South Australian Derby - 2500m, Morphettville R7
The SA Derby is the last of the Group 1 races held in Adelaide each season, and it does have a habit of producing a winner that can go onto greater things. Just this year, we saw 2021 winner Explosive Jack charge away with the Sydney Cup.
She’s Fit will jump the favourite in this year’s edition, and we have seen over the years that the right filly can certainly take this race out. Qafila in 2019 and Delicacy in 2015 are two recent examples.
She’s Fit is certainly aptly named, about to have her eighth run this year. She won the WA Oaks and has subsequently run placings in the WA Derby and Australasian Oaks. While she is usually camped closer to the speed, she settled back last time after drawing wide, and rushed home to just miss Affaire Au Suivre. She’s the one to beat, against an even bunch of colts.
Where will the main danger come from?
Red Sun Sensation, Loco and Suizuro ran the trifecta in the Chairman’s Handicap two weeks ago, and you could throw a blanket over them at the end. Red Sun Sensation had the momentum, and the tenacity to win, but hasn’t been respected by the market. Loco is a bit of a spruik horse that keeps finding one better, and lines up second favourite here. Suizuro is certainly tough and honest, with the best credentials in the race.
There’s a handful of Victorian horses that have been racing each other in the stayers series, comprising of the St Leger Trial, the Galilee Final and the VRC St Leger.
Dunwoody won the VRC St Leger over 3000m, and looked like he would stay until closing time. Dropping back to 2500m may not in fact be a positive for him. Stablemate Bengal Boy won the Galilee Final, confirming Matt Cumani’s reputation as a talented trainer of stayers. Northern Barrage has been running placings without threatening to win.
Promises Kept won the St Leger Trial by more than three lengths six weeks ago, but hasn’t been seen since. We all know how masterful the Maher/Eustace stable are at preparing horses for a grand final assignment, especially when taking an unconventional approach, and he is a serious player.
Ain’t He Grand, also prepared by Maher and Eustace, was only a length behind Major Beel in the Tulloch two starts back, before not making much impression on wet ground behind the likes of Osipenko and Pericles. He’s also had a freshen, and could pop up at odds.
There are enough horses that go forward here, and have plenty of miles in the legs, to ensure this is a true staying test and survival of the fittest at the end. The WA filly is certainly the one to beat, but it might be the Maher/Eustance gallopers that have freshness on their side that provide her stiffest test.
Selections: 1.She’s Fit 2.Promises Kept 3.Ain’t He Grand 4.Red Sun Sensation
SHE'S FIT
EACH-WAY
* Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check Playup Website For Latest Odds
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