A host of in-form South Australian sprinters are locked in a spirited battle for favouritism in Saturday’s $120,000 Christmas Handicap (1200m) – the first leg of the Summer Sprint Series - at Morphettville.
Four last-start winners from features on TAB Finals Day tackle the Listed feature, Riziz Final winner Wakanjeja sitting at the top of the market at $3.90 with tab.com.au ahead of Gytrash Final winner Validated ($4), while promising three-year-old Walk Like An Angel who comes off her Rebel Raider Final is on the third line of betting at $4.40.
Viddora Final winner Starlite Valley also comes off an impressive TAB Finals Day win and has been specked in betting to be an $8.50 chance with Justin Potter taking the ride from barrier three.
The Summer Sprint Series offers any trainer who can win any two of the Listed Christmas Handicap, Listed Durbridge Stakes (January 27) or Listed City Of Marion Stakes (February 24) a $20,000 Trainer’s Bonus.
While the incentive is large, Morphettville husband and wife training combination of Peter and Belinda Blanch also have their eyes on next year’s Adelaide Racing Carnival with Validated.
“Over the summer we want to try him in this type of grade in Victoria,’’ Peter Blanch said.
“There is a six furlong race here in May (The Goodwood) we might have a crack at.”
“He’s got to work through his grades, but you can dream,’’ he said.
Blanch said Validated had progressed well following his Gytrash success at his second run back from a break.
“He’s come through it really well, we’re looking forward to Saturday,’’ Blanch said.
At the other end of the spectrum is the best credentialled horse in the race – Group 12 runner-up Beau Rossa.
The Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea-trained galloper hasn’t raced since running last in the Listed Durbridge Stakes at Morphettville back in January.
The six-year-old with almost $650,000 in the bank will be one horse hoping the rain hits Adelaide with his last win coming in heavy conditions when he won the 2021 Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville before running second behind Behenoth in both the Group 3 Spring Stakes in Adelaide and the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
