Adelaide: Comprehensive preview of every race at Morphettville

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Morphettville with Ray Hickson

General Cluster. Picture: SLICKPIX*

NOTE: Numbers in brackets are the official handicap ratings for each horse. Track rated Soft 6 at time of writing, expecting soft.

RACE 1

A sense of deja vu in a lot of these races and 2. OPTIMIZE (66) proved too strong for many of his rivals with an all the way win over a mile here two weeks ago. Up in weight and distance but it’s a similar field and she did hold them comfortably in the last 100m or so. With the rail right out she’ll be hard to run down. 3. THE MOON’S BACK (62) brings a fresh formline into the race and is the only horse eligible for a $20,000 bonus. Rounded them up from last to win at the Swan Hill carnival and while he won’t have anywhere near the length of straight to wind up here he’ll be competitive. 1. LAKE JACKSON (62) had every chance to run Optimize down when they met a couple of weeks back though meets her 1.5kg better here. One of the dangers again. 4. RISING HOPE (65) hasn’t done a lot wrong in seven starts to date and managed to run down a reasonable bunch in a city class race at Mornington on the long weekend. On that the extra distance shouldn’t be an issue.

RACE 2

8. BANGS (65) is the best performed horse in the race and is an on-pacer so should be able to offset the wide alley. Freshened up since a game second in the G3 National Stakes over the carnival and is sure to take some catching back into a restricted race. 2. TIME OUT (61) has found one better in his last three starts and is again in the mix. Drawn to be handy in the run and you’d expect he will hold his form at least. 1. CHAPEL CITY (64) managed to beat Time Out on debut last start and it was an impressive win albeit an upset one. He won’t be an $81 chance this time around. On what we saw last time he has to be considered though warily given the price. 9. NEVER BE DISCREET (58) was a bit disappointing on debut two weeks ago but might be an improver with the blinkers going on. If there’s support for her over the unraced stablemate 4. CORCEL VOLAR (57) then she’s likely to fare a bit better here.

RACE 3

A lot of these met each other in a 2500m event on June 18. 8. YOUL DASH FOR CASH (71) finished second as favourite and while he had his chance there might be a bit of improvement still in him as he was fourth-up from a couple of months off. Stays on the limit weight so a bit better off at the weights. Well worth another chance. 5. SPANISH HALO (78) was the winner of that race and it was the nine-year-old’s first city win at his 77th start. No particular knock on him, he has won three of his last five and placed in the other two so he can take beating again. 3. BLACK TOMAHAWK (85) was having his first run for Darren Weir when he finished third behind the two aforementioned horses and you’d have to say he was a little disappointing as he seemed to have a good run on up on the speed. He was a month between runs so he could improve a bit off that. 7. MILKWOOD (71) comes back to town at the right time with a couple of very easy Gawler wins against her name. Smashed them last time out and drops 5kg for the class rise here so wouldn’t be leaving her out of the chances.

RACE 4

3. GENERAL CUSTER (69) was right in the zone when he broke through for a dominant victory in a similar race two weeks ago and given we’re looking at similar conditions he should be hard to beat again. He was well backed last start so keep an eye out for support again but there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in the finish. 6. MONOPOLE (70) ran fairly first-up when I was on then finished strongly to score up to the mile two weeks ago when I wasn’t. The extra distance is no worry for her and she stays in the same grade. Chance again. 1. CREANCE (73) will appreciate a drop in class having gone around in BM80 grade or better in recent starts. Even effort without being good or bad on the Parks track last time and with the claim is well weighted for this class. 10. DANOULI (58) didn’t do a bad job when chasing Monopole home last start and he is proven at the extra trip so he has to be included in the chances. Meets that horse 2kg better at the weights for a long neck. Last win was back in January and is still eligible for easier races but this isn’t super strong.

RACE 5

2. POMP (67) is a promising type who resumed with a very easy win over 1100m two weeks ago and only rises 1kg under the conditions of this restricted race. I saw nothing first-up to suggest he’ll be any issue with 1200m and he’s drawn to be right there again. Plenty to like and he’s clearly the one to beat. 4. GALAXY GAZER (65) couldn’t have done any more than he did fresh on the Parks track when up on the speed all the way. Back slightly in distance and he hasn’t won below the 1250m of his first-up win but also drawn well so is a threat. 3. HAZY LANE (68) was consistent all the way through last preparation from a first-up win over this trip through to tackling races around a mile. May find them a shade slick in this grade but well worth keeping an eye on. 1. KARLOVASI (71) will get back from the wide alley here fresh but if they overdo it up front or it is a run on bias he comes right into contention. Only failure last prep was at a mile before a spell in Listed grade. Sure to be hitting the line strongly.

Pomp. Picture Campbell Brodie.

RACE 6

4. MA JONES (75) should have won easily at Moonee Valley last start and, to be frank, with even luck she will be beating these. She was held up at a vital stage on a biased track and would have beaten Clemency in a couple more strides. The inside alley does worry me a little but she’s been coming through the grades in Victoria in good style and has found a nice race. 9. AMICONI ORIGINALE (65) should be at his peak now after three runs back and he stuck on pretty well at Sale when an easing favourite two weeks ago. He’s been a bit costly to follow but back on the limit he can be in the mix again. 5. SPINNING DIAMOND (73) hit the line well second-up at 1200m then jumped to the mile and had support but probably wasn’t suited by leading here last week. Better for the run at the trip and she’s worth another chance. 2. EDGEWOOD (76) was only beaten a couple of lengths in a strong $100,000 event two starts back had a month between runs when a close third at Murray Bridge. Been a while since he has tackled the mile but gets every chance to run it out here.

RACE 7

4. ROYAL SPINNER (73) didn’t have much luck at Swan Hill last time and did a great job to be beaten one length by Gun Case, who won again at Sandown on Wednesday. He missed it by a couple of lengths and conceded a decent start but didn’t give it up and beat the rest by a few lengths. Should run well here. 1. LAST DAY (77) is frustrating to follow but he also didn’t have a lot of luck last start and drops sharply in grade after contesting a BM90 last week. He is a bit one dimensional and needs the breaks to be able to run on but in this grade he has to be considered. 3. CLASSY JACK (73) contested the same race as Last Day and finished a solid third after doing his usual thing up on the speed. Closing on a year since his last win and that’s becoming a bit of a concern but he makes his own luck and gets every chance. 5. EL PRADO GOLD (71) mixes his form but he also comes out of a stronger race last week when an even fifth behind Counter Spin. Tidy effort in this grade before that and while he hasn’t won for over three years a placing isn’t out of the question.

RACE 8

Wide open race to finish off. I have to stay with 10. GOLDEN CENTURY (68) who ran right up to her excellent effort second-up to win running away here two weeks ago. Up a notch in class but the claim keeps the weight in check and she is a big finisher so if they are running on she’ll be leading the charge. Go well. 13. ALL EIGHTS (61) was a drifter when he resumed in the same race but was no match for Golden Century’s burst. Has a weight turnaround here to help him out and he was only first-up there so he has claims again. 4. MATAGAMI (67) has a wide gate to overcome but if he can he’d be hard to beat on his narrow defeat to Baby Don’t Cry at Ballarat a month ago. He doesn’t win out of turn though that’s a bit unfair given he’s only had 21 starts but he won three in quick succession this time last year. Must include. 6. SULLIVAN BAY (71) looked to have every chance when third here two weeks ago in a BM75 but is drawn well and tends to race up on the pace so will give herself a chance.