Morphettville Betting Tips for October 17, 2026 - Spangled Sipper Can Raise a Glass

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Fri. 16 Oct. 2026 09:07

Alex Marsh 1 hour ago

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Autumn Rainbow is favored in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes, showing strong form and potential for further improvement
Florey is the standout bet in Race 8, with solid preparation and a proven partnership with jockey Jake Toeroek
Spangled Sipper and Dobbinair represent each-way value plays in Races 4 and 7

The Listed Hill Smith Stakes headlines Saturday's Morphettville program. (Getty)

Morphettville hosts Saturday's Adelaide metropolitan meeting on October 17, with the Listed Hill Smith Stakes providing a feature for the three-year-olds on a competitive spring program.

Morphettville Tips October 17
Sportsbet Hill Smith Stakes Tips (Race 3)
M&J Chickens Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Access Hardware Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Several progressive gallopers step up in distance across the card, while established performers look to build on their recent form as the South Australian spring racing season continues.

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Morphettville Tips October 17

Sportsbet Hill Smith Stakes Tips (Race 3)

Morphettville Feature Bet - Race 3 No. 7 Autumn Rainbow

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable has enjoyed plenty of success with progeny of The Autumn Sun, whose offspring generally come into their own during their three-year-old seasons as they rise in distance, adding further merit to Autumn Rainbow's encouraging debut at Caulfield on May 30.

The filly was never a winning chance after settling towards the rear of an eight-runner field over 1200m, but her work through the line was impossible to miss, recording the fastest final 200m of the entire meeting before being tipped straight out for a spell.

While her first-up victory over 1400m on the Pakenham synthetic wasn't the most convincing visually, Autumn Rainbow showed plenty of determination to get the better of Tuzemak, who had the advantage of race fitness and experience after placing in three of her previous four appearances, including two in metropolitan company.

That performance provides a solid platform for further improvement second-up, with the rise to 1800m looking ideal as connections chase some early black type, potentially using Saturday's Listed Hill Smith Stakes as a stepping stone towards the Group 1 VRC Oaks.

There may not be a great deal of improvement left in the locals, with Kosaji perhaps the main threat following the application of blinkers and another likely to appreciate this distance, although he appeared to have his chance when beaten as favourite at Murray Bridge last start and Autumn Rainbow looks the more talented prospect.

M&J Chickens Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Morphettville Value Bet - Race 4 No. 13 Spangled Sipper

Despite never appearing completely comfortable on rain-affected ground during four winter appearances, Spangled Sipper remained competitive throughout that period, building on an encouraging return with a placing over 1600m at Murray Bridge second-up before finishing a well-held but respectable fourth-of-12 at Morphettville.

There were excuses for her subsequent eighth-of-16 finish in Adelaide on August 29, when attempting to sustain a wide move from back in the field before understandably tiring late, with connections seemingly needing to restore some confidence in the mare.

Her latest appearance at Gawler on September 23 was more encouraging despite finishing fifth-of-10 in a race dominated by the leaders, and having carried 60.5kg on that occasion, she receives a significant 5.5kg weight drop for Saturday's assignment.

Although technically rising in grade, Spangled Sipper has previously been competitive in similar company and looks suited returning to 1800m, with the application of blinkers for the first time another potentially significant change.

A string of placings throughout last season and early in this campaign suggests a breakthrough is overdue rather than beyond her capabilities, and with little depth to Saturday's field, Spangled Sipper appeals as an each-way chance.

Access Hardware Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Morphettville Roughie - Race 7 No. 5 Dobbinair

Connections had a throw at the stumps with Dobbinair in the Balaklava Cup on September 16, where the five-year-old was a notable market drifter at big odds and actually travelled into the race quite well before ultimately failing to see out the 1600m journey.

The sharp drop back to 1050m presents a different challenge following a month between runs, although his previous sprinting form reads well enough for this assignment, including a runner-up finish over 1200m on August 29 behind the talented The Cosmic One, who subsequently extended his winning streak to four.

There were also encouraging references from an earlier third-place finish, with Light The Night and Bootlegger featuring in that form, the latter subsequently winning at Listed level, while Dobbinair's most recent victory came on May 2 when getting through a Soft 7 surface along the inside.

The son of Grunt has generally been more effective on firmer ground and remains relatively lightly raced for a five-year-old, having demonstrated considerable ability when opening his career with consecutive victories before being tested in stakes company without disgracing himself.

While the placement is somewhat unconventional after his latest mile attempt, there looks to be enough early speed to bring his finishing ability into play, and if Dobbinair can reproduce his better sprinting form, he has the talent to make an impact at double-figure odds.

Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Morphettville Best Bet - Race 8 No. 11 Florey

David Jolly and Justin Potter operate a relatively small but astute stable, with seven winners from their first 27 starters this season highlighting their effectiveness, including a Murray Bridge double on September 26 and another victory from just two runners at Morphettville last Saturday.

Their mare Florey looks to be building nicely towards another win after enduring a difficult resumption on September 5, when settling back and wide in a race dominated by the leaders before producing a performance that was considerably better than the beaten margin suggested.

She arguably should have won second-up over 1400m at Murray Bridge on September 26, settling back from a wide draw before being held up early in the straight and then forced to switch towards the inside, often the inferior section of that track, before finishing strongly for third.

The daughter of Churchill won at the same stage of her summer preparation when bolting in over 1400m at Murray Bridge on January 10, while a subsequent attempt over the Morphettville mile was a somewhat strange effort, as she never travelled comfortably before finding a second wind along the inside and being narrowly denied by Royal Fox, who had built momentum on the better ground.

Jake Toeroek returns to the saddle after partnering Florey for that earlier third-up victory, and his record with the Jolly and Potter stable makes for compelling reading, with eight winners and eight placings from 24 rides over the past 12 months, including four victories from nine opportunities this season.

Verdict

Morphettville - October 17

Our Morphettville tips for Saturday, October 17 are:

Florey

To Win

$4.40 - 4 Units

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Autumn Rainbow

To Win

$2.20 - 3 Units

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Bet at bet365

Spangled Sipper

Each Way

$6.50 - 2 Units

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Bet at Laserbet

Dobbinair

Each Way

$10.00 - 1 Unit

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