Group 1 racing continues at Morphettville on Saturday when a capacity field of three-year-olds steps out in the time-honoured South Australian Derby.
Won by the likes of Mummify, Rebel Raider and Russian Camelot since the turn of the century, the South Australian Derby is always a terrific contest, and with a real depth of talent engaged this year, we are set for a terrific betting edition of the feature race.
I’ve run the rule over every galloper engaged, and you can find my comprehensive runner-by-runner South Australian Derby preview below.
2024 South Australian Derby Betting Strategy
- 2 Units Coco Sun (Win)
- Boxed Trifecta: 3,4,9,15,16
1 – Antrim Coast (6)
Kiwi raider Antrim Coast has drawn ideally into the South Australian Derby field and rates as a key winning chance again.
Antrim Coast finished second, beaten four lengths by Orchestral in the NZ Derby in March, and despite being sent off a $41 shot in the Alister Clark Stakes on debut in Australia, he was a tough winner.
He was last seen finishing a head second in the Galilee Series Final a month ago, but he’s a horse that has tended to race well on fresh legs.
2 – Sunsets (3)
Sunsets was excellent during his spring preparation last year, winning the Neds Classic before ending his season third in the Victoria Derby.
He is yet to finish better than fifth in four runs back this time and was well beaten by the likes of Arran Bay over 2000m at Mornington last time out.
At his best, he clearly has the ability to take out something like this, but he’s hard to recommend on recent form.
3 – Air Assault (13)
Local galloper Air Assault has been racing in strong and consistent form recently and looks a touch of overs in South Australian Derby betting ($21 at publish).
The Justify gelding returned to winning form with an eye-catching effort in the Morphettville Guineas over a mile here in March and franked that performance with subsequent victories in BM82 company and in the Port Adelaide Guineas.
Having filled the minors, beaten just over half a length in the Group 3 Charman’s Stakes here last week, this is the next logical target for him, and he steps out in peak condition.
4 – Bold Soul (12)
Patrick Payne saddled the South Australian Derby last year when Dunkel beat home a talented field, and he is a chance of going back-to-back with the talented Bold Soul on Saturday.
Bold Soul filled the minors in the Port Adelaide Guineas when resuming last month, while he takes winning form into the South Australian Derby after beating home some key rivals in last weekend’s Chairman’s Stakes.
He should only improve for that effort and getting further out in trip this week also looks to suit.
5 – Gold Wolf (1)
David and Coral Feek have elected to send Galilee Final winner Gold Wolf to Adelaide for the South Australian Derby, and understandably so.
Gold Wolf has been low flying since returning to action this time, only just missing in the Tasmanian Derby and fittingly winning at Caulfield last time out at huge odds.
He’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race and he has options in running from the rails draw.
6 – Glad You Think So (15)
Glad You Think So steadily improved with racing during his autumn prep this year, culminating in a tough effort and placing in the ATC Derby last time out.
Though well beaten on that day by Riff Rocket, there is no horse of that calibre engaged in the South Australian Derby field, and it really does loom as a great opportunity for this bloke.
The booking of Blake Shinn further enhances his claims, but he will need luck in running after drawing awkwardly.
7 – Warmonger (14)
Warmonger has opened a warm favourite in 2024 South Australian Derby betting.
The three-year-old son of War Decree has made only seven competitive appearances at the races, but he stamped himself as one to follow upon debuting in the spring, breaking his maiden at Mornington before winning over 1800m in Listed company at Flemington.
While yet to strike in three runs back this year, he was desperately close behind Air Assault in the Port Adelaide Guineas and a little luckless last week, but he’s hard fit and is another that looks as though he’ll relish the lengthier trip on Saturday afternoon.
8 – Outovstock (18)
Kiwi raider Outovstock makes his Aussie debut at Morphettville on Saturday in winning form.
The Tavistock gelding has continued to improve with racing, as the bar has been raised and as he has gotten further out in trip, culminating in a dominant win in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic at Trentham last month.
Opie Bosson travels across the Tasman once again to partner this horse, but they’ve drawn the carpark and will need plenty to go right, stepping up in grade again.
9 – A Samurai Mind (5)
The progressive A Samurai Mind rates as a key winning chance at odds in the 2024 South Australian Derby field.
A Samurai Mind has made only four appearances at the races since debuting, but has stamped himself as one to watch by winning twice, including a dominant effort in open BM72 company here two starts back, while he was only just denied in BM80 company last time out.
This is obviously another big rise in class, but the stable’s horses are flying, likewise jockey Lachlan Neindorf, who win the Robert Sangster Stakes here last week aboard Climbing Star.
He’s drawn a peach and can fight out the finish again.
10 – Shinjuku (2)
Shinjuku returned to action for consecutive wins at Sale and Pakenham, but he has since been well beaten in a couple of black type races.
He’s hard fit, but he’s another that would need to find lengths on his best efforts to date to trouble some of his South Australian Derby rivals.
11 – Just Berrilliant (7)
Just Berrelliant broke his maiden at just his second career starts at Pakenham last month, and despite being sent off at huge odds in last weekend’s Chairman’s Stakes here at Morphettville, he only just missed.
Progression to this race is more than fair and off that last effort, he’s a fighting chance again. Better than the $34 currently about him in 2024 South Australian Derby betting.
12 – Tulsa King (17)
Tulsa King’s chances in the South Australian Derby 2024 took a hit when he was allocated the outside barrier earlier this week.
A veteran of only five career starts to date, the Kermadec gelding broke his maiden at Pakenham back in March and hasn’t been far away from the winner at either of his two subsequent appearances.
Further improvement would be required.
13 – Steel Blaze (8)
Steel Blaze hasn’t finished better than sixth at his last four trips to the races and has gone up a long odds in 2024 South Australian Derby betting.
He’s another that would need to go to another level to trouble some of these rivals.
14 – Warialda Warrior (16)
Warialda Warrior’s form earlier this campaign was promising, but he was well beaten in both the Port Adelaide Guineas and the Chairman’s Stakes most recently.
This looks a bridge too far at this point of his career.
15 – Coco Sun (10)
Coco Sun is one of only two fillies confirmed in the 2024 South Australian Derby field.
The talented daughter of The Autumn Sun returned to action for consecutive and dominant wins at Sandown and Bendigo, while she was last seen finishing third, beaten a head in last weekend’s Australasian Oaks.
Jamie Kah retains the ride, she takes a couple of kilos from the boys and so long as she handles the rise in trip, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
16 – Ahuriri (11)
Ahuriri takes winning form into the South Australian Derby and is one of the few gallopers proven over a longer trip.
The Almanzor filly has won four of eight starts since debuting, placing a further three times and returning a career-best performance to date to easily win last week’s VRC St Leger at Flemington.
Craig Williams jumps into the saddle this week and Ahuriri is another that wouldn’t look out of place in the South Australian Derby winner’s stall.
17 – Zakouma (4)
Zakouma is the 2024 South Australian Derby first emergency.
He is yet to break his maiden, and this looks too strong, should he gain a start.
18 – Maputo (19)
Maputo is the South Australian Derby second emergency, and he will leave from the very outside of the field should he gain a start.
19 – Just Explosive (9)
Just Explosive is the third emergency for the 2024 South Australian Derby field, and he is unlikely to gain a start.
He has gone up at triple-figure odds in 2024 South Australian Derby betting.