3 minute read
The carnival has moved to Morphettville now for the Group One horses after a very successful Sydney festival.
Day one in Adelaide is girls day with all the features for the fillies and mares. The Sangster Stakes (William Hill Classic) is a tremendous race with many form lines and runners in hot form.
So instead we are heading to the other feature race for a good bet in the G1 Australasian Oaks.
Chris Waller has been picking off the majors around the country, not just in his home base of Sydney and Wine Tales can give him one in South Australia for the first time.
The daughter of Tale Of The Cat has been just around the winner’s stall a couple of times this campaign but not hit the jackpot. Just touched off in the Keith Nolan at Kembla, she had to chase for a long way in the Adrian Knox and she knocked up.
However her effort in the Packer Plate against the boys was very good. From that run she is hard fit for this her first attempt at G1 level but she has two very good additions.
The blinkers have been added first time and that might just make her concentrate late but also race a little closer. Also Hugh Bowman rides her for the first time. There are few better riders of middle distance/stayers than he.
A track that is not too firm but rated good seems a perfect mix for her.
Of the others G1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway would have been on top bar for the setback which saw her miss the Australian Oaks at Randwick.
Had it not been for that issue she probably would have started favourite or nearby in that feature and gone very close.
Her two attempts at 2000m are the Rosehill win and a close third in the Wakeful Stakes. Plus she has Noble Protector form against the older mares.
Fontein Ruby has done little wrong this entire campaign bar for missing the start in the Australian Guineas and having to be ridden from the tail.
All her other efforts have come from being up on the speed. Two recent mile wins are testament to her tenacity.
Just remember at the 2000m of the Caulfield Classic against the colts she held them at bay too. This looks a targeted race.
One to watch is Ungrateful Ellen. This filly rattled home at Bendigo over the mile and while only coming out of benchmark races during this campaign, did run in the Sandown Guineas last November.
In that she was miles behind coming to the turn but closed off very fast to end up fourth to the colts.
Delicacy is the other one to note coming off her wins in the WA Oaks and WA Derby. Four consecutive victories are her form angle but she does have to overcome the issue of being back 400m.
Saturday Daily Special
Race 5 #4 Wine Tales - Great value around the $9 q