A final field of a dozen three-year-old milers is engaged to face off in the Morphettville Guineas 2016 in Adelaide’s feature race this Saturday in South Australia.
Phillip Stokes’ locally trained filly Smart Manoeuvre (outside) is one of the top fancies for the 2016 Morphettville Guineas in Adelaide this weekend. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Set to run as Morphettville Race 7 at 4:28pm (local), this season’s $100,000 Listed Goldin Farms Morphettville Guineas (1600m) has attracted a host of top local hopes including early favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au Canalasso.
Despite a wide barrier 10 of 12 draw, the Darren Weir-trained Fastnet Rock colt is tipped as the one to beat off two Victorian runs paying $4.20 in the current Morphettville Guineas odds.
He won on a Heavy (9) Echuca track on debut at the start of last month at short odds, before a brave third under 59.5kg when only 1.5 lengths off the winner Urban Ruler in a Benchmark 64 over 1300m at Sandown-Hillside on August 24.
That was an impressive effort from the Melbourne raider who bucked not long after the jump, but regathered and finished off strongly in a promising performance.
Canalasso is on 57kg at set weights on Saturday for his first stakes’ assignment and Harry Coffey comes aboard for the ride.
It is a wide open affair in Morphettville Guineas betting this spring with a further six runners also under $10 including the $7 second favourite All Out Of Love.
The David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained All American colt jumps one further out from barrier 11, Matthew Neilson replacing Michael Walker in the saddle.
Despite being prepared locally, the up-and-comer has had all four of his previous career runs in Victoria including three at Flemington.
He raced in Black-Type class for the first time at the famous track on July 9 for a third when only a half-length off the winner Trenchant in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m), and won’t be found at anywhere near his $21 starting price that run first-up this Saturday.
The nine week freshen-up should have him rested and ready to go, and after showing the potential at the distance last time out a mile first-up shouldn’t be too much of an ask.
Three runners follow at $7.50 in a logjam Guineas market with Casta, Smart As You Think and Smart Manoeuvre all enjoying inside draws.
Casta jumps from gate five with Jason Holder riding the Tony McEvoy-trained Dane Shadow colt who is out to improve on his second to Vienna Miss at the track over 1525m a fortnight back.
Smart As You Think is drawn in barrier three, the John McArdle-trained filly a beautifully-bred daughter of So you Think.
She ran third in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington behind Throssell second-up in April, and can improve two runs in again here after her first-up fifth at Caulfield behind Leotie on August 27.
Smart Manoeuvre is the other top filly in the line-up, the locally-trained daughter of Smart Missile from the Phillip Stokes’ stables having her fifth run at the track.
She is a dual Group 3 placegetter when third to Tris in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes (1200m) here in mid-April and second the next start at the Parks behind Flying Jess in the Group 3 Sires’ Produce (1400m).
Rounding out the single-figure chances at $8 is then Silvera, McEvoy’s other runner having just his second start after the High Chaparral colt won at Mildura on debut on August 19.
See below for the full Morphettville Guineas 2016 field, barriers, jockeys and current prices provided by Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
