ROBERT SANGSTER STAKES G1

RACE 8 - 1200m

POINT BARROW / MY GLADIOLA / GENEROSITY

The Morphettville course should suit the three-year-old BLUE POINT filly POINT BARROW with a month between runs. Did well for 5th in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate, her first run back since November, not the horses best, but maybe resented the crossover noseband on for the first time. Took out the Gr.3 Roses at Flemington on Oaks Day with a fine change up of gears, although she is prone to doing a few things wrong and will need to stay calm in the early stages considering this draw isn’t the most ideal for a 1200m event. Last start the filly was dynamic in winning the Gr.3 Typhoon Tracy (1200m) at Caulfield and proved too classy from the 200m. A repeat is on the cards if able Stackhouse if able to establish a soft spot early, but she won’t get it so easy.

☆☆☆

We are off the opinion the Waller sprinter GENEROSITY is particularly well placed here by the astute trainer and can really give this a serious go jumping from the (1) with James McDonald aboard. The former Western Australia galloper came across to NSW with high prospects and early trials indicated the DIVINE PROPHET mare is a talented sprinter. Best was a tidy 3rd to JOLIESTAR in the Gr.2 The Shorts at Randwick in September, then returned the win the Gr.2 Challenge (1000m) on that course fresh up. Tougher in the Gr.1 Galaxy but ran on for 5th place and likely to be well primed bringing her across here.

☆☆☆☆

The beauty little grey filly MY GLADIOLA started her career with a win, then returned to finish 2nd in the Gr.3 Quezette at Caulfield. Found plenty to win the D'Antibes at Flemington followed by a solid 2nd to McGAW in the Gr.2 Danehill Stakes on this course, beating home TENTYRIS, who would defeat her in the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes after getting on the filly's tail and zipping past. Tidy 3rd in the Breeders at Caulfield before going for a break in November. No match for TENTYRIS powering home late to defeat her in the Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning, then did everything wrong in the Newmarket. This is another tough contest but drawn well and these odds are highly appealing.

☆☆☆

AUSTRALASIAN OAKS G1

RACE 7 - 2000m

GETTA GOOD FEELIN / SALTY PEARL / PANOVA

GETTA GOOD FEELING chases her maiden Group 1 victory at Morphettville on Saturday after a brilliant campaign thus far that had included an Inglis Sprint victory at Flemington and the Gr.3 Alexandra (1600m) at Caulfield. The Danny O'Brien-trained filly has barrier (5) in Saturday's Australasian Oaks which should deliver a sweet trip in transit. Didn't run out the 2500m VRC Oaks trip in November, however the 2000m seems a perfect fit for the SO YOU THINK filly. Awfully hard to beat here.

☆☆☆☆☆

Ciaron Maher has entered the grey filly by TAGALOA into the Oaks and SALTY PEARL has demonstrated exceptional quality ad a three-year-old. Kept coming when 4th in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield behind OLE DANCER before driving ahead late to win the Gr.2 Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley. The 1200m was short of her best when coming from the rear for 3rd to SPACE RIDER resuming at Caulfield in the Manfred Stakes, ran 2nd in the Armanasco and 3rd in the Kewney, before making easy work of it to claim the Platinum Guineas at Caulfield. Step up in trip should suit.

☆☆☆

Difficult to underestimate a Waller runs when he brings them to SA and PANOVA has experienced a gradual build up after a dynamic spring preparation. Won the Gr.3 Reg Allen at Randwick and Carbine Club travelling to Flemington before resuming in the Gr.1 Surround Stakes when just not quick enough. Ran in strongly in the Gr.2 Phar Lap (1500m), then slow out with the race not run to suit in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud (2000m) at Rosehill. This appears far more obtainable race for the TRAPEZE ARTIST filly who has trialed up at Flemington recently but will need to be extra special to keep pace with the O’Brien filly.

☆☆

TOBIN BRONZE STAKES G2

RACE 6 - 1200m

ALPHA SOFIE / TYCOON STAR / SIGNATURE SCENT

The CAPITALIST filly ALPHA SOFIE is an interesting runner who started life out in Queensland where she won twice over 1200m at Eagle Farm and was very good in both. Transferred from the Jason Edward's Deagon stables to the Moody/Coleman team in August before winning the Listed Atlantic Jewel at the Valley, bursting through aided by a fine Zac Spain steer. Her dam SOFIA'S GOLD CLASS won 7 from 23, four of those in Brisbane metro grade. She is by a star second dam in VICTORY VEIN (Mr Henrysee). Australia’s Champion 2YO of 2002. Bred to be good and can handle this even from the sticky gate.

☆☆☆

Highly likely the Hayes boys will have TYCOON STAR ready to fly after two sound efforts back and there is some genuine quality about WRITTEN TYCOON colt who finished 3rd in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond early last year but really stepped it up in the spring. Came back to run 2nd in the Gr.3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield before winning the McNeil on the course. Solid return for 2nd in the Moomba Plate down the Flemington straight, then nudged out by a nose on the line in the Redelva Stakes at Morphettville, so has that run behind him on the course. Huge chance and will go close.

☆☆☆☆

This looks a nice race for the Maher-trained SIGNATURE SCENT after a tidy win at Caulfield as a two-year-old. Given her pedigree that mixes the speed of Written Tycoon with some pretty stout Kiwi staying blood, the future for Signature Scent in terms of distance range might be a case of trial and error. Won at Bendigo on debut with an impressive performance before coming through a gap to score soundly over 1100m. A big scopey filly, SIGNATURE SCENT is probably the most expensive breeze up horse ever sold in Australia when selling for $1 million at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale. Won at Morphettville over 1050m in March, and sound for 3rd in the Redelva Stakes here last start, so has the ability to be competitive.

☆☆

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH STAKES G2

RACE 4 - 1600m

ON DISPLAY / TERILEE / MOONLIGHT CIRCUS

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable gave ON DISPLAY her first-up outing in the Gr.3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington and it was a solid return for 3rd behind SCHEELITE. Had little chance coming wider in the Gr.2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield where the race tempo was right against the FASTNET ROCK mare. Takes on the boys here and a much better showing is likely before heading to the Queen of the South Stakes at Adelaide on ANZAC Day. Very good horse, as on display when finishing 3rd to PRIDE OF JENNI in the Gr.1 Empire Rose in November. Too wet last time after a tidy 3rd resuming in the Shaftesbury and tempo against in the next. Stick with, looks a big chance.

☆☆☆☆

The Michael Kent trained TERILEE is a nice TERRITORIES mare only eight runs into her career as a lightly raced type. Won her debut at Caulfield 12 months back, then again at Sandown in June. Kept going soundly to win over 1400m at Sandown in Feburary and was bolting up from midfield five, then four wide before taking control. Repeated the dose up to the mile at Caulfield three weeks ago as it appears Kent has her in the best possible condition aiming for a first Stakes victory. Draw seems fine for the distance with Stackhouse aboard and odds are more than fair.

☆☆☆

MOONLIGHT CIRCUS has landed one crapper of a gate but we think at these odds is worth a sniff. However, the TRAPEZE ARTIST mare is flashy and quite good, winning 2 from 3 last year as a horse who knows how to find the line, so getting back may not be such a big issue. The key for the Kent-trained mare is probably a patient ride by Neindorf and if he can get her travelling into on the turn then is likely to just keep coming. Will probably need some luck, but we’re not ruling the combination out if all the cards fall their way.

☆☆

JOHN HAWKES STAKES G3

RACE 5 - 1100m

GRAND LARCENY / NEW YORK LUSTRE / RECOMMENDATION

The ZOUSTAR gelding GRAND LARCENY came through for us over 1100m on a wet Flemington track last prep and dug deep to win well, and we knew she possessed something a little special. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Hawkes has demonstrated exceptional form, securing 5 wins and 4 placings from 12 starts. He is good though and should be coming from the mare SIN SIN SIN, the dam of Everest winner YES YES YES. Big ask but loads of upside arriving here after winning a recent jumpout on the course. Possibly better off after this first hit out and has come in for some early support with Ben Melham potentially a good fit for the Hawkes trained sprinter. Happy with these odds, although not entirely a straightforward task from the gate.

☆☆☆☆

Like the looks of the MANHATTAN RAIN mare NEW YORK LUSTRE, who is a good quality sprinter capable of taking this out. The Enver Jusufovic trained mare won over 1000m at Moonee Valley last March before finishing 2nd in the Gr.3 Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield behind IN FLIGHT and wasn’t far off them in the next few. Fought on evenly behind STRETAN ANGEL in the Alinghi Stakes (1100m) in October, then eased clear near the outside rail doing his best late to prevail in the Gr.3 Ichiban Sprint down the straight at Flemington last start. Two successful 800m jump outs to prepare and looks ready to go from a tidy draw.

☆☆☆

RECOMMENDATION didn't offer the complete package when 3rd in the Gr.3 Monash behind the bullet, IN FLIGHT last July, but we can expect further improvement rocking up here. The SHALAA gelding made a bid for the lead, though he appeared to falter somewhat in the final 50 metres against a very skilled competitor. Chance to recapture that best form after going off the boil, with a nice 2nd in the Behemoth (1200m) here at Morphettville the best result of a difficult prep. The Ciaron Maher trained six-year-old made a good return coming wide for 2nd in the Discovery at Ballarat, so we could expect even better 2nd-up with Zahra taking the reins.

☆☆

CHAIRMAN'S STAKES G3

RACE 3 - 2000m

MCWOODY / IMPLUSIVE REACTION / WIGMORE

We really liked the look of this ALABAMA EXPRESS colt MCWOODY prior commencing his career and he has stood up to win 3 from 6, the last two coming in SA after transferring from Mark Walker to the Symons/Laxon camp. Won on debut at Wodoonga last September at 1590m, then took on the VRC Derby, which was a bold move. Returned to give good chase and win over the mile at Sandown for the new trainers before kicking hard for a tough victory in the Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) last start. Seems to have worked it all out with the team now getting the best out of him.

☆☆☆☆

IMPULSIVE REACTION is sitting at long odds in the Tobin Bronze but really is a much better chance than the market suggests. This SHAMUS AWARD gelding trained at Cranbourne by the Busuttin/Young team trialed up a number of times before finishing 2nd on debut over 1400m. Hit the line hard to win his next up to the mile on his home course, then wound up last over 2060m there and ended up with too much work to do. Zac Lloyd aboard, so look for the gelding winding up the last bit.

☆☆☆

The Phillip Stokes trained WIGMORE has shown enough in six starts to believe he is right in this contest and come here after OTI purchased the three-year-old. A gelding by SWEYNESSE, all his racing has been in New Zealand, where he managed to win over 1600m at Tauherenikau, before a couple more and a top effort for 4th in the Gr.1 NZ Derby (2400m) behind ROAD TO PARIS. Hasn't raced since March, although likely to hold some reasonable fitness levels and being freshened the trip may suit well. May need a bit more time and more ground but could be the surprise package.

☆☆

BREEDERS STAKES G3

RACE 2 - 1200m

OLE GO / WONDERFUL SKY / VERZAIN

Todd Pannell will ride the OLE KIRK colt OLE GO who will come in for strong support here after winning on debut over 1050m on the course in January, then raced a bit keenly in the Without Fear Stakes returning to Morphettville and was really worried out of the win by VERZAIN who he meets again on Saturday. The Mick Hickmott colt is out of an I AM INVINCIBLE mare in DANA POINT, who herself was a handy type out of a Redoute’s Choice mare. Based on the pedigree likely to jump on the bunny and attempt to run them off their feet early but seems far too short in the market for us.

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Mark Walker trains the OLE KIRK filly WONDERFUL SKY who we believe is a serious chance of taking this out based her trial work and first two runs. Outkicked coming wider in the final strides on debut at Pakenham, the led on the rails to the turn and kept going strongly to draw clear the final 200m. Owned by long time Te Akau supporter Ronald Lau, she was purchased by David Ellis for A$290,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

☆☆☆

The ZOUSAIN filly VERZAIN took off at Morphettville but was headed off and run down late by NEVER ORDINARY but boxed on solidly. Same deal on debut when 2nd and edged ahead of OLE GO over 1050m in the Without Fear Stakes last start looming up to the colt strongly at the 200m. Trained on the course by Phillip Stokes, he does appear in this contest if turning up here with the same fighting spirit in the belly.

☆☆

BEST BET: ON DISPLAY

NEXT BEST: GENEROSITY

BEST VALUE: GRAND LARCENY

WILDCARD: SIGNATURE SCENT