Morphettville racing preview & best bets | Saturday, April 29
| What | Australasian Oaks Day 2023 |
| Where | Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043 |
| When | Saturday, April 29, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:17am ACDT |
It is Australasian Oaks Day at Morphettville on Saturday where the Group 1 over 2000m the feature on the bumper 10-race program. Joined by the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes, Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes and Listed Port Adelaide Cup, there is plenty of good horseflesh doing the rounds in Adelaide. With scattered showers forecast on Friday, we expect the rain will be enough to keep us in the Soft range for the meeting, while the rail sticks to the true position. Adelaide’s first Group 1 day of the year is set to commence at 11:17am ACST.
Australasian Oaks Tip: Party Princess
The Group 1 Australasian Oaks headlines Saturday’s card at Morphettville with a capacity field of 16 three-year-old fillies set to duke it out for the $500,000 on offer. Having been lipped out in the Listed Clare Lindop Stakes over 1600m on April 1, Party Princess looks like she will eat up every bit of the 2000m. Last start, she settled towards the rear of the field before unleashing a stunning turn of foot, only to go down by the barest of margins. With plenty of speed expected in the race, it looks perfectly set up for Jason Holder to have this So You Think filly biding her time at the back of the field before finishing right over the top of her rivals.
Australasian Oaks
Race 9 – 
#11 Party Princess (7)
3yo Filly | T: Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | J: Jason Holder (56kg)
Breeders’ Stakes Tip: Heuristic
We were with Godolphin’s Heuristic when he was too good for his rivals in a two-year-old contest at the Morphettville 1100m on March 15, and in a field that is no harder he should prove too good in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes. The colt enjoyed a suck run in transit on that day, and when asked for an effort 300m out from home he was quick to put the race to bed in impressive fashion. He draws to gain a similar run in transit, and with Todd Pannell sticking on board, there appear to be no excuses for Heuristic in Saturday’s Group 3.
Breeders’ Stakes
Race 5 – 
#1 Heuristic (4)
2yo Colt | T: James Cummings | J: Todd Pannell (57.5kg)
Chairman’s Stakes Tip: Loco
Loco has yet to miss the top two in his three starts to begin his career and continues to show above-average talent. The three-year-old gelding arguably should have got the better of Gringotts at Sandown last time out, but simply couldn’t run in a straight line when it mattered most. He gains the services of the in-form Damien Oliver, and from barrier five he will be given every chance to claim Group success at start four. Loco is a horse with plenty of upside and should prove too good for his rivals in the Chairman’s Stakes.
Chairman’s Stakes
Race 8 – 
#3 Loco (5)
3yo Gelding | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | J: Damien Oliver (57.5kg)
Port Adelaide Cup Tip: Horrifying
Saturday’s quaddie opens with the Listed Port Adelaide Cup over 2500m, where we are siding with the Mark & Levi Kavanagh-trained Horrifying. The five-year-old gelding comes in fourth-up from a spell, and despite finishing last in the Group 3 Easter Cup behind the likes of White Marlin, Right You Are and Lunar Flare, this looks far more suitable. This son of Shocking is known to be tactically versatile, and from barrier 15, Craig Williams will have a decision to make early on. With a bit of luck, we are hoping that decision is to go forward and dictate terms. He has won up to 2800m in his career, and even though he needs to lug 60kg, we have no doubt he will see out the trip. We’re getting $11 for a proven stayer who, at his best, could put a space on his rivals.
Port Adelaide Cup
Race 7 – 
#1 Horrifying (15)
5yo Gelding | T: Mark & Levi Kavanagh | J: Craig Williams (60kg)
Best Bet at Morphettville: Sghirripa
Sghirripa is yet to miss the frame in any of his five starts. The three-year-old gelding from the Shane & Cassie Oxlade barn resumed from a six-month spell with a narrow defeat in BM72 company over the 1050m at the track when gunned down late after setting up a hot speed. From barrier four on Saturday, the Lonhro gelding will not need to work hard at all to find the front, and with his sole career victory coming when second-up, it looks to be the recipe for success once again. Under a well-rated ride, Sghirripa should be too speedy for this lot.
Best Bet
Race 4 – 
#9 Sghirripa (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade | J: Ryan Hurdle (56kg)
Best Value at Morphettville: Aston Rapova
We have always had a high opinion of the Wayne Francis & Glen Kent-trained Aston Rapova, and first-up from a three-month spell we’re hoping he can fire fresh. The five-year-old gelding strung together three consecutive wins last campaign and looks to have struck a winnable race. He was a dominant three-length winner at the Morphettville 1100m when resuming last prep, and at the same track and distance, with Teagan Voorham onboard claiming 1.5kg, he is sure to give us a sight at a double-figure price. He will relish the tempo in the race, and if Aston Rapova can bring his dynamic turn of foot, he is going to take some holding out.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#2 Aston Rapova (5)
5yo Gelding | T: Wayne Francis & Glen Kent | J: Teagan Voorham (a1.5) (61kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Morphettville
Morphettville quadrella selections
Saturday, April 29, 2023
- 1-2-4-11
- 1-3
- 1-2-3-6-11
- 2-9-13
Investment: $120 for 100%