Morphettville Betting Tips, Best Bets & Odds for December 18

Although he was admittedly running in much stronger races to what he finds here, this gelding was pretty well uncompetitive over his first three career outings before coming back to a midweek maiden on December 6 where nothing went right.

By Rebel Raider and out the mare Reliability, the Macdonald & Gluyas stable are very familiar with this family which also includes them preparing this three-year-old's full sister Pretty Punk (multiple stakes winner) and as the breeding suggests, they do need a trip so the 1400m straight to 1800m is a big tick for this three-year-old.

Battle Blitz had nowhere to go when trying to hit top gear last start at Murray Bridge and behind a wall of runners, went to the line untested and this Friday at Morphettville, he gets every chance to breakthrough in an ordinary Maiden over a now more suitable journey.

Trainer Will Clarken has an outstanding record with tried gallopers and he has acquired this ex-Victorian who although was a little inconsistent over two campaigns in 2019, was a Benchmark 64 winner and competitive in a few Melbourne events.

South Australia's leading rider Todd Pannell (and Clarken's preferred hoop) was aboard for a November 30 trial at Morphettville where he took the early lead and although Symphonette went past with ease, she was competitive at Listed level following that and this mare was never pushed out in that heat.

Grafted is resuming off a 12-month spell, which is always a query, but as the highest rated galloper in a rather modest Class 2 line-up, she should be accounting for this lot if the new stable has her back to anything close to her best.

This daughter of Dream Ahead is a little underrated and is certainly a very capable performer when right with a close up second at Group Three level (2019) and a fifth-place finish in the Group Two Queen Of The South last preparation two of her main highlights to date.

Dreamed has produced some strong fresh efforts and although it was over 1400m, was just over three lengths away in class record time (Benchmark 68) first-up last campaign in a stronger field to what she finds here and as a result, was sent out as favourite second-up with a drop in grade but she had to settle for third.

It wasn't exactly brilliant but the December 10 trial leading in was a decent blowout with an inexperienced rider aboard and likely looking to get back over the 1200m here, she has the class to figure and can perhaps get a tow into it late off the back of the favourite Picargo, a stable mate to this five-year-old.