Saturday’s Best Bets: Morphettville, Gold Coast, Gosford

COMPENSATION (6) is racing in superb form to start his career and is looking for his third win in a row.

The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding broke his maiden status two starts ago at Randwick when proving too strong over 1100m.

Last start he ran his rivals into the ground over this distance, leading from start to finish for a 1.48 length victory.

With the advantage of the inside barrier, Rachel King will drive forward and should prove hard to catch.

CAP SAINT MARTIN (7) is an import who hit his straps in a big way last start at Canterbury.

The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding settled long way off the lead in the 1900m contest but unleashed a powerful finish to make up many lengths to win by just under a length with third 3.42 lengths away.

He’s improved as he’s risen in trip and comfortably won his final start in Ireland over this distance.

The wide barrier isn’t ideal, but he gets the services of Nash Rawiller and would have settled back anyway.

I get the feeling that this guy has a lot more to show us, and the nice price on offer may look a steal post-race.

FLYING FOR FUN (13) was desperately unlucky in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes.
The Bryce Heys-trained mare settled near the rear and was badly held up in the straight before charging home late to finish just a nose away in fourth.

As frustrating as that was, she looks to have a terrific opportunity to atone and deliver a maiden Group 1 victory for her trainer.

Her first-up win in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes was excellent, and she wasn’t disgraced when caught wide second-up.

She’s now rock-hard fit and, with clear running in the straight, she’ll take plenty of stopping carrying only 54kg.

HALF YOURS (1) returns to Queensland for the first time since putting on a galloping masterclass to win the Listed Caloundra Cup in dominant fashion.

That announced the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding as a serious talent, with him going on to win the Group 1 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups later that campaign.

He resumed in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes last start and didn’t have a great deal of luck but did catch the eye savaging the line with 100m to go.

That run will have brought him on nicely and he’s won two from three second-up.

Pride Of Jenni will ensure a strong speed which will help him get home strong.

SIMURGH (13) looks ready to make a strong impact at Caulfield.

The Phoenix Of Spain gelding has been remarkably consistent, finishing outside the top two only once in his four career starts. He returned with an impressive run at Pakenham a few weeks ago, narrowly missing after producing a nice turn of speed.

With expected improvement from that run, a lighter weight and up in trip, he’s perfectly placed in my opinion.

KING OF ROSEAU (2) looks both well placed and over the odds in the Takeover Target Stakes in my opinion.

King Of Roseau has collected several strong wins during his career, but there’s a strong argument that he has reached a new peak this season after adding both the Magic Millions Cup and the Liverpool City Cup to his résumé.

After a freshen-up and a pleasing trial leading into Saturday’s return, he appears well positioned to deliver another strong performance.

The Coast looks a perfect target race for LORD PENMAN (6).

He resumed in February with an impressive first-up win over 1400m at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and although he hasn’t added another victory in three runs since, his efforts have still been very respectable.

While he is yet to win beyond 1500m, his past two runs have indicated that stepping up to the mile should suit him well. From a favourable low barrier, he should also be able to settle closer to the pace.

The Goodwood is always a wide-open contest and Saturday’s edition is no exception. With a genuine case to be built for over half the field, DESERT LIGHTNING (4) is one that has caught my eye at huge odds.

Desert Lightning has been a great horse for the Moody and Coleman yard for a few seasons now, and he was undoubtedly doing his best work late and through the line in the Hareeba Stakes when resuming last month.

He’s a multiple second up winner and is drawn to receive every chance under Luke Nolen. Each way, all day.

This is an outstanding edition of the Hollindale Stakes with plenty of key chances engaged, but I’m very keen to be with SHE’S A HUSTLER (10).

She’s A Hustler doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and she stamped her black type credentials last spring with wins in the Tesio Stakes and Zipping Classic most notably.

He first run back behind Idle Flyer in the Queen Of The Turf was outstanding, and with further improvement and getting out to the 1800m this week, she gets plenty of ticks.

We know that Pride Of Jenni will bowl along in front, and She’s A Hustler is a one that can sit just off the pace and finish over the top.

SIMURGH (13) looks over the odds second-up. 

The Irish mare made a huge impression at her Australian debut for the Hayes camp at Pakenham, drifting back to the tail before slicing through the middle of the track late to grab second, and she arguably should’ve finished even closer. 

The mile was always likely to be on the sharp side for her fresh, especially given she’d already shown strong staying ability with a dominant 2000m win at the Curragh last year. 

Craig Williams jumps aboard now and from barrier six, he should be able to slot in with cover before giving her every chance to launch late. With natural improvement to come, she looks a major player at the price. 

GLIDING LIGHTENING (5) looks ready to fire fresh after an eye-catching jump out win at Cranbourne recently. 

The Moody/Coleman filly travelled sweetly before letting down strongly down the outside to score with plenty in hand, and we already know she’s got talent after producing a string of sharp performances over the short-course trips in Melbourne last campaign. 

Drawn to get a soft run, she should have no trouble rolling forward and settling prominently, and she profiles as one of the key winning chances in the race. 

ROTAGILLA (9) should have a bit of confidence on his side after bursting clear for a well overdue win at Randwick to claim the ANZAC Day Cup. 

The son to All Too Hard was away slowly and a long way back in the early stages, eventually knuckling down from the wide barrier to angle into the clear behind a few runners. 

He prevailed by half al ength in the end, appearing in good order coming off a trial between starts. Third-up now with room to improve still, he’ll be very hard to hold out if he makes full use of the soft gate. 

WATCHME WIN (5) has come back in terrific order for Andrew Gluyas, findingthe placings in both runs this campaign. 

This is no doubt a tougher assignment for the son of Harry Angel, but his effort in the Hawkes Stakes last start was full of merit after charging home late over a trip that looked a touch short of his best. 

The wide draw creates a few early challenges, particularly around where he settles in the run, but if he can find cover without doing too much work, expect him to be storming home again late. 

All eyes on the reigning Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner HALF YOURS (1) upon his return to Queensland. 

His last venture north of the border saw him claiming the Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast, a win that proved to be a launchpad to bigger and better things. 

We last saw him contesting the All Aged Stakes last start where excuses were on offer. 

There was a bit to like about the way he finished off, while his second-up record suggests he’s a big improver getting out over 1800m now.