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Morphettville Betting Tips for August 23, 2025 - Best Bets for Leon Macdonald Stakes Day

Martin Pennington

Editor

Last updated: Thu 21 Aug 2025 06:29

Martin Pennington 21 Aug 2025

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Morphettville hosts nine races on August 23
Key bets: Ruled By Thieves, Hot Strut, Under And Over, Great Maximus
Selections based on recent performance and track suitability

Expired

Splash Back heads the market for the Leon Macdonald Stakes. (Getty)

Morphettville hosts a nine-race program on August 23 and our free betting tips are included below.

Morphettville Tips August 23
Sportsbet Nobody Does It Better Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)
Croser Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Thomas Farms Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Sportsbet Leon Macdonald Stakes (Listed) Tips (Race 8)

Morphettville Tips August 23

Sportsbet Nobody Does It Better Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)

Morphettville Value Bet - Race 2 No. 5 Ruled By Thieves

Scott Whittle’s representative finished safely held when seventh-of-eight in a 900m maiden at Murray Bridge back in February.

The four-year-old was spelled following that effort, which came on good going and he returned to action with a sixth over 1000m here earlier this month.

The son of Reward For Effort was beaten just under six-and-a-half-lengths that day, however, he delivered an improved effort back here last weekend.

Ruled By Thieves delivered a career best second when beaten less than one-and-a-half-lengths in a 1000m maiden held on a wet track in that event.

The gelding raced keenly in the early and middle stages of the race prior to finishing strongly for second on that occasion.

He performed best of those ridden from off the pace that day and the extra distance he tackles here is expected to suit.

Croser Handicap Tips (Race 5)

Morphettville Best Bet - Race 5 No. 3 Hot Strut

The five-year-old has been kept busy in recent months, registering wins in three of her five starts this prep.

Those victories include an impressive maiden success when returning to action over 1300m at Balaklava last month.

Hot Strut went on to complete a double when successful by over two lengths in a 1200m Class 1 event at Gawler a week later.

Both of those victories came on wet surfaces and the daughter of Sir Prancealot has gone on to prove that she can be competitive in the city.

Hot Strut has jumped from double-figure barriers in each of her last three starts, including when delivering an impressive victory over 1400m here last weekend.

The mare came home nearly three-and-a-half-lengths clear of her rivals in a 1400m Class 2 handicap that day and she has forecast underfoot conditions to suit.

Thomas Farms Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Morphettville Next Best Bet - Race 6 No. 5 Under And Over

The daughter of Overshare showed good form for her previous stable last season, winning once from four starts.

That victory came when contesting a 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap at Moonee Valley in November.

Under And Over got home by a narrow margin when racing on a sound surface that day and she registered two good efforts in defeat via similar conditions subsequently.

The most recent of those saw her beaten just under four lengths when finishing third in a 1200m Benchmark 68 handicap at Murray Bridge in December.

She has joined the Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor yard since that Murray Bridge effort and Under And Over has trialled well ahead of her return to action.

The second of her two trial efforts saw her place second over 1000m on a wet track earlier this month, while the mare usually comes to hand quickly.

Sportsbet Leon Macdonald Stakes (Listed) Tips (Race 8)

Morphettville Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 5 Great Maximus

There’s plenty to like about the five-year-old, who completed a double when saluting over 1250m at this venue in June.

The gelding got home by a narrow margin when racing on a heavy surface that day, however, he handles quicker surfaces, having won on both soft and good in the past.

Great Maximus has gone on to prove that he can be competitive in stronger races in Melbourne including when runner-up in a Benchmark 84 handicap at Flemington last month.

The son of Magnus was beaten just a length over 1200m that day and he backed that effort up with a good fifth over the same distance at Moonee Valley two weeks ago.

Richard & Chantelle Jolly’s representative is unbeaten in three starts at this venue, while the distance is no issue, having finished third over 1420m at Flemington earlier his prep.

Caitlin Jones’ mount has a decent barrier in seven here and Great Maximus is taken to register his third win of 2025.

Verdict

Morphettville - August 23

Our Morphettville Parks tips for Saturday, August 23 are:

Great Maximus

Each Way

$10.00 - 1 Unit

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Hot Strut

To Win

$5.00 - 3 Units

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Bet at OnlyBets

Under And Over

Each Way

$6.00 - 3 Units

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Bet at Neds

Ruled By Thieves

Each Way

$8.00 - 3 Units

Same Race Multi & Instant Deposit

Referral Code: BETS

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