The Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival comes to a close this weekend with the fourth and final South Australian Group 1 of the season to be run and won at Morphettville on The Goodwood Day.
The time-honoured The Goodwood will headline the nine-race program with several local hopes lining up against 2022 The Everest champ Giga Kick, along with last week’s Robert Sangster Stakes winner, Charm Stone.
With fine weather expected once again, it’s set to be a cracking day, and we’ve provided our thoughts and Morphettville betting sections for each event below.
Race 1 - 12:17pm AEST
SKYCITY HANDICAP 0-68 (1800 METRES)
Under The Cone is on the quick back up after an eye-catching effort over the mile here on Saturday.
Slowly away he settled back at the tail and didn’t find clear running until 200m out, where he charged home into second.
Prior to that the Starcraft gelding was victorious over 1400m at Balaklava as he powered to the line, showing plenty of determination to get his head down where it counted.
Due to his racing pattern, he hasn’t always had the best of luck but he’s an improving type and will relish the rise to 1800m.
Jake Toeroek has partnered him in all three of his wins and he goes back aboard for Richard and Chantelle Jolly in the first at Morphettville this weekend.
1 unit – UNDER THE CONE
Race 2 - 12:52pm AEST
CARBINE CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. HANDICAP BM64 (1050 METRES)
Out Of Square comes off a plain effort in the Listed Redelva Stakes but she drops sharply in grade and I’m confident she can bounce back.
Only lightly raced having had the five starts, the Hellbent filly was placed at her first two outings and given a break a break, she returned in fine order to put together back to back wins.
She just failed to finish off last start in the feature but the blinkers go on here for the first time and she gets a senior rider aboard, with Jake Toeroek to do the steering.
1 unit E/W – OUT OF SQUARE
Race 3 - 1:27pm AEST
DAVID COLES AM STAKES 2YO SW GROUP 3 (1200 METRES)
Brave Design returns from a break and the Brave Smash colt has made a strong impression in his two runs to date.
Making his debut in the Listed Talindert Stakes he was hampered upon jumping but travelled nicely up the Flemington straight, showing a good kick to claim third.
He then stepped out in the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes where he was strong to line to finish second behind subsequent Group 1 winner Vinrock and hold a 2.25 length margin back to the rest.
He lines up here off a recent Flemington jump out and the 1200m trip in the David Coles AM Stakes looks ideal for him first up.
Jordan Childs will do the steering for Danny O’Brien and with even luck of the wide gate, he’ll be right in this.
1 unit – BRAVE DESIGN
Race 4 - 2:02pm AEST
THOMAS FARMS CENTAUREA STAKES F&M LISTED (2017 METRES)
She’s A Hustler is quickly building an enviable record and she looks well placed to continue on her winning way.
The daughter of Ace High made it three straight wins when saluting over the 2100m on the Lakeside last start, beating home subsequent South Australian Derby placegetter Lavalier.
Stepping out to that journey for the first time, the mare travelled well throughout and after sweeping around them into the turn, she extended strongly over the final part to score comfortably.
This is tougher but she’s continued to step up each time the bar has been raised and I think she’ll prove too good for them again.
3 units – SHE’S A HUSTLER
Race 5 - 2:37pm AEST
KEN AND HELEN SMITH SA FILLIES CLASSIC 3YO SW GROUP 3 (2500 METRES)
Chase Your Dreams is working through her grades nicely and she lines up here in the 2025 SA Fillies Classic off a dominant 4.25 romp over the 2100m journey at Echuca.
She didn’t have the easiest of runs when stepping up to 2080m at Cranbourne two starts back but with a nice trail behind the speed last time, she swept around them on the point of the turn and shot away to score easily.
A daughter for Contributor, the Lindsay Park trained filly looks an improving type and I think she’ll be well suited here out to 2500m.
Mark Zahra will do the steering and barrier two will see her enjoy a cosy run throughout.
1 unit – CHASE YOU DREAMS
Race 6 - 3:12pm AEST
HAHN CUMMINGS STAKES GROUP 3 (1600 METRES)
Arran Bay was beaten by only the barest of margins here two weeks ago and I think he can go one better in this year’s The Cummings Stakes.
After settling midfield the All Too Hard gelding hit the line strongly under the 62.5kg impost with the fast-finishing Regal Azmon just getting the better of him right on the line.
He meets that galloper 8kg better this time and is beautifully placed under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race.
He’s got a great record over the mile, he’s very honest and will be doing his best work late under Tom Stockdale, who jumps aboard for Phillip Stokes.
1 unit – ARRAN BAY
Race 7 - 3:52pm AEST
PROUD MISS STAKES F&M GROUP 3 (1200 METRES)
Scillato kicked off her career in style, scoring three straight wins before a solid performance in the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy, where she finished hot on the heels of the placegetters.
A dominant winner of debut at her home track of Seymour, she again proved far too good when saluting at Bendigo.
She beat a hot field down the Flemington straight back in March before stepping out to stakes level last time, and it was very tidy effort on a testing track.
Given a let up, she resumes here off a pleasing jump out win and I certainly think she’s up to this level.
Cory Parish has partnered her in all of her runs, he stays in the saddle for this race.
If he can slot in and find cover off the wide draw, she’ll be hitting the line strongly in the Proud Miss.
1 unit – SCILLATO
Race 8 - 4:30pm AEST
THE GOODWOOD GROUP 1 (1200 METRES)
Giga Kick returns to the races and it’s hard to go past him here especially as he gets in with just 54.5kgs.
Winner of the world richest race on turf in 2022, he brings the strongest formlines into this event and he has well and truly proven himself a top class sprinter.
He returned in good order last preparation after spending a year on the sideline and whilst he did finish his campaign without adding another a win to his tally, he came awfully close to taking out his second Everest when denied by only a nose.
Ready to go off three very pleasing jump out performances and with the in-form Mark Zahra in the saddle, he looks hard to beat.
2 units – GIGA KICK
Race 9 - 5:05pm AEST
GRAND SYNDICATES HANDICAP BM68 (1200 METRES)
Great Maximus just held his ground to the line when resuming in the Listed Hills Railway and he strips fitter for the outing.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained gelding has proven himself a capable galloper, recording four wins from just his ten starts and he looks very progressive.
Suited with the slight rise in trip, he’ll certainly appreciate the drop back in grade.
He gets in the nicely with the 2kg claim for Taylah Johnson and he’ll get a soft run throughout off the inside draw.
1 unit – GREAT MAXIMUS