With the Sydney Autumn Carnival done and dusted, the Ladbrokes form team shift their attention to South Australia this Saturday with two Group 1s on offer at Morphettville.
This week’s set of tips focuses on the Australasian Oaks and the Robert Sangster Stakes, as well as the $5 million Quokka race at Ascot, and a few bets across Eagle Farm and Randwick.
As always, you can follow along on race day on the Ladbrokes Communities, or if you’re keen to get in early, don’t forget to back Craig Sheppard, Rebecca Hill, and Ryan Cook’s Best Bets multi below!
Craig Sheppard
Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 7 No. 1 Harlem Queen
Harlem Queen looks well placed in the Listed Princess Stakes under the set weight conditions of the race. The Nathan Doyle-trained filly has come back this preparation in fine style, finishing powerfully to finish a length third over 1400m at Randwick first-up before charging to the line for a 1.9 length third in the G2 Emancipation Stakes. She’ll strip fitter third-up and finished second to Lady Shenandoah over this distance in the G1 Flight Stakes when having her third run back last preparation. She’s drawn well and should appreciate a strong tempo.
Best Roughie – Randwick Race 9 No. 13 Mighty Myrtle ($26 at time of publish)
Mighty Myrtle has drawn the car park in both her races this preparation yet still has charged home from the back to finish 1.5 lengths fifth at Nowra and 1.4 lengths fourth at Goulburn. She draws barrier 3 here so should settle closer in the run. She’s undefeated in two previous third-up races including once over this distance. Molly Bourke’s 2kg claim will see her carry just 54kg.
Australasian Oaks Best Bet – Morphettville Race 7 No. 2 Benagil
Benagil brings the A1 form to this year’s Australasian Oaks. The Glen Thompson-trained filly chased home Australia’s premier staying three-year-old Treasurethe Moment in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes last start to finish 1.3 lengths second. Two starts back she let down strongly to win the VOBIS Platinum Guineas at Caulfield. That race has had three subsequent winners so that form is very good. She looked super working to the line strongly in a recent jump out that would have topped her off nicely. She’ll get back from the wide draw and storm home off the back of a strong speed.
Robert Sangster Stakes Best Bet – Morphettville Race 8 No. 3 Climbing Star
Climbing Star sets up well to win back-to-back Robert Sangster Stakes. The Phillip Stokes-trained Zoustar mare caught the eye when resuming in the G3 RN Irwin Stakes last start when settling three-wide at the back before unleashing a powerful burst to finish just over half a length third. She’ll strip fitter second-up and loves this course and distance.
The Quokka Best Bet – Ascot Race 8 No. 1 Overpass
Overpass returns to Western Australia looking to win his third consecutive The Quokka. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding loves racing Ascot having won all four of his previous starts over this course and distance, which includes the past two editions of The Quokka and the G1 Winterbottom Stakes. He arrives in great form having given Briasa an almighty fight in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes where he was run down in the shadows of the post to finish a head second. While there’s no doubting he does his best work fresh, he has run well second-up in the past including a half-length second in the G1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000. Josh Parr has a terrific relationship with the gelding who is thrown in at the weights and should be able to cross and lead.
SRM – Eagle Farm Race 7 ($11.50 at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 1 Harlem Queen
- Top 3 – No. 6 Meridiana
- Top 4 – No. 10 Pinito
I’m looking at the Princess Stakes at Eagle Farm for my Same Race Multi this week. I’m super keen on Harlem Queen to win the race given she clearly brings the best rated Group form and I find it hard to see her not running top two. While Meridiana and Pinito bring strong Sydney form which always holds up well in Brisbane.
Rebecca Hill
Saturday’s Best Bet – Eagle Farm Race 8 No. 2 Port Lockroy
My best bet lines up in the Listed Brisbane Mile at Eagle Farm. Port Lockroy hasn’t been far away in two runs back this campaign and he and looks ready to peak with the drop back in grade.
Resuming in the George Ryder, the gelding settled in the second half of the and field and finished off nicely behind the likes of Gringotts and Fangirl. He was always wide when contesting at Doncaster at his following outing but fought gamely to finish just 1.3 lengths off Stefi Magnetica.
Winner of the Railway Stakes late last year, he’s proven himself a class galloper and he’s sure to find this easier than what he’s been contesting of late. Ryan Maloney will do the steering and if he can find cover early off the wide gate, I think he’ll prove too good for them.
Best Roughie – Morphettville Race 4 No. 8 Compressing
Compressing heads to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes. He takes a big leap in grade as he comes off a Benchmark 64 win at Cranbourne but I think the son of Savabeel is worth following. Unbeaten in two raceday appearances, he made his debut late last month in a Terang maiden where he did everything right and kicked away in the straight to score a decisive victory over the mile.
He settled further back last time when stepping up to 2080m and when carried very wide approaching the home turn he looked to have the job ahead but he showed great tenacity to power home and get his head down where it counted.
This is obviously a lot tougher but he’s an improving type and I think he has a touch of class about him. He does have the wide draw to overcome but gets the in-form Ethan Brown aboard and at $23, I think he’s worth an each way play.
Australasian Oaks Best Bet – Morphettville Race No. 3 Movin Out
Movin’ Out has just had the three starts on Australian soil and she was quick to find the winners’ stall as she cruised to victory last start in the Mornington Guineas. The former Kiwi had three runs in her homeland, securing a third placing in the Group 1 NZ Thousand Guineas, before making the journey across the ditch and she was solid when kicking off in the Phar Lap Stakes.
Lucky to stay on her feet after racing keen and clipping heels in the Vinery she raced more tractably when dropping back in trip last time but the way she surged to the line suggests she’ll relish getting out to 2000m again. She draws to enjoy a cosy run throughout under Ben Melham and I think she’s the one to beat.
Robert Sangster Stakes Best Bet – Morphettville Race 8 No. 9 Charm Stone
This is such an open race and I wouldn’t be surprised to see any of them win. I’ve always been a big fan of Charm Stone, she returns to the races and looks ready to go off a recent jump out win.
The daughter of I Am Invincible has also shown plenty of talent but has had a few set backs along the way. She was luckless in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last campaign but gets another chance at a Group One and I feel she’s certainly capable.
Mark Zahra will take the reins and with luck off the tricky draw, I think she’ll be right in this.
The Quokka Best Bet – Ascot Race 8 No. 1 Overpass
It’s hard to go past Overpass in the Quokka, especially as he meets the field on level weights. His record speaks for itself, he’s unbeaten in four starts in the West and he has made this race his own, winning both editions. The big difference this time, is that he is second up but I’m happy to stick with him.
SRM – Randwick Race 5
- Top 3 – Saganti
- Top 3 – Flying Bandit
- Top 4 – Star Vega
I think Saganti and Flying Bandit hold strong claim on this race. Saganti was very good when resuming over the mile and he’ll relish the rise in trip. Flying Bandit is a horse on the up and he gets in beautifully with no weight on his back. Star Vega drops back in grade, he strips fitter for the first up run and will also appreciate the step up to 1800m.
Ryan Cook
Saturday’s Best Bet – Morphettville Race 2 No. 3 Petit Artiste
I’ve got a big opinion of this filly after she came out and won the Fear Stakes relatively easily a couple of weeks ago. She’s only little, but she packs a serious turn of foot, as we saw once she found the clear down the outside to go on and win by 3.5 lengths. I doubt the rise to 1200m troubles her too much and she looks like she’ll get the perfect cart into the race from midfield on Saturday.
Best Roughie – Morphettville Race 3 No. 5 Karacasu
I’m with Manolo Bling in this race, but I still think Karacasu can run a place. He doesn’t win out of turn, but he loomed as a serious threat in the Matrice Stakes along the rail a couple of weeks ago, eventually settling for fourth in a good go for the line. With Zac Spain on now from a perfect gate, I think he could go one better if he gets back off the speed nice and early.
Australasian Oaks Best Bet – Morphettville Race 7 No. 3 Movin Out
Plenty to like about what Chris Waller’s filly accomplished last Saturday at Mornington, racing from last to five to win the Guineas by 2.5 lengths. She’s always shown ability in the six races she’s contested, and this shapes as another winnable assignment back out to 2000m, providing she gets enough room in running from barrier one.
Robert Sangster Stakes Best Bet – Morphettville Race 8 No. 6 A Little Deep (Each Way)
Impressive winner at Flemington late last month in what I thought was a very brave win all the way through the line. She’s typically held her own over 1200m, and although this is the toughest race she’s faced, I like that she’s won a jump out recently over New York Lustre. Kept fresh and likely to land around midfield from barrier 5, I think this mare by Deep Field is a better chance than the price tag suggests.
The Quokka Best Bet – Ascot Race 8 No. 1 Overpass
Bit of an open and shut case for Overpass as far as I’m concerned. I thought he was solid in the TJ a couple of weeks ago in behind Briasa, and this is arguably the easiest edition of this race he’s faced. Hard to get too excited about the price on offer, but he should be winning.
SRM – Ascot Race 8