Morphettville best bets & quaddie tips | February 25, 2023
| What | Lord Reims Stakes Day |
| Where | Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 |
| When | Saturday, February 25, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:17pm ACDT |
The South Australian Jockey Club will host its annual Lord Reims Stakes Day out of Morphettville Racecourse this Saturday afternoon, with the bumper nine-race card highlighted by the Group 3 feature over 2600m for the stayers. The track is currently in perfect condition and rated a Good 4, and that is the rating we expect to be racing on for most of the day. The rail will be in the +8m position from the 1200m to the winning post and in the +4m position for the remainder of the course, while the first race will jump at 12:17pm ACDT.
Lord Reims Stakes Tip: The Map
The Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes will be the feature race of the day, with many of the runners using this race as a lead-up to the Adelaide Cup on March 13. The Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray-trained The Map finished fifth in the Listed Premier’s Plate over 2019m last start, where she only started to warm up in the final 150m. This four-year-old mare ended her spring preparation with an eighth-place finish in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival before going back to Adelaide to win a Benchmark 75 Handicap over 2500m and then went out for a two-month spell. Now that this daughter of Alpine Eagle has had two starts this time in, she looks ready to run a very good race over 2600m at her first attempt on her way to a possible Adelaide Cup start in a few weeks’ time. Jake Toeroek has ridden this mare six times for two victories, including her last win over 2500m. From barrier three we expect to see Toeroek settle her just worse than midfield and get to the outside on the final corner to let down with that blistering turn of foot.
Premier’s Plate
Race 8 – 
#14 The Map (3)
4yo Mare | T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | J: Jake Toeroek (53kg)
Best Bet at Morphettville: Malinong Club
In the fourth, Malinong Club from the Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray yard will be dropping back from the Listed Premier’s Plate to run in a Benchmark 64 Handicap over 2000m. This five-year-old mare finished just over three lengths off Farooq in the Premier’s Plate at her first Listed start, where she was far from disgraced. Now that she drops back in grade considerably, this race looks to set up perfectly for this daughter of Dedline over a distance that she has won at twice from six attempts. Lachlan Neindorf will retain the ride after the Premier’s Plate, and with the aid of his 1.5kg claim, this girl will get into the race with only 56kg, with only one of her rivals carrying a lighter weight. From barrier eight we expect to see Neindorf ride this mare how he did last start, but instead find the outside and prove too strong for this field in the concluding stages.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#7 Malinong Club (8)
5yo Mare | T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | J: Lachlan Neindorf (a1.5) (57.5kg)
Next Best at Morphettville: Imposing Suspect
The Peter Hardacre-trained Imposing Suspect returned to the races in fine style with a win over 1500m at Gawler on February 8 where he defeated Seafaring, who he will meet once again on Saturday. This four-year-old gelding was very strong over 1500m first-up, as he ran on from the back of the field to run over the top of the leaders in the final 150m, recording a close but comfortable win. This son of Unusual Suspect has recorded two wins in his four career starts, but he has never gone past 1550m, so this will be his first attempt over 1600m. Meanwhile, it will also be Carleen Hefel’s first ride on this, but if Hefel can use her 2kg claim to advantage and give this gelding a cosy run from barrier two, there should be no problems with the extra 100m.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#1 Imposing Suspect (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Peter Hardacre | J: Carleen Hefel (a2) (60.5kg)
Best Value at Morphettville: Super Thief
In the second leg of the quaddie, the Ben & JD Hayes-trained Super Thief will be looking to return to the winner’s circle after two consecutive runner-up finishes. This son of Super Easy finished second over 1000m at Moe on January 15 in a Benchmark 64 Handicap before going to Moonee Valley on February 3 and running behind Mutinous over 888m in a Benchmark 70 Handicap. On Saturday, this four-year-old gelding will race in a Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1050m, where he will have a tactical advantage over the two favoured runners, Hongbao and Jean Valjean, as he will hold a prominent position in the first four or five upon settling. If Laura Lafferty gets this guy moving around the home turn and takes advantage of her 3kg claim, he will give the backmarkers something to chase in the final 300m.
Best Value
Race 7 – 
#4 Super Thief (5)
4yo Gelding | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Laura Lafferty (a3) (59.5kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville
Morphettville quadrella selections
Saturday, February 25, 2023
- 3-4-5
- 1-3-4-5
- 1-3-4-14
- 2-6-9
Investment: $144 for 100%