BEST BET: SYLVAN CREST (Race 7)
EACH-WAY: MONTEFERRANTE (Race 6)
RACE 1 - 12:56PM Members of Bung Fritz Society / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1500 METRES)
SMILING ASSASSIN has been placed at five of nine starts and won’t get a better chance to break his maiden than this. He has placed first-up previously, gets the blinkers again and Todd Pannell rides. Stablemate DISSOLVABLE has the blinkers off and was on speed when fifth, beaten 3.6 lengths, behind Sir Coen at Naracoorte last time. SMART VISION was placed at Murray Bridge behind Biarchi over 1800m but is back sharply in trip here. APPLIED was placed behind Graciebird over 1400m at Murray Bridge and made ground late behind African Awesome there last time out. ALITTLEBITOFREBA is third up and was OK here two starts back.
SELECTIONS: SMILING ASSASSIN, Smart Vision, Applied
RACE 2 - 1:25PM Coopers Brewery Benchmark 62 Handicap (Heat One Southern Speed Series) (2100 METRES)
THE RED SEA was back to winning form with a dominant five-length on-speed win last time at Balaklava over Happy Atom. Todd Pannell rides and he looks the clear top pick here. FREE ATBARA was a tough watch last time when hampered for room in the home straight before being beaten under a length into fifth spot behind Challicum at Naracoorte. He’ll be on speed and sure to be thereabouts, so has appeal at the $10 in early tab.com.au markets. SOSTENIDO had good support behind his stablemate THE RED SEA last time out and is sure to be in the mix here. ACT OF AGGRESSION was a winner this track and trip four runs back, while ACE ATTACK has been around the mark in similar class.
SELECTIONS: THE RED SEA, Free Atbara, Act of Aggression
RACE 3 - 2:00PM 4 Way Fresh Produce Benchmark 54 Handicap (1700 METRES)
FAST DEALER was a nice SA debut, making ground behind Tignanello at Murray Bridge. The step up from 1400m to 1700m looks ideal but he does have plenty of weight. ANTIPAS is winless in seven starts here but drops back in trip and was a Murray Bridge winner two starts back. TATTIES has a win and placing from three starts this track and trip and ran OK at a big price when up in class last time out. TRIVAGO GIRL was a Port Lincoln winner two starts back and can improve on last time here on her home track. LAMMA HILTON is a former Queenslander with Shane Grivell. HAHNDORF will find this much easier than last start at Morphettville when beaten 6.2 lengths behind Skillful Steps.
SELECTIONS: FAST DEALER, Antipas, Hahndorf
RACE 4 - 2:35PM Gawler Christmas Races Sat 19th December / SABOIS Maiden Plate (1100 METRES)
CELESTIAL ILLUSION has been placed in two trials, the latest at Murray Bridge behind Over The Line. He draws a good gate and is sure to be in the mix here. GO BUNDLE was runner-up behind Beau Rossa in a Murray Bridge trial and jumped out well at Strathalbyn last week behind Bleriot, who ran well on debut at Morphettville at the weekend behind Gulf Of Suez. LA RAPIDE has been well in the market at both starts, the latest running sixth behind Valley Of Darkness at Murray Bridge back in June. He was impressive winning a Strathalbyn jump-out last week. ALOTAFUN is another who jumped out very well at Strath last week, sitting off the speed before running through the line strongly to score and is in the very clever hands Shayne Cahill. POLLYANNA was a drifter on debut when runner-up behind Baraconi at Strathalbyn. ARCTIC FLORA has had plenty of chances but doesn’t run too many bad races and draws a good gate. POWERFUL FLYER is drawn to be on speed and ran OK behind Zeduki last time.
SELECTIONS: LA RAPIDE, Celestial Illusion, Go Bundle
RACE 5 - 3:10PM Ultra Tune / Kingsford Hotel Benchmark 54 Handicap (1100 METRES)
FERGIE had good backing to win at Strathalbyn last time out and her previous two efforts were solid. She draws perfectly in barrier three and looks the testing material. RUSTYDUSTYSUNSHINE has won three starts here on her home track. She wasn’t far away at Strathalbyn last time out and gets Todd Pannell in the saddle. READY SUNSHINE is capable in a race like this, while ZOUSTORM had specking at a price here back in October and made ground in the race won by L’amarybelle. BUBBLES MCGINTY was a winner here two starts back in June and draws a nice gate. ARCTIC BLAZE has won three races here.
SELECTIONS: FERGIE, Rustydustysunshine, Zoustorm
RACE 6 - 3:45PM Gawler Hi-Beam Carwash Benchmark 62 Handicap (Heat Three Alcopop Series) (1500 METRES)
MONTEFERRANTE was a Murray Bridge maiden winner back in April and hasn’t raced since being placed behind Bertwhistle on the Parks track. She’s first-up over 1250m and probably going to need the run but looks well suited in a race like this. OUR DEEP AGENDA was impressive first-up for the Jon O’Connor stable, coming off the speed and beating Wedgetail. He got back behind Heir Of Tavistock last time but looks well suited in a race like this. The Phillip Stokes pair of MIRKWOOD FORREST and MISSALLURE both have appeal. MIRKWOOD FORREST was too good over this track and trip two starts back and made ground behind Masterati last time. MISSALLURE is coming off a Strathalbyn maiden win and looks perfectly drawn. ZATAGO STAR was runner-up behind Renegade on the Parks two starts back and has won three of six starts here. MR EPIC is first-up for Grant Young and trialled well behind Divanation. CANIDAE draws wide but is a winner here and was placed in town behind Like A Heartbeat two starts back.
SELECTIONS: MONTEFERRANTE, Mirkwood Forrest, Mr Epic
RACE 7 - 4:20PM Johnson & Dare Benchmark 52 Handicap (1500 METRES)
SYLVAN CREST has a win and four placings from six starts here and led throughout to win by two length at Strathalbyn last time out. He draws OK in a middle gate and is likely to roll forward and take beating in this. I’m happy to take the $3.10 in early markets. KHANI STAR has been runner-up at her past two at Port Lincoln and does go well here on her home track. MANOR KING was placed at Morphettville at big odds two starts back and is capable in a race like this. GROOVE WITH ME has run well his past couple.
SELECTIONS: SYLVAN CREST, Khani Star, Manor King
RACE 8 - 4:55PM Cornerstone Stud Benchmark 58 Handicap (Heat Five Sir Prancealot Series) (1200 METRES)
CARTIER TIARA has two wins from three starts here and was a winner two start back here over the 1100m, beating Sidestreet, before a good run behind Rock Hard last time. JACJAC JACQUI is lightly raced and broke her maiden at Strathalbyn last time out. DOMINATION has plenty of weight even after the claim but looks pretty well graded against these. He stuck on well behind Strike In Style last time at Strathalbyn. MAGIC DEE was a big drifter last time out when runner-up behind Fergie at Strathalbyn. SAND CAT draws wide but stuck on well after leading behind Cartier Tiara last time out. PANZER PRINCESS was a winner here back in September, but her past thee have been average. AMBERTONE would be in this on her effort at Morphettville two runs back, while GALCRUM has a good record here on his home track.
SELECTIONS: CARTIER TIARA, Jacjac Jacqui, Ambertone