The Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes will headline a nine race program on the Morphettville Parks track this Saturday.
Run over 1400m, the weight for age event will attract plenty of attention as Melbourne Cup prospect, The Map makes her return, as does Group One winner Attrition.
A field of thirteen runners will face the starter for this year’s addition, with $120k up for grabs.
The rail will be out 6m from the 1000m to the winning post and 3m the remainder.
The track is currently rated a soft 7 and with fine weather predicted we should be looking at upgrade.
Rebecca Hill details her best bets for every race below.
The Golden Fist was solid when resuming after almost a year off the scene.
A son of Rubick, the four year old had only had the one start previously and showed talent, finishing second by the barest of margins.
Well supported in his return he was always wide and charged home strongly but just couldn’t reel in the eventual winner.
He will have taken plenty of benefit from the run and the way he found the line suggests the rise in trip will suit.
Jake Toeroek stays aboard and if he can find cover early off the wide gate, he’ll be doing his best work late.
No bet.
Peacemaker has been racing well and will appreciate the drop back in grade.
He just wanted to race ungenerously when taken back to last two starts ago but still finished the race off nicely.
Last start he settled closer in run and worked home strongly into third.
A winner of eight races, he’s certainly capable on his day and presents here hard fit.
He’ll find this easier than what he’s been contesting and gets in nicely with the 3kg off for Felicity Atkinson.
Khor comes off a decisive win over 2100m on the Sandown Lakeside and looks a promising stayer on the way up.
Having his first start up past the mile, the Savabeel gelding travelled sweetly in the second half of the field and when asked for an effort at the top of straight he let down strongly to score by over two lengths.
The Ciaron Maher trained galloper been racing well this campaign but just failed to handle the synthetic surface at his prior start.
He certainly relished the step out in trip last time and whilst he does rise in grade, he drops 4.5kgs on that last run and has drawn to get all the favours.
Privileged Son has been racing well and presents hard fit.
He recorded a commanding win to runs back over 2000m at Warrnambool but just had too much ground to make up over the 2400m journey on the Hillside last time.
The slight drop back in trip looks ideal and he should find this a touch easier.
Samuel Payne will do the steering for his uncle Patrick and barrier seven can him settle within striking distance.
Lady Simone kept working to the line strongly last time over 1000m and I think she’ll relish getting out over that bit further.
The All Too Hard mare has been racing well without winning but her best runs have been over 1200m and she looks well suited here.
The wide barrier is a slight concern but Jake Toeroek knows her well and stays in the saddle for Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
Sixteen Reasons hasn’t had much go her way in recent outings but I’m hoping she can turn it around.
Over the 1250m here two runs back she was badly held up for most of the straight and charged through late but the bird had flown.
Last time she blew the start, was four lengths off them after 100m and still managed run into second, beaten less than a length.
She looks well placed here back in grade and will appreciate the rise to 1400m.
The barrier extension goes on to help prevent a repeat of last start and with even luck off the wide draw, she should prove hard to beat.
Air Assault resumed with a terrific effort finish second in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes and the locally trained mare will relish the rise to 1400m here.
The 1200m was always going to be a touch too short for the daughter of Justify and she will have taken plenty of benefit from the run.
A four time stakes winner, she’s proven herself to be a class galloper and the form around her from last preparation continues to hold up.
Jason Holder has built a great association with the mare and from the inside draw he’s sure to afford her every chance.
Plus Fours resumes.
The gelding has put together a tidy record and was performing well in Melbourne last campaign.
He was a dominant winner at Pakenham before heading to Flemington where he pulled up lame.
Following that he bounced back to his best, scoring a solid victory over 1000m on the Caulfield Heath before heading to the paddock.
He does race particularly well fresh and the 1000m looks to be his pet trip.
Ready to go off three recent jump outs and with luck from the draw, he’ll be right in this.
Best Bet Race 4 No. 5 Khor
Next Best Race 7 No. 11 Sixteen Reasons
Value Bet Race 9 No. 3 Plus Fours