BEST BET: SERIOUS SPENDER (Race 8)
EACH-WAY: JUST KAPPY (Race 6)
VALUE: RIKIBOBBY (Race 7)
RACE 1 - 12:26PM Furphy Handicap (1000 METRES)
Good race for a field of just five CHOSEN BLONDE draws the inside has good speed and her form has been very good. She led throughout this track and trip back in August and was placed twice in Melbourne since, the latest behind star Written Beauty at The Valley, who won at Flemington since. She looks hard to beat with the added help of the claim. THERESABEARINTHERE is another with good speed, he defeated Extra Time in April, was a winner this track and trip beating Diamonds in June before going to the Valley and leading before he was run down by Hard Landing. I thought they should be a lot closer together in the market. But if those two cut at each other ALL BANTER will be a factor she led throughout beating Winning Weather here in June and made ground behind Parlaphone in the Listed Lightning Stakes.
SELECTIONS: CHOSEN BLONDE, All Banter, Theresabearinthere
RACE 2 - 1:01PM Happy 40th Birthday Licola Handicap (1550 METRES)
RITRATTO was good winning this track and trip three back before backing that up again on the outer track over a mile. He was just outstayed over the 2028m last time but draws to be a massive factor here. HYPERCANE is ready to win, his three runs back have all been OK, he got a long way back behind Coffee Amour last time and can be closer here in the small field and this looks his chance to bounce back. Again I expected them to be a lot closer in the market. PEARL BANDIT is another who has had a really good campaign he got too far back in the Gawler Cup two back and was again a long way off them last time behind Coffee Armour. He is deep in his prep. ROSELLI STING was very good first-up making good ground behind Kenyan Wonder and is better suited at 1550m, EXTREME THRILL was good behind Magna Bella last week.
SELECTIONS: HYPERCANE, Ritratto, Pearl Bandit
RACE 3 - 1:36PM TAB Make A Date With Play Handicap (2250 METRES)
ANDREA MANTEGNA has been in super form he was dominant winning the Horsham Cup over 1800m and was solid enough on speed behind Regalo Di Gaetano in the John Letts last time out. He looks the leader, races well on the Parks and has won over a lot further. MORE THAN EVER looks a danger on his best form. He failed on a Heavy track in the Harry White at Mornington last time out but was unlucky here when narrowly beaten by Flow Meter three starts back. He has some gear chances and good gate, EPERDUMENT draws to get a lovely run and has two runs back from a spell behind her. She was good in the John Letts last time out and won’t be far away. CHAROOSA likes it here and draws a good gate, likewise DR DEPENDABLE, they both come out of the Skybeau Series Final.
SELECTIONS: ANDREA MANTEGNA, More Than Ever, Eperdument
RACE 4 - 2:11PM Claude Haigh Handicap (1250 METRES)
Small field but plenty of quality. Hard not to be impressed with how KENYAN WONDER has come back, she sat just off the speed, covered some ground and was far too good for Debt Collector last time. She maps well and can win again. ALSVIOR has a good record this track and trip and should box seat here from the good gate, He was too good for The Difference two back and that horse ran really well at Flemington during Cup week. SAVTOXL trialled superbly before his SA debut and was game in the Balaklava Cup. He was well tried back in trip at Caulfield and run down late at Flemington. The winkers are off and he’s aided by the claim but drawn off the track. MISS JANE has a very good record this track and trip and she is sure to be factor here down in the weights. TEQUILA TIME has been good at both runs back from a spell he was too slick for subsequent winner Magna Bella first-up and beaten 2.4 lengths behind Kenyan Wonder last time out.
SELECTIONS: KENYAN WONDER, Alsvior, Savitoxl
RACE 5 - 2:46PM Peter Elberg Funerals Handicap (1250 METRES)
Really good race here with some serious speed. TRIP is low flying and only knows one way. She is chasing her fourth win on end and will be burning across from a sticking wide gate, aided by the claim for Maggie Collett. QUIETLY DISCREET draws to be a big factor she defeated Vancouver Velvet and Bottom Line before leading and knocking up behind Extra Time last start. STORM VOYAGER is another who likes to race on speed and was good winning on the outer track last time, she’s going to be factor from barrier three and may just get the perfect run behind the speed. AMBERTONE finished hard last time out and draws an inside gate which brings her into play at a price, COTTILION made good ground second-up and strips fitter again here.
SELECTIONS: TRIP, Quietly Discreet, Storm Voyager
RACE 6 - 3:26PM Twilight Races at Morphettville - Friday Dec 18 Handicap (1250 METRES)
A few of the fancied runners have drawn wide. So I’m happy to back JUST KAPPY each-way from a good gate. He’s a dual winner here and draws to take up a leading roll from barrier two and Maggie Collett knows her well. They will take some catching around the Parka track. GOUGERS has been very good this time winning two, with one second, from his three starts, He was too good for Extra Mile last time and any luck from the gate will be hard to beat again. TULLYS GOLD has never finished further back than 2nd in five starts and was a soft Gawler winner back in class last time. Todd panel stays with him and he’s a big show despite a sticky gate. LUGA LAD is former NSW galloper who draws an inside gate but got back in a lot of his recent racing but has an good record overall. TWO ODD SOX was really good last time out in a strong race and can measure up in a race like this. BAJAN ran really well first-up from a spell, he’s fitter, drawn wide but will be running on late.
SELECTIONS: JUST KAPPY, Gougers, Tullys Gold
RACE 7 - 4:06PM Dominant Handicap (1400 METRES)
Wide open race and the market reflects that with eight of the 10 under $10 with tab.com.au early on and I’m happy to stay out of this. LI’L HANK was very good winning last time out but draws a sticky gate. MIRKWOOD FORREST was good odds winning at his SA debut he must be given plenty of thought here from a good barrier. RIKIBOBBY maps to get a good run just behind the speed. STAN THE CADDY has a good record on the Parks track, his recent trial was only fair and a jump-out since likewise. The good barrier brings him into calculations. MASTERATI has never won here but can be right on the speed and was good behind He Will Boom last time. ZATAGO STAR maps well and was good behind Renegade last time MOTELL had really good backing last time but draws odd the track. This is a drop in class on last time. VEGAN is an improving mare.
SEELCTIONS: MIRKWOOD FORREST, Rikibobby, Motell
RACE 8 - 4:46PM TAB Create your Spring Calendar Handicap (1950 METRES)
SERIOUS SPENDER has a good record here is back in class on last time when she was beaten 5.2 lengths at Listed level in the John Letts and gets out to her preferred distance at the 1950, Looks clearly the one to beat from barrier four with Jess Eaton taking the ride. The only danger, if any, could be ROCK STEADY who had very good support and was very dour behind Biarchi last time out. He’s another that looks to be searching for this type of distance. FRANKEL STAR will ride the speed from his inside gate, ACE ATTACK gave a bold sight last time, BACK POCKET is the run-on horse.
SELECTIONS: SERIOUS SPENDER, Rock Steady, Back Pocket
RACE 9 - 5:21PM Kostas Markou Happy 50th Handicap (1000 METRES)
FOUR OF A KIND has a handy record is a winner first-up from a spell. She trialled well behind the talented Goolagong Rose recently, her form last time in was good for a race like this and she draws a nice barrier. Stablemate CILIATA was placed at Sandown three starts back which is good form for a race like this. AKKACAN draws out but has a good record here and was only beaten 1.6 lengths behind Thompson’s Reward last time out. He has claims with some luck from the gate. THE RAVEN followed some good effort in town to win back in class at Naracoorte last time out. He’ll be right on speed from barrier four and is aided by a three kilo claim. BEEOKAY was a winner on the outer track three starts back and ran behind The Difference. DESERT SPIRIT and SMART ALICK are both winners first-up
SELECTIONS: FOUR OF A KIND, Akkacan, Ciliata
