Morphettville's Saturday program on October 24 offers a strong mix of established metropolitan performers and emerging talent, with eight races scheduled at the Adelaide venue.
Several runners arrive with encouraging recent form, while fresh contenders and gallopers approaching peak fitness add another dimension to the meeting.
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Morphettville Tips October 24
Greenway Turf Solutions Handicap Tips (Race 2)
Morphettville Best Bet - Race 2 No. 2 Virtual Illusion
Plenty of early money has arrived for Virtual Illusion, with the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding also attracting support when resuming at Morphettville on October 10 in a race won by talented stablemate Bred 'Em All, who contests the Flemington opener on Cox Plate Day.
The son of Zousain was set a difficult task from a wide draw on that occasion, settling back and covering ground before making some late inroads without ever seriously threatening the winner, who enjoyed a much more favourable passage.
Saturday's Class 2 assignment looks considerably more suitable, and yet he carries the same 59.5kg as he did first-up, while Virtual Illusion should have more options from barrier one with Jake Toeroek taking the ride, having partnered the gelding to his debut victory in September last year.
The four-year-old was not disgraced in stronger stakes company during the Adelaide autumn carnival before encountering an in-form Concord Connie at Flemington, while his previous preparation ended when his rider was dislodged at Murray Bridge in June, and Toeroek's combination with the Jolly stable has produced seven winners from 35 rides at a 20% strike rate this season.
Having arrived at his resumption off just one trial, Virtual Illusion should strip fitter for that outing, and with the benefit of an inside draw, an easier race and a more suitable race setup, he looks well placed to record his third career victory.
Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap Tips (Race 3)
Morphettville Value Bet - Race 3 No. 4 Over Yonder
A fifth career victory looks within reach for Over Yonder, with the six-year-old arriving hard fit for Saturday's 0-68 after producing three competitive performances this preparation.
There was merit in his first-up sixth of 14 over this course and distance, where he attracted support at a big price before covering ground and tiring late, while his subsequent runner-up finish behind Mercury Eight at Balaklava on September 30 was another sound effort when conceding a tactical advantage and 4.5kg to the winner.
The gelding returned to Morphettville a fortnight ago and worked home well to finish third of 11 behind Bred 'Em All, getting the better of Boyd late in the contest, with that rival heading this market.
Although he could not finish as close as connections had hoped last time, there was intent in the performance, and barrier two should give apprentice Caitlyn Munro the opportunity to settle Over Yonder in a more prominent stalking position.
Munro retains the ride and has been consistently competitive throughout October, recording three winners and another 11 placings from 25 rides, and with Over Yonder approaching peak fitness and drawing favourably, he gets his chance here.
Ule Hoof Oil Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Morphettville Roughie - Race 4 No. 13 Image Artist
There have been a few different versions of Image Artist throughout her short career, and unfortunately the less cooperative one appeared at Morphettville last Saturday when the three-year-old struggled to muster early speed following five weeks between runs.
The daughter of Trapeze Artist encountered some inconvenience at the start and was never a winning threat, although she finished off reasonably, with her previous third over 1100m at Morphettville on September 12 a much stronger performance after recording the fastest closing sectionals in a race that has since produced a winner.
Her campaign began with a maiden breakthrough at Murray Bridge on August 5 before she encountered the talented Pretty Baby second-up, while she had already demonstrated ability as a juvenile with a stakes placing at her third appearance in February.
Image Artist subsequently competed at Listed level in Adelaide before travelling interstate for the ANZAC Day Stakes in April, and although she has been inconsistent this preparation, those earlier performances suggest she possesses more ability than her recent results indicate.
The quick seven-day turnaround is interesting, particularly with the filly stepping up to 1500m for the first time, and in a Class 1 contest that lacks obvious standouts, the longer journey could be the key to producing a much-improved performance at generous odds.
Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap Tips (Race 8)
Morphettville Next Best Bet - Race 8 No. 6 Like A Drifter
The combination of apprentice Tala Hutchinson and the Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea stable has been profitable to follow over the past 12 months, striking at better than 24% with a positive return on investment, while Hutchinson has already developed an excellent partnership with Like A Drifter.
Hutchinson was aboard throughout the gelding's five-race winning sequence during autumn and winter, with all five victories coming on rain-affected ground, suggesting any deterioration in Saturday's track conditions should present no concerns.
His latest appearance at Caulfield on July 11 is best forgiven, with the gelding backing up just seven days after winning at Murray Bridge and appearing to have reached the end of a demanding preparation, making the interstate trip particularly difficult for a young horse deep into a campaign.
There has been plenty to like about his lead-up work, with Like A Drifter given a relatively quiet trial at Morphettville Parks on September 28 before producing a dominant victory in a 1000m Balaklava heat on October 15, a hit-out that indicated he was ready to go.
Although Saturday's Benchmark 84 is a competitive contest, Like A Drifter has already won five of his nine career appearances and remains open to further improvement, while his excellent record on rain-affected ground and encouraging trial preparation make him a strong contender first-up.