Big day coming up at Morphettville this Saturday, with a stacked nine-race card headlined by a pair of Group 1 features.
The fillies kick things off in the Australasian Oaks, before attention turns to the time-honoured Robert Sangster Stakes over 1200m.
It’s a cracking edition of the $1 million sprint, with defending champ Charm Stone back to make it two on the bounce, while last-start Group 3 winner Point Barrow adds plenty of intrigue. James McDonald also heads south for the ride aboard the Chris Waller-trained Generosity.
Conditions look ideal with fine weather forecast and the track rated a Good 4 — perfect for punters looking to get involved.
You can check out all our tips to get your Adelaide Racing Carnival off to a flyer in our full Robert Sangster Stakes Day Preview below.
VANGOGH BANKCHEQUE (7) looks ready to peak third-up for Lloyd Kennewell.
The lightly raced three-year-old gets the blinkers back on after charging home for fourth at Sandown last start, where he was always up against it settling well off the speed.
Jamie Melham jumps aboard this time, and it’s worth noting he was four weeks between runs there. With a tighter turnaround here, he looks the one to beat.
| 7. Vangogh Bankcheque (12) J: Jamie Melham 58.5kg 13×34T: Lloyd Kennewell |
OLE GO (1) is worth another chance after finishing runner-up in the Without Fear Stakes last start.
Michael Hickmott’s colt made a big impression on debut, putting a couple of lengths on them, and that form’s stacked up nicely with the second horse going on to win the Showdown at Caulfield.
He was off a decent break there and just looked to peak late, so there’s improvement to come. Getting out in trip now and likely to roll forward, he’ll take catching.
| 1. Ole Go (1) J: Todd Pannell 57.5kg 1×2T: Michael Hickmott |
MCWOODY (2) is quietly going great guns for the Symons and Laxon yard, bringing a pair of strong wins into this.
The son of Alabama Express overcame a tricky draw to score at Sandown two back, then backed it up in style taking out the Adelaide Guineas after doing plenty of work from a four-wide position.
The inside draw and a firmer track pose a couple of queries, but off what he’s shown lately, he looks more than capable of running out a strong 2000m at this stage of his prep.
| 2. Mcwoody (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57.5kg 0x511T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
BLINDEDBYTHELIGHT (3) returned in good order at Rosehill, closing off strongly first-up in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes.
The Shamus Award mare was a touch slow away and settled midfield, but once clear in the straight, she let down nicely to finish just a length off Idle Flyer.
She’s a proven second-up performer with solid form over the mile, and from the inside draw, she’ll take plenty of holding out if she gets the right run in this year’s Queen of the South.
| 3. Blindedbythelight (1) J: Luke Nolen 55kg 552×2T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
WATCHME WIN (2) shapes as a leading chance for Andrew Gluyas in the John Hawkes Stakes.
He was a beaten favourite first-up in the Irwin Stakes over this track and trip, but there was plenty to like about the run, charging home late to just miss behind Super Smink after jumping from a tricky gate.
He’s drawn even wider this time and carries a touch more weight, but his record over 1100m is hard to knock. Expect him to settle midfield again and be right in the finish.
| 2. Watchme Win (16) J: Jason Holder 60kg 592×2T: Andrew Gluyas |
MATHEMATICIAN (7) was always too far back when he saw his unbeaten run come to an end in the Redelva Stakes two weeks ago.
The son to Lucky Vega was caught wide early on and a long way back, making up some late ground to finish midfield in the end, beaten three lengths.
His previous two wins against lesser company were impressive though and he might better suited over 1200m now for the first time in the Tobin Bronze Stakes.
If he’s afforded clear air when it counts, his turn of foot makes him very dangerous.
| 7. Mathematician (8) J: Ben Melham 57.5kg 116T: Will Clarken |
Hard to go past what GETTA GOOD FEELING (2) has produced in a short space of time.
Danny O’Brien’s filly has only missed a placing once from nine starts and lines up chasing a hat-trick after a dominant win in the Alexandra Stakes over the mile at Caulfield last month.
Her recent trial at Geelong was sharp without being pushed, and she looks primed to step back up to 2000m.
| 2. Getta Good Feeling (4) J: Billy Egan 56kg 16×11T: Danny O’brien |
CHARM STONE (2) looks over the odds for a mare that took this race out 12 months ago.
She added another Group 1 to her résumé in the Manikato Stakes during the spring, and her first-up run behind Jigsaw in the William Reid reads well, especially with that form franked by a win in The Quokka last week.
The draw isn’t ideal, but Mark Zahra knows her well, and she’s got a strong record second-up. Hard to leave her out.
| 2. Charm Stone (12) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg x16x4T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
CHICAGO STORM (1) drops back in grade here and only rises slightly in the weights.
He stuck on well second-up in the Listed Adelaide City Stakes over a similar trip, settling a long way back before working home along the inside to finish third behind Arran Bay.
A two-time winner in the spring, he boasts a strong third-up record and should land much closer in the run this time. From there, he’ll give a solid sight.
| 1. Chicago Storm (6) J: Rochelle Milnes 60.5kg 29×43T: David Aldridge |