Morphettville race-by-race betting preview | Saturday, May 1
| What | Australasian Oaks Day 2021 |
| Where | Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 |
| When | Saturday, May 1, 2021 |
| First Race | 11:45am ACST |
| Featured Races | Robert Sangster Stakes (Race 7) Australasian Oaks (Race 8) |
| Watch Live | |
Morphettville hosts a nine-race card on Saturday afternoon as the South Australian Racing Carnival kicks off with the Group 1 Australasian Oaks and Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes. The track is rated a Good 4, the rail is out 2m for the entire course, and racing is set to get underway at 11:45pm local time. HorseBetting.com.au brings you the race-by-race preview of the meeting, with all the best bets, top odds and free quaddie numbers.
Race 1 – Without Fear Stakes
The opening event on Saturday is for the babies as the two-year-olds compete in the Without Fear Stakes. Translation was beaten a head by stablemate Cloudy in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes over 1050m at Morphettville on April 10. It is hard not to like the way the Godolphin filly goes about her racing as she makes her own luck up on speed, and she will certainly take some catching. From barrier eight, William Pike will look to get her across the front of the field, and with Cloudy coming out and winning her next start, it looks to be the form to follow in the opener at Morphettville this weekend.
Selections: 4-5-1-9
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_01]
Race 2 – G H Mumm Handicap
Our best bet on the Morphettville card comes up early in the meeting when the Michael Hickmott-trained Lord Vladivostok steps out in the G H Mumm Handicap. Off a seven-week freshen up, the Tavistock gelding comes to the race with form behind CS Hayes Memorial Cup winner Ironclad, who appears to be a handy galloper. In this campaign Lord Vlad has shown that he is tactically versatile; he found success when coming from the rear of the field three starts back, then followed it up with an on-pace victory at his next start. From barrier 10, we expect Jessica Eaton to take her mount to the front of the field and stay there.
Selections: 1-4-3-8
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_02]
Race 3 – D C McKay Stakes
The Group 3 D C McKay Stakes looks to be down to three key chances. The Godolphin duo of Viridine and Pandemic will prove hard to hold out, with Sword Of Mercy the only other legitimate chance in the race. Viridine is the clear class in the race but will be giving at least 6kg away to his rivals. If he can handle the big weight, then the son of Poet’s Voice will be hard to beat thanks to a superior turn of foot.
Selections: 1-5-2-9
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_03]
Race 4 – Port Adelaide Cup
One of the better value plays on the Morphettville card comes up in the Listed Port Adelaide Cup. The Symon Wilde-trained Aurora’s Symphony will be hard to hold out despite a disappointing seventh in his last start in the Terang Cup. He led on that day but seemingly could not quicken under pressure and was beaten a long way out. From barrier 13, we are hoping Damien Oliver can get him up on speed in the one-one with a bit of cover.
Selections: 4-2-3-8
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_04]
Race 5 – Queen Of The South Stakes
The Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes looks to be one of the tougher races on the Morphettville card. Shop Til I Drop made a strong return to the racetrack at her last start despite getting too far out of her ground to be a winning chance. She settled a distance last in her first-up run and made up plenty of ground in the home straight to go down by just over a length. If Barend Vorster can get her to settle a pair closer in the run from barrier four, her turn of foot could be too slick for the rest of this field.
Selections: 9-11-3-1
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_05]
Race 6 – Tobin Bronze Stakes
Opening the Morphettville quaddie is the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes over 1200m. Minhaaj was a hard watch in the Redelva Stakes on April 17 over 1200m and simply never stood a chance after getting caught in traffic. Prior to that run, his win at Caulfield over 1100m showed that he had returned in strong fashion. Luke Nolen hops on board for the first time and is in strong form, so with a bit of luck he can lift this Exceed And Excel filly to her second win from three starts this campaign.
Selections: 8-11-6-5
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_06]
Race 7 – Robert Sangster Stakes
The first Group 1 on the card is the 2021 Robert Sangster Stakes, where a field of 16 is set to go around. It looks to be eighth time lucky for the Jason Warren-trained Brooklyn Hustle in a bid to claim her maiden Group 1. She has been a runner to forgive after finding herself in tricky situations time and time again. If Mark Zahra can settle her in the three-wide line with cover, then she can charge down the centre of the track to get her deserved Group 1 success. She has the turn of foot to match any of her rivals here.
Selections: 6-5-2-15
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_07]
Race 8 – Australasian Oaks
The Group 1 Australasian Oaks is the featured event on the Morphettville card, and it is no surprise to see a capacity field of 16 set to go around. The Maher & Eustace-trained Steinem looks well placed to bring up her first black-type success at just her fourth career start. Despite drawing barrier one, we expect Jye McNeil to drop her back to the rear of the field and have her charging down the centre of the track in the home straight. Her last-start fourth in the Auraria Stakes was ultra impressive despite letting favourite punters down, and a repeat of that run will make her hard to beat.
Selections: 13-4-9-16
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_08]
Race 9 – Bill Spear OAM Memorial Handicap
The final race of the day looks to be no easy way to round out a Group 1 meeting. We have settled on the Phillip Stokes-trained Lady Dunmore following her smart win at this track and distance on April 10. The Wandjina filly was afforded an economical run just off the leaders’ heels on that day, and from barrier 11 she will need a bit of luck early to be afforded such a run on Saturday. Craig Williams hops on board for the first time and will look to get her up on speed with cover. She is rock-hard fit and looks well placed to bring up her third win in four runs.
Selections: 11-10-9-8
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368082_09]
Morphettville quaddie tips for Australasian Oaks Day 2021
| Morphettville quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 5-6-8-11 |
| Leg 2: | 2-5-6-15 |
| Leg 3: | 4-9-13 |
| Leg 4: | 8-9-10-11 |
| Investment | $192 for 100% |