Andrew Mills Gifford Hill Guineas Tips (Race 1)
Murray Bridge Favourite - Race 1 No. 4 Kosaji
Heavy early support has come for Kosaji in the Murray Bridge opener, with the Phillip and Tommy Stokes-trained colt now a clear favourite after being well found since markets opened, although with much of that move already made it would not surprise to see him ease slightly closer to the jump.
This is no weak BM66, with Contrary chasing a hat-trick after two impressive staying wins but dropping sharply back in distance, stablemate Chica Astuta has ability despite having her chance last start, and Tikkamos bringing further upside after getting a confidence-building win at Balaklava.
The Arrowfield colt was also heavily backed on debut at Sale on September 13, firming into $3.80 before finishing fifth behind Mister Whiskers after settling back in a race that favoured those closer to the speed, with his strongest work coming late.
Getting to 1600m at start two looks an ideal progression for the son of Maurice, who cost $250,000 as an Easter yearling and gives every indication from that debut that the additional ground will suit.
Noel Callow combines with the Stokes yard from barrier three, and after a messy watch aboard Our Brave Boy when the combination partnered last week’s opening favourite, punters will be hoping things unfold more smoothly for Kosaji this time.
Lawrence & Hanson Sparky Plus Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Murray Bridge Next Best Bet - Race 4 No. 9 Oui Flourish
The David Jolly and Justin Potter stable has been in strong form at Murray Bridge, landing a double on last Saturday’s program through Golden Cloud and Heart Of The Med, and the yard now produces Oui Flourish for her South Australian debut.
The daughter of Yes Yes Yes began this campaign at Goulburn on August 23 when runner-up behind Peace Bird, who completed a four-race winning sequence at her following appearance, giving that form line plenty of substance.
She has since moved very nicely in a 600m Strathalbyn jump-out on September 29, finishing second before doing particularly good work through and beyond the line in her first public appearance for the new stable.
Oui Flourish was unable to fully progress during her time with the Archibalds but remains very lightly raced, with Saturday only start seven of her career and her second preparation, while the ability was evident when she landed solid support to win a Kembla Grange maiden on debut before finishing third at BM72 level at Warwick Farm.
The decision to resume over 1400m suggests the stable has put a solid foundation into her, and she would not need to be a world-beater to be highly competitive in what looks a fairly modest 0-64.
Thomas Farms Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Murray Bridge Best Bet - Race 6 No. 6 Canny Miss
Connections clearly have a good opinion of Canny Miss, who was accepted from a wide draw for last Saturday’s Murray Bridge meeting before being scratched, and the patience has been rewarded with barrier five in a race that does not appear any harder.
It was only maiden company at Balaklava on September 16, but the Hanseatic mare absolutely bolted in at start two, scoring by 4.5 lengths after being transferred to South Australia following a strong run-on second at Bairnsdale on debut during winter.
That Balaklava performance also stacked up strongly on the clock, with her event comfortably bettering the other 1050m races on the program, and the maiden has already produced subsequent winners.
Connor Murtagh stays aboard after partnering her at both career starts, and from barrier five he should have every opportunity to allow this free-rolling mare to use her natural speed and put herself into the race.
The step into metropolitan BM64 company is the obvious new challenge, but with just two starts behind her and considerable upside compared with most of these, Canny Miss looks capable of taking another significant step forward.
Carlton Draught Murray Bridge Gold Cup Tips (Race 8)
Murray Bridge Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 10 Snoopy Now
It is a very open edition of the Murray Bridge Gold Cup, and one of the strongest local form references comes through the Listed Balaklava Cup on September 16, where Snoopy Now endured a luckless passage after attracting strong market support.
The Darryl Hewitt-trained gelding was unable to build momentum when required and found traffic at crucial stages before finishing eighth, beaten only 3.2 lengths, making the run much easier to forgive than the bare result suggests.
He backed up 10 days later in the Murray Bridge Gold Cup Prelude and improved sharply despite carrying 61kg after Jordyn Weatherley’s claim, finishing third behind Freedom Flame, while his record shows he has coped well with short back-ups previously.
His placement over 1200m at Morphettville on August 29 was interesting for a horse whose five career victories have all come from 1500m to 1800m, suggesting the stable may have deliberately backed off with these spring mile races in mind.
Snoopy Now generally races best when able to build momentum and roll into his work, so barrier nine should allow Joe Bowditch to find a comfortable rhythm, while I Catchem Fox is another at odds worth respecting after having little luck when sixth in the Balaklava Cup and bringing an excellent Murray Bridge record.