 race.
Another ticking a lot of boxes is a young three-year-old filly called Miracles Of Life.
She is a Group 1 winner and had an impressive win on Saturday in the Group 2 Sportingbet Stakes at Morphettville. She appears to handle the wet, has drawn well in barrier two and carries the light weight of 54 kilograms. She is set to be sold at the end of this prep, so this could possibly be her last start. They will be looking to send her out on a high. It will be a shame to see another one of our young talents heading to an early retirement.
The last runner that I will touch on is another talented three-year-old filly called Gregers.
She already has five starts in Group 1 company, where she has placed twice. Drawn in barrier five and with a light weight of 53.5 kilograms, she will be sure to make her presence felt. Her four runs this prep have all been ‘black type’ races and her worst result has been fourth. She looks a chance once again.
Let’s hope the weather holds off and we get a decent track come Saturday, this should be a great race.
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