24/2/2024 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets

The Adelaide Autumn Carnival warms up this Saturday at Morphettville where it is Lord Reims Stakes Day. Weather is fine, track is good (4) and the rail is out eight metres from the 1200m-Winning Post; Out five metres for the remainder.

Race 1. (12:57) Happy 21St Darcy Gluyas (Bm86) 1600m

4 Wild Willy (Bet Now:$7.50) for me. Jamie Opperman trained gelding that comes back to town with his confidence sky high after a dominant win over the mile at Hamilton last Thursday, sitting on speed and looked in trouble 400m out but he ran through the pain barrier and was very dominant in the run to the line. He finds a good spot on speed, down in the weights and is tough.

1 Conqueror (Bet Now:$4.20) can run an improved race for Team Hayes. He was a real eye catcher down the straight here behind Jungle Jim before going to 1400m at Caulfield two weeks back where he got back and made up minor headway without threatening behind Jimmysstar. Off the first up effort, he can take this out.

3 Pool Pony (Bet Now:$3.60) is racing in super form for Francis/Kent and rates highly. He put together three wins on the bounce before racing two weeks back over this track/distance when back in the run but tried to make a sustained move and was as game as ever but found one better in I’m A Dexter. Few weeks between runs and despite this race being harder, he’s one of the main chances I find.

Race 2. (13:32) The Fotobase Group (Bm70) 1800m

3 Marimenko (Bet Now:$SP.00) is bursting to win for Team Jolly. He ran third over 1500m here a fortnight back when into a good spot just off the speed and presented to win but couldn’t quite get there when third to Titan Of Choice. He’s racing like a rise in trip will suit and fourth up, he should be hard fit.

4 West Cliff (Bet Now:$SP.00) has found winning form and he can certainly go on with it. He was big odds when a track/distance winner two weeks ago, but despite the large SP, he was a strong on speed winner and did a really good job to fend them off and win. Racing really well and should be around the mark once again despite the depth being a touch stronger.

Back in trip I find interesting with 10 Fox D’Or (Bet Now:$SP.00). He ran over 2100m last Wednesday at Gawler when lobbing into a nice spot before edging three wide, trying to make a run. He was there to win but couldn’t quite get there when fourth to Wolf Prince. Back in trip, I think, is okay, and this race isn’t overly deep.

Race 3. (14:07) Adelaide Cup Day March 11Th (Bm66) 1100m

6 Desert Dancing (Bet Now:$3.80) has been dynamic this time in for Clarken/O’Shea and no reason why she can’t keep winning. This girl is 2/2 this time in, winning like a good horse fresh at Murray Bridge with sustained speed from the front. She then was ridden with a sit two weeks ago and while the margin wasn’t as big, she was just as impressive I thought given she showed versatility. She can keep winning.

2 Anotherhouse (Bet Now:$7.00) is a son of Belardo that is first up for Stuart Gower. This three year old did nice things in his first prep during the Spring, highlighted by a dominant maiden win over 1200m here. Trialled up very well recently on the Parks track here behind Pure Bliss and despite 1100m being on the short, he has a touch of quality so for mine, he commands respect.

4 Stokomo (Bet Now:$10.00) is in with a shout. Team Jolly trained three year old that toughed it out best to win on debut over 1050m at Balaklava, finishing best in a driving go. Lingani franked the form when bolting up last week and he gives every indication that he will get better as the races get further.

Race 4. (14:42) Quayclean (Bm66) 1200m

2 She’s Greysful (Bet Now:$SP.00) is three weeks between runs since racing on speed on the Parks track over 1250m and she tried hard but couldn’t quite see it through when a tiring fifth behind Toast The Deel. I think with a more conservative steer, she can run a much improved race and bounce back.

5 Outsider (Bet Now:$SP.00) is a Clarken/O’Shea trained mare that looks to be in for a good prep. She resumed a fortnight back over this track/distance when crunched in betting but seemingly had every chance and was a bit on the plain side behind Ironedge I thought when third. Fitter, back miles in depth, she commands respect.

8 Prance N Dance (Bet Now:$SP.00) is an improver at odds for John Croucher. She was a total forgive at Murray Bridge last time when five wide no cover and that hard run just told late in the piece behind Little Rich Boy. Think with a more economical run in transit, she can run a much improved race at odds.

Race 5. (15:17) Cinderella Stakes 1050m

6 Ad Astra (Bet Now:$10.00) is a key chance I feel. Michael Hickmott trained juvenile that trialled behind Kuroyanagi and moved very well to run second, with a big gap to third. Had jumped out super prior to that so he does have above average ability to my eye and only runs well.

1 Talisay (Bet Now:$13.00) will be strong late and is one of the leading chances. She debuted two weeks ago at this track/distance where she produced a very strong finale from off the speed to win and win well. Natural improvement to come, she’ll be stronger than most at the end and this isn’t a deep race. Like her.

2 Duchess Of Sussex (Bet Now:$6.50) will jump on the bunny and give cheek. She did that when debuting here a fortnight back and for the most part, she was hailed as the winner, but she couldn’t quite see it through and was run down late by Talisay. The end of 1050m will be the test but with natural improvement, run under the belt, perhaps she will be stronger at the end.

Race 6. (15:52) Frank Donnelly (Bm64) 1050m

10 Zufasta (Bet Now:$SP.00) finds it very hard to win but that said, I do think he is knocking on the door and can take this out. He ran over 1100m at Oakbank last start where he got a fair way out of his ground but got clear and rocketed late, just missing out on the win when a narrow second to Miss Mucinni. Has a good record here and in a fast run 1050m, he can launch over the top.

6 Willaston (Bet Now:$SP.00) looks hard to beat for Ryan Balfour. Narrow second two back over this track/distance to Storm Voyager before going to 1100m two weeks ago where he got a fair way out of his ground and while he did make up headway, he was never really threatening behind Desert Dancing. No horse of that quality here and if he can settle closer in the run, he has the finale to launch at them late.

1 El Salto (Bet Now:$SP.00) is on the seven day back up for Grant Young since winning last Saturday on the Parks track. He got into a dream spot off the hot speed before angling clear and in a driving finish, he was too good for speedy customer Secret War. He thrives on the back up and this race isn’t much harder.

Race 7. (16:27) Lord Reims Stakes 2600m

11 The Map (Bet Now:$2.35) is a very good staying mare that has claims to being a potential Melbourne Cup runner later in the year. She resumed two weeks ago in the JRA Plate where she resumed but produced a sustained run from midfield and she gapped them late for a very impressive win. Upside, up in trip…clearly hard to beat.

14 Unusual Pearl (Bet Now:$7.50) is a very progressive mare for Team McEvoy that is heading in the right direction. She comes here off the back of an arrogant just over three weeks ago at The Valley over 2500m where she got into a dream spot near the speed before being clicked up and away she went, drawing clear to win and win well. Good test here, but confident she can measure up.

1 Canford (Bet Now:$51.00) is racing with a bit more consistency this time in and rates as one of the knockout hopes given he has the hard 2500m lead up runs under the belt and is hard fit. His recent runs have come at this trip, the last two here. He bolted up two back and backed that up with a second to Wheels two weeks back. I highly doubt he is good enough to win but can run top four.

Race 8. (17:07) City Of Marion Stakes 1200m

11 Grinzinger Prince (Bet Now:$10.00) is the each way play for me here. He is absolutely flying for Cody Reardon. He ran in the Durbridge four weeks ago where he got back and wide but kept finding the line in a super effort in defeat when third to quality mare Aitch Two Oh. Like him up in trip and if he can settle closer from the gate, he only runs well.

4 Chicago Storm (Bet Now:$13.00) looks to be humming here for David Aldridge. He resumes after a fruitful Spring, highlighted by an arrogant win in the Gawler Cup before a down the track effort at Flemington on Cup Day. He is a horse who can sprint well on the fresh side and his trial behind Oakleigh Plate contender Sghirripa…it was a sparkling piece of work. Hard to beat.

5 My Khalifa (Bet Now:$23.00) is a Richards/Moyle trained gelding that resumes. He had a three run Spring/Summer prep and given what he has done in the past, I thought it was a disappointing prep, but two of the runs were at 1200m and the last run was at Caulfield so perhaps a tad harsh but he has been a very good animal in Adelaide for a couple of seasons and has trialled well leading in.

Race 9. (17:48) Grand Syndicates Handicap 1200m

15 Wally West (Bet Now:$12.00) is third up from a spell and should just about be at peak fitness. I was keen on him last Wednesday at Gawler and 600m out, he looked all over a winner, but he couldn’t quite see it through when a close up third to Miss Subtly. Hard fit and back onto the bigger track, he’ll sit off a good speed and finish off strong, plus the booking of Todd Pannell, a strong left hand whip rider, will negate this horse and his desire to lay in.

4 Mighty Sapphire (Bet Now:$6.00) is racing well for Bain/Taylor and is one of the hardest to beat. He ran a few weeks ago over 1250m where he got a fair way out of his ground but he charged late, just missing out on the win when a narrow second to Willybeafactor. Strikes a winnable race and if he can settle closer, he’ll take holding out.

5 Capricorn Ridge (Bet Now:$67.00) is a handy enough galloper for Matty Seyers that resumes. This guy last raced at Gawler back on Jan 7 when back near last in the run and although he made up ground, he was never a factor behind Secret War, a speed demon. He can sprint well fresh and he finds a winnable race.

Best Bets & Quaddie Tips

BEST BET: Race Seven Number 11 The Map

NEXT BEST: Race Nine Number 15 Wally West

LONG SHOT: Race Eight Number 11 Grinzinger Prince

Quaddie (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 6, 10, 13

Leg Two: 11

Leg Three: 4, 5, 7, 9, 11

Leg Four: 4, 15

$50 Investment = 125% of the dividend if successful.