The Adelaide Racing Carnival reaches its feature meeting this Saturday at Morphettville with the Group 1 The Goodwood headlining a quality nine-race program.
This year’s $1 million sprint has attracted a strong field, including last-start Quokka runner-up Rey Magnerio, along with the in-form Extragalactic and Flying For Fun, who was far from disgraced finishing fourth in the Robert Sangster a fortnight ago.
The meeting also includes four Group 3 contests, while punters should note the rail is out in selected sections and the track is currently rated a Soft 7.
For our best bets and full race-by-race analysis ahead of one of South Australia’s premier race days, check out our Goodwood Day Preview below.
BOLTED IN (9) has been around the mark since he last won in late February.
He ran on late from well back last week under Jamie Melham over the track and trip, passing a few in the run home on his way to finishing 1.7 lengths off in fourth.
Matthew Seyers’ five-year-old has handled the quick backup well in the past and maps to settle closer to the speed this time under Zac Lloyd.
| 9. Bolted In (7) J: Zac Lloyd 55kg 15424T: Matthew Seyers |
GLIDING LIGHTENING (5) looks forward enough to threaten off a recent jump out win at Cranbourne.
The Moody/Coleman filly clicked up nicely along the outside to draw clear and win well, while we also saw her win some nice races over 1000m last time in work in Melbourne.
Drawn a soft gate that should afford her every opportunity to push forward and find the front, she rates a key chance.
| 5. Gliding Lightening (5) J: Luke Nolen 58kg 1716xT: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
PORTARLINGTON (3) was a total forgive fresh on the Parks track from a four-wide position.
The son to I Am Immortal was entitled to finish nearly three lengths off, and it’s fair to suggest the 1250m trip may have been a little sharp for him back from a lengthy spell.
He should be better for the run though and maps to get a more economical run in transit this time from the low gate. A winner second-up during his maiden campaign, a handier ride closer to the speed would see him hard to beat.
| 3. Portarlington (2) J: Chad Schofield 57.5kg 41×9T: Phillip Stokes |
MAISY (9) finds it tough to win but did show some real promise when running on late for fourth here over the mile last start.
The Hawkes-trained mare was held up badly for a run approaching the furlong, eventually angling into the clear to finish half a length off Clicap.
Considering she was five weeks between runs, she’s still open to some improvement after tackling a tougher race at Group 3 level the run prior down in Sydney.
A place-getter over this trip in the past, she has enough early speed to offset the wide gate and land close to the speed.
| 9. Maisy (13) J: Todd Pannell 55.5kg 6×284T: M, W & J Hawkes |
FRINGES (4) looks to be a smart filly going around for Michael Hickmott.
She blew the start and was forced to make a move three-wide at Balaklava last time out over 2200m, finding the front out of the turn and then drawing nearly two lengths clear once she found an extra gear.
Hard to say she put much away that day given they were a tired bunch, but she’s clearly a stayer and looks capable of handling longer now from a perfect gate.
| 4. Fringes (3) J: Ben Melham 56kg 97901T: Michael Hickmott |
SCHEELITE (3) is a talented front-running type who should roll forward and run the race on his own terms.
He did just that at Flemington over the autumn when he claimed the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue before heading to the Doncaster where things never went his way from a wide gate.
That was the case again last week in the Golden Mile at Bendigo where he faded late after settling up on the speed, but the decision to race on the quick backup does warrant respect from the inside draw this time.
Capable of handling a wet track in what is arguably an easier race, he could surprise a few.
| 3. Scheelite (1) J: Ben Melham 56.5kg x5108T: Ken & Kasey Keys |
FERIVIA (2) is starting to warm up a little for Phillip Stokes and company.
The daughter to Astern was flat first-up when she was last to greet the judge in a Group 3 at Caulfield, but has made steady improvement back to fillies and mares grade, last seen running fourth in the Tobin Bronze here over 1200m from a long way back.
She’ll need some early luck to find cover from wider out, but hard fit now and a noted improver the deeper she gets into her prep, she rates a definite each-way chance.
| 2. Ferivia (9) J: Chad Schofield 56.5kg 6×964T: Phillip Stokes |
WATCHME WIN (5) is lowkey flying for Andrew Gluyas this prep, returning a place in both runs back.
This is a big step up in class for the five-year-old son to Harry Angel, but there was a lot to like about the way he charged the line late in the Hawkes Stakes a few weeks ago over 100m shorter.
Where he winds up from the wide gate is the big question, but if he’s in the front half and afforded the chance to switch off early, he should be strong in the finish again.
| 5. Watchme Win (10) J: Jason Holder 56kg 92×22T: Andrew Gluyas |
GOLD SPIRIT (2) is an honest type worth another look on the back of disappointing showing in the Irwin Stakes last time out.
The wide trip cost him in the end after doing plenty of work to settle third, but his two previous wins over 1200m read very well for any kind of bounce back effort.
Coming back from weight for age and in well with the claim, some early cover from another tricky gate would go a long way to strengthening his chances.
| 2. Gold Spirit (11) J: Brooke King 62kg 45117T: Grant Kluske |