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Winning hopes galore in pair of Listed 1400m races

In addition to its two Group 3 races, Saturday’s quality-packed Morphettville Parks meeting features a pair of excellent Listed events, both over 1400m.

Race 5 on the nine-race program will be the HC Nitschke Stakes for three-year-olds, while race 8 is the Holdfast Insurance City of Adelaide open handicap.

Henry Dwyer’s speedy Night Express is likely to be the popular pick in the Nitschke, following her demolition job over the same course on April 11, when she led the field throughout and won by four lengths. From barrier one and with Lachy Neindorf on board, Night Express is likely to have plenty of admirers on race day.

Charleise – for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace – posted a workmanlike first-up win over 1300m at Sandown recently, while Hayes-Hayes-Dabernig runner Excelida was equally impressive at the same track on April 13. Excelida already has a third in Listed company at Sandown over the Melbourne spring carnival (behind Xilong) on her resume.

Will Clarken-trained Lunar Light is backing up from an unplaced run in the Listed Redelva Stakes last Saturday, and should appreciate being back in this company. She ran a big race two starts back over 1050m.

Victorian-based trainer Levi Kavanagh is hoping to land some black type with his Foxwedge filly Wild Vixen, who was third at Sandown over 1200m recently.

As a solo trainer Tony McEvoy has won two of the past three Nitschke Stakes and three overall.

Meanwhile three local stables, plus the powerful James Cummings’ Godolphin outfit, will supply the leading hopes for the City of Adelaide handicap.

Cummings’ sprinter Haunted came from last to finish an excellent fifth in the Listed Hareeba Handicap (1200m) at Mornington on March 20 and shares top weight with the McEvoy yard’s Vinland.

The latter ran well first-up at Caulfield on April 11, though well beaten, and has won twice second up. Vinland has raced twice on the Parks track for a win and a second.

Waging War, trained by the Macdonald-Gluyas combination, is first up since running fifth in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October, and boasts good form in strong company.

Richard and Chantelle Jolly’s Hard Empire ran an excellent third in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) at Morphettville on April 4, finishing alongside Garner.

Other hopes include Morvada, Aristocratic Miss (stablemate of Vinland), A Shin Rook, and SA fan favourite – and recent Port Lincoln Cup winner – Dexter You Devil.

Jockey Todd Pannell has won two of the past three City of Adelaide handicaps, and rides Vinland on Saturday. Trainer Phillip Stokes won successive editions of the race in 2014 and 2015, and saddles up All Too Huiying this year.

HC Nitschke Stakes selections: 1. Night Express: 2. Lunar Light; 3. Excelida; 4. Wild Vixen.

City of Adelaide selections: 1. Haunted; 2. Hard Empire; 3. Vinland; 4. Aristocratic Miss.

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