Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville

Robert Sangster Stakes - 1200m, Morphettville R7

The Sangster is the only Group 1 race in Australia this week, as Adelaide gets its time to shine. Restricted to fillies and mares only, it has still assembled an excellent field of proper high class sprinters, highlighted by five Group 1 winners.

Passive Aggressive is the early favourite, and who could deny the claims of a horse that has claimed Giga Kick as a scalp this preparation? She is coming off a flop in the TJ Smith, where she gave up the ghost a little after helping set a strong speed, but perhaps the heavy track was to blame there. The other question mark for her is whether she is truly at her best at 1200m, or is 1000-1100m more her go.

Plenty of others in this race are coming off a Group 1 WFA run in open company, albeit not to the same level as the TJ.

Bella Nipotina (2^nd), Roch N Horse (3^rd), September Run (4^th) and Chain of Lightning (9^th) all contested the William Reid back in March.

Bella Nipotina has since gone to WA and run brilliantly in the Quokka behind Overpass and Amelia’s Jewel. She is arguably in the top half dozen sprinters in Australia, and is just so good almost every time she goes around.

The best work of Roch N Horse and September Run is usually reserved for the Flemington straight, but both have shown they are more than handy around a turn as well. Chain of Lighting isn’t threatening in these races, and you wonder if she is more of a 1400m mare than pure sprinter.

Espiona is coming off a seven week freshen after her win in the Coolmore Classic during the Sydney carnival, but is another that might find 1200m too short for her liking.

Zapateo is having fantastic season for Godolphin with four wins at Group 2 and 3 level, and earns another crack at a Group 1 after failing to make an impression in the Oakleigh Plate back in February. She will love any sting out of the track, but has come up with a sticky draw in a field of this quality.

Marabi is the interesting runner. Last year’s Oakleigh Plate winner, where she made her career record 7 from 7, has only raced once in the last 13 months. She was beaten 3.5 lengths in the Lightning Stakes, which is a tough assignment for any sprinter let alone one as inexperienced as her. She will be much better around a corner.

The two three-year-old’s, Ruthless Dame and I’mlovin’ya, add another dimension to the race. Ruthless Dame is the pick of these, having been just shaded by Jacquinot earlier in the year, and following that up by finishing in front of In Secret at Group 1 level. She has unfortunately drawn wide again, but could be right in the thick of things if luck goes her way.

Marabi, Passive Aggressive and Seradess will provide the speed, which should ensure a genuine tempo and allow every horse to have their chance.

Selections: 1.Bella Nipotina 2.Marabi 3.Ruthless Dame 4.Roch N Horse

Cameron rose's Tip

BELLA NIPOTINA

WIN

Furphy Robert Sangster Stakes 06 May 15:55

1. Bella Nipotina

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Queen of the South Stakes - 1600m, Morphettville R6

15 hardy mares and a couple of lightly raced fillies will take to the Morphettville 1600m on Saturday, and while there is probably a longish tail to the race, there are a handful of smart types and promising up-and-comers to battle it out.

Foxy Frida is the “weight” horse of the field under the set-weights penalties conditions of the race. Despite having the highest rating and coming into this in winning form, she has been assigned only 56kg’s, which is only 1kg more than lower benchmark mares. She finished second in this race last year, and has a big chance to go one better from a cosy draw.

It’s not immediately obvious to see where the main dangers are going to come from.

Sparkle, the former Japanese mare, is in winning form at 2000m, which usually holds a horse in good stead dropping back to a mile. She goes forward, so can make her own luck, but is six weeks between runs.

Miss You Ella is first-up in Australia for the Price/Kent stable, having spent the first part of her career in America. How she stacks up is anyone’s guess, but there has been decent backing for her at double figure odds through the middle of the week.

The two three-year-old’s in the race provide the wild card.

Caste has only had five starts, but has claimed a couple of handy scalps in Jennilala and Royal Merchant at her last two wins. Her potential upside given she’s improving every run must give her a case.

Waltz On By is a capable filly on her day, but she’ll need it dry and there is a query over her running a strong 1600m. The Moody stable isn’t missing too often at the moment though.

Selections: 1.Foxy Frida 2.Caste 3.Sparkle 4.Miss You Ella

Cameron rose's Tip

FOXY FRIDA

EACH-WAY

Queen Of The South Stakes 06 May 15:15

4. Foxy Frida

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

Tobin Bronze Stakes - 1200m, Morphettville R8

The Tobin Bronze sees the three-year-old’s tackle each other over 1200m, and unusually for this kind of race almost three-quarters of the field is made up by fillies.

A few of the formlines intersect here, which can often make it easier, but that’s not always the case.

Wee Nessy hasn’t won since last October, but brings the best form into the race. She’s run second three times in a row, but all to horses with excellent winning records, including the Group 1 competitive Aft Cabin.

She Dances is the one to beat, coming off a five and a half length romp at Sandown. She’s a fast horse that keeps going, but it’s clear now that she’s a control freak and needs to lead. She is five wins from five starts when leading, but is yet to run a place from four starts when not.

Renosu can mix his form and is stepping out to 1200m for the first time, but the run two back when splitting What You Need and Benedetta says he can win. Shuffle Dancer is a nice filly, but would prefer over 1400m than 1200m. Royal Merchant is in the game somewhere, and Little Miss Kubi is one at bigger odds that can figure in the finish.

She Dances does look to control this race, and her record when that is the case commands that she must go on top.

Selections: 1.She Dances 2.Wee Nessy 3.Royal Merchant 4.Little Miss Kubi

Cameron rose's Tip

SHE DANCES

WIN

Tab Tobin Bronze Stakes 06 May 16:35

7. She Dances

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

D C McKay Stakes - 1100m, Morphettville R4

We’ve got a fascinating little race on our hands for the older sprinters over 1100m.

Zoutoui has the incredible impost of 62kg’s, but this is also the weakest race he’s contested for about four years. He has no doubt been set for the Goodwood next start where the weight conditions will be more in his favour, but he could sneak under a few guards here.

Savatoxl strikes this second-up after an effortless win in Darwin, and did run second in this race last year. Free of Debt beat him home there, and is capable of a first-up strike again.

We haven’t seen the best of General Beau for some time, and he looks too short in the market. If Shamino can recapture his December-January form around Jigsaw, See You In Heaven and Kemalpasa, he can be in the game.

Taunting is favourite at the time of writing, but we have to assume he won’t be backing up from the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on Wednesday, to be running in Adelaide three days later.

Selections: 1.Savatoxl 2.Zoutori 3.General Beau 4.Shamino

Cameron rose's Tip

SAVATOXL

WIN

D C Mckay Stakes 06 May 14:02

2. Savatoxl

Win

Place

* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds

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