Strathalbyn Tips and Best Bets for December 16

Get free Strathalbyn tips, race previews and betting selections for all key race meetings from Strathalbyn in South Australia.

Our Strathalbyn best bets are provided by expert form analysts and tipsters, with free betting tips available right here.

Resuming in her second racing preparation is this three-year-old from the powerful Phillip Stokes stable who was competitive throughout her first campaign versus some handy company and although beaten six lengths in her most recent trial, that was in very slick time and she did put more than five lengths on the next runner home.

By Smart Missile and out of a half-sister to a group two winner in Champagne Harmony, Mrs Mourinho was last seen finishing second to Born To Play at Murray Bridge in the fastest 1200m event on that July 22 card where she held more than sixth length margin on Passing Phase, a filly who subsequently placed behind Victoria Quay twice (Group Two Wakeful winner) and Aint'nodeeldun (dual listed winner).

Those form lines read superbly for a Fillies & Mares Midweek Maiden and given they're going straight to 1200m (her first three attempts she found too short at 1000m), I'd be surprised if the intent wasn't there to be breaking through on Wednesday.

Following a fair return effort for second at Penola, not much has gone right for this gelding from the Jamie Opperman yard who makes the long journey from Mount Gambier to Strathalbyn on Wednesday for what is the weakest contest he's seen this campaign.

Inside gates have ultimately been his undoing via his last two attempts where he was firstly racing in restricted room second-up at Naracoorte and should've at least finished in the placings on December 4, but was blocked for a run at a key stage late behind Outinthestreet, who dead-heated for first on that occasion.

His one career victory came on this circuit when trained locally whilst Thanasi shouldn't have the recent bad luck repeat itself (wider draw) in what looks a nice for him and they've signalled intent with the winkers now going on.

This is obviously harder stepping up from a Maiden win but there was clearly an opinion of her via the first campaign where all three outings were at Stakes level and the 1350m victory on November 29 did stack up very well for that program.

She was a late dirfter prior to her first-up tilt ($2.40-$3.00) which was a rather flat effort but the colder second-up tactics was the recipe for the turnaround last start where she trounced her rivals by three lengths and bettered both the overall times of the Class 2 and Benchmark 72 for that day.

A well-bred filly by Savabeel and out of a three-time stakes winning mare in Marveen, Discrepancy has the most upside in the line-up and although respecting the fresh placement The Pugilist, who is capable if right, he was beaten nine lengths via his sole 2020 outing and both trials leading into this return have been quite ordinary.