Morphettville hosts the Adelaide metropolitan card on Saturday, August 8, with the meeting headlined by the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes.
Conditions will need to be monitored on race day, as the track is currently rated a Soft 7 and there is a chance of rain on Saturday morning.
Morphettville Tips August 8
Winning Edge Presentations Handicap Tips (Race 1)
Morphettville Favourite - Race 1 No. 2 Chica Astuta
It is a strong early-season three-year-old event to open Saturday’s Morphettville meeting, with Listed winner Pretty Baby on the second line of betting despite dropping sharply in distance.
There is also the resuming Inhabit, an impressive debut winner whose first preparation culminated during the Magic Millions Carnival, while he has won two trials ahead of this return.
Azytass adds further depth following a slick first-up victory at Balaklava, while even outsiders Tully Rapids and Dirty Poker arrive here off trial wins.
Heading the early market is Chica Astuta, a lovely long-striding filly from the Stokes yard who impressed when winning on debut over the Parks circuit on a Soft 5 on February 28.
Her latest Cranbourne jump-out was a quiet one with blinkers applied for this resumption, while Noel Callow takes the ride after beginning his South Australian stint with a winner for the Stokes stable last Saturday.
Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Morphettville Next Best Bet - Race 6 No. 3 Dobbinair
A versatile galloper from the Cahill stable, Dobbinair has been freshened since a midfield BM76 finish at Murray Bridge on June 13.
He was well backed on that occasion and, despite not figuring, still recorded the second-fastest closing sectionals of the race.
There were excuses for his previous BM82 failure on May 23 when a slow recovery was noted, while he had arrived there off a comfortable track-and-trip BM76 victory on May 2 that has produced three subsequent winners.
That was a deserved success after a luckless run behind the smart Vangogh Bankcheque, while his earlier second between Swifty Harriet and Omaha Dawn also reads well, with both mares strengthening the form since.
Those references are strong enough for this BM72, while his July 23 Murray Bridge jump-out was better than it reads and, although a 1400m winner last winter, his form otherwise suggests these shorter trips are more suitable.
Sportsbet Behemoth Stakes Tips (Race 7)
Morphettville Feature Bet - Race 7 No. 6 Shady Thinker
A highly competitive field has been assembled for the Behemoth Stakes, with the open market further highlighting the depth of the Group 3 feature.
Sir Now and Cical share favouritism, with the latter perhaps the runner peaking at the right time, while Vestass also commands respect if the surface does not become too testing.
Lingani, Mating Call and even Lim’s Saltoro are all in contention, although the most interesting runner at a big price is Shady Thinker following an encouraging jump-out last month.
He could easily have remained unbeaten through his first campaign after winning his opening two starts stylishly before being unsuited when dropping back in distance.
His latest preparation began with a victory over this trip before an unlucky Rosehill fifth in a BM78 that produced dual winter stakes winner Midnight Dynamite, while several others from that race brought strong stakes and Group references.
Peter Elberg Funerals Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Morphettville Value Bet - Race 8 No. 7 Daisydoo
An honest mare from the Justin Pickering stable, Daisydoo has performed well with excuses in two winter appearances to begin this preparation.
Although 1200m remains somewhat of an unknown, she closed strongly when narrowly beaten in her only previous attempt over the distance in January.
She was on a seven-day turnaround for that effort and again backs up quickly after finishing fifth-of-10 on the Parks circuit last Saturday, with the five-year-old having thrived on similar schedules previously.
Her latest Morphettville victory came on February 7 after placing on January 31, while she also recorded a winter success last year following a quick back-up from a Gawler Class 1.
This looks slightly easier than her recent assignments, she was heavily supported last Saturday and handles all conditions, while Platinum Wolf is another to respect after the form from his June 13 first-up victory held up well.
Aceit Transport Solutions Handicap Tips (Race 9)
Morphettville Best Bet - Race 9 No. 15 Rogue Warrior
Trainer Tony O’Brien finished July strongly with four winners from his final six starters, while his overall record for the month was a 32% strike rate and an ROI just below 150%.
August also began positively, with most of his Flemington runners competitive last Saturday, including the talented Sass Appeal returning with a victory.
He crosses the border with Rogue Warrior, who looks smartly placed in a very weak race after meeting several handy gallopers this preparation.
The latest was a fourth-of-12 in a Sandown BM64 won by Here’s Matilda, with blinkers applied after he had previously finished second to Barking Mad, who was runner-up in Sydney last Saturday.
Getting to the mile looks ideal after those two 1400m runs, while Jason Holder takes the ride and the main market dangers, Cradle Of Jazz and Full Commitment, bring weaker form references and both jump from wide barriers.