The Listed Hill Smith Stakes will headline a nine race program at Morphettville this Saturday.
The rail will be out 3m for the entire circuit and the track is currently rated a good 4.
We’ve had a close look at all nine events on the program and our thoughts can be found below.
Goonsun has performed very well in his two raceday appearances and looks to have plenty of upside.
Taken back to last off the wide gate on debut the Fighting Sun gelding worked home nicely down the outside, making up good ground late.
It was a similar story again last time, he was always wide but accelerated strongly, claiming the lead 150m out but was just collared late.
With barrier two he’s sure to enjoy a cosy run this time under Kayla Crowther, who stays aboard for David Jolly.
1 unit – GOONSUN
La Pleine Lune resumes.
The Puisannce De Lune colt has just had the two starts and was brilliant on debut, saluting by nine lengths at Warrnambool during their big carnival.
The Hayes boys then sent him to Scone for the Inglis Challenge but he failed to fire.
Given time, he looks to have come back in top order having won a 1000m trial in impressive fashion and he gets the winkers on for the first time.
1 unit – LE PLEINE LUNE
Goldrush Guru returned in top order this campaign, kicking off with back to back wins and his two most recent runs have solid performances.
A 7 kg weight difference made it hard it him two runs back and he just bumped into a very handy one last time.
A son of American Pharoah, he looks well suited up to 1800m and he gets in beautifully here at the set weights.
He gets a senior rider back in the saddle with Jason Holder to do the steering for Andrew Gluyas.
2 units – GOLDRUSH GURU
New York Scandal has been racing in top form and comes here off a well deserved win.
The Manhattan Rain mare had been performing consistently on the Pakenham synthetic and was solid over 1400m at her home track of Cranbourne before making the journey to Morphettville, where she proved superior on the Parks track.
With just 52kgs on her back, she sprinted strongly down the middle of the track to score by just over two lengths.
She looks nicely placed here at the mile and will carry 53kg after the claim for Tatum Bull.
1 unit – NEW YORK SCNADAL
Iphimedia has been racing well and will appreciate the drop back in grade.
Prepared by the Griffith / de Kock team, the mare showed good ability early on, placing at stakes level on two occasions at this track.
She hasn’t had the best of luck in two runs back this campaign and her most recent run saw her charging home from the tail.
This looks a touch easier than what’s she’s been contesting and barrier six should see her afforded every chance.
1 unit – IPHIMEDIA
Lovely Lookin’ resumes.
The daughter of American Pharoah has shown plenty of natural talent and wasn’t far away in some handy stakes races last campaign.
She finished off strongly into fourth in the Group Two Tobin Bronze Stakes and charged late to get within 1.6 lengths of the winner in the Proud Miss Stakes after being held up for much of the straight.
She was dominant when winning over the 1100m here first up last prep and the low draw can see her settle within striking distance.
1 unit – LOVELY LOOKIN’
Vintage Star returns to the races.
The son of Starspangledbanner has shown good natural talent but things didn’t go to plan for him last campaign.
He resumed with a strong win over 1050m here before heading to Flemington where he led them up but just faded late.
He then struggled here in the heavy conditions and was sent to the paddock after a reasonable effort at Murray Bridge.
The form around him is solid and he has won two of his three first up appearances so I’m happy to stick with him.
The wide draw is a slight concern but with even luck, he’ll be strong late.
1 unit – VINTAGE STAR
Zebella comes off a terrific last start effort down the Flemington straight.
The Philip Stokes trained mare made the trip to Melbourne after recording a gutsy first up win over this course and distance.
Caught in the three wide line facing the breeze throughout, she fought strongly in the straight to get the job done.
Down the famous straight, she raced up on speed and again showed plenty of determined to get her nose in front but sadly, it looked to be before and after the post as she was denied in a bob of heads.
She drops back in grade and does boast an excellent record over the 1200m.
The only slight concern is the big weight but hopefully the low draw can offset that as she’s set to enjoy a soft run.
1 unit – ZEBELLA
Big Story makes the trip across from Cranbourne.
The NZ bred gelding was solid to the line over 1800m at Caulfield two runs back in what has turned out to be quite a strong form race.
He then headed to Ballarat where he had no luck at all over the 2000m journey.
Shuffled a long way back he then found countless dead ends over the final 500m.
Only lightly raced, he looks an improving type and whilst does rise slightly in grade, he drops 2.5kgs and gets a senior rider on with Manoel Nunes to do the steering for the Price / Kent team.
1 unit E/W – BIG STORY