Morphettville racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 22
| What | Auraria Stakes Day 2023 |
| Where | Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 |
| When | Saturday, April 15, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:32am ACDT |
Racing returns to Morphettville on Saturday afternoon with the Adelaide Autumn Carnival quickly approaching. We have three Listed races and the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes to sink our teeth into, with eight of the 10 races on the Parks tracks and two of the black-type events held on the course proper. Despite the track coming up a Soft 5, we expect to be racing on a Good 4, while the rail sticks to the true position throughout. The action from Morphettville gets underway at 11:22am ACST.
RN Irwin Stakes Top Tip: In The Boat
The featured event of the day is the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes and the market has it down to a race in two and we are happy to side with the Lindsey Smith-trained In The Boat. The five-year-old gelding has resumed with consecutive runner-up efforts in similar events to what he faces in Adelaide. First-up She’s All Class got the better of him over 1200m in the Listed Abell Stakes, before fading late in The Country Discovery last time out. He comes to this third-up and considering his efforts so far this campaign and the fact he has had only one third-up run in his career for one win, he looks hard to go past. Dean Yendall will have this bloke bounding along out in front and should gain a relatively uncontested lead. He is the class horse in the field alongside Kallos, but we expect In The Boat to run away with the key portion of the $127,250 on offer.
RN Irwin Stakes
Race 9 – 
#2 In The Boat (7)
5yo Gelding | T: Lindsey Smith | J: Dean Yendall (58.5kg)
HC Nitschke Stakes Top Tip: Royal Merchant
We were with Royal Merchant when she was narrowly defeated at Sandown on April 8 when six weeks between runs and we expect she will walk away with HC Nitschke Stakes. The three-year-old filly from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace barn was only gun down in the shadows of the winning post by runners who had a 3kg weight advantage on her. She draws to gain a beautiful run in transit under Dean Yendall from barrier four and looks to bring a class element that her rivals lack. If Yendall can keep her saved for the last crack at her rivals, Royal Merchant looks the best way home in the Nitschke Stakes.
H C Nitschke Stakes
Race 6 – 
#6 Royal Merchant (4)
3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Dean Yendall (54kg)
City Of Adelaide Handicap Top Tip: My Khalifa
Saturday’s quaddie opens with the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap where we are hoping local hope My Khalifa can get the better of the classy Ayrton over the 1400m. The four-year-old gelding continues to make strong progression through the grades and deserves his crack at Listed level on Saturday. Lachie Neindorf will need to be at his best to land a prominent spot, but with speed drawn underneath, My Khalifa looks set to have a nice sit on some leaders who will be vulnerable late. The question is whether My Khalifa is up to this level, and we think he is.
City Of Adelaide Handicap
Race 7 – 
#6 My Khalifa (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Gordon Richards & Damien Moyle | J: Lachie Neindorf (54kg)
Redelva Stakes Top Tip: I’mlovin’ya
The Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained I’mlovin’ya simply didn’t come up in the spring, but we hope she can bounce back first-up from a near six-month spell in the Listed Redelva Stakes. The three-year-old filly has continually battled in stronger races than this since claiming the Listed Talindert Stakes as a juvenile but has yet to win since that day. The Capitalist filly resumes at the 1100m, the same distance of her sole career win. Look for Zac Spain to have the bay filly settled midfield with cover and if the pair can gain a nice tow into the event, she has plenty of ability, it is about time we see that come race day.
Redelva Stakes
Race 8 – 
#5 I’mlovin’ya (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Zac Spain (56kg)
Best Bet at Morphettville: Starts With Hello
Our best bet of the day comes halfway through the program when the Richard & Chantelle Jolly-trained Starts With Hello hunts for win number three at start seven. The four-year-old gelding peaked on his run inside the final furlong over the Morphettville 1300m on March 13 when finding a couple a touch too strong late on. He steps back up to the 1400m, which is the track and trip that he was an impressive winner at two runs back when enjoying a cozy run throughout, before pouncing on the lead late. He draws to gain a similar run from barrier three under Jake Toeroek and if he replicates his efforts in recent times, Starts With Hello should just simply be winning this.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#5 Starts With Hello (3)
4yo Gelding | T: Richard & Chantelle Jolly | J: Jake Toeroek (61kg)
Best Value at Morphettville: Cashin’ Chex
Cashin’ Chex is a horse who needs a couple of runs under his belt each campaign before doing much and coming to the Morphettville Parks 1550m third-up from a spell looks the tonic for success. The six-year-old gelding has a win and two minor placings from four runs when third-up and strikes a winnable race despite the ridiculous price with online betting sites. Ben Price has won two of his three rides aboard the son of Mettre En Jeu and hops on board on Saturday where from barrier 11, we are confident he can get a cart across the field and land a prominent position with cover. He loves the Parks track and if Cashin’ Chex is anywhere near his best, we expect a bold showing at a big price.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#5 Cashin’ Chex (11)
6yo Gelding | T: Will Clarken & Nikki O’Shea | J: Ben Price (a1.5) (59kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville
Morphettville quadrella selections
Saturday, April 22, 2023
- 1-3-4-6-7
- 3-4-5
- 1-2
- Field
Investment: $420 for 100%