FEATURE PREVIEWS: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DERBY
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DERBY | FEATURE RACE PREVIEW
TRACK: Morphettville | DISTANCE: 2500m | RAIL POSITION: +2m Entire Sectional 602m | TRACK CONDITIONS: Good 4 | PRIZE MONEY: $1,000,000
HISTORICAL PROFILING
The South Australian Derby is a Group 1 race for 3yo’s run over 2500m at Morphettville racecourse at set weights and penalties. The race was first run all the way back in 1860 at the Thebarton Racecourse. Some famous winners of the race include Gatum Gatum back in 1961. That horse would go on to win the 1963 Melbourne Cup. Popular Grey horse Subzero won the Derby back in 1992 and would then go on to win the Melbourne Cup the following season. The ill fated Mummify won the race back in 2003 before going on to win another 4 more Group 1s after that including the Caulfield Cup later that season. Rebel Raider 2009 was another notable winner taking out the SA Derby just a few months after his memorable Group 1 Victorian Derby win at 100/1 with Clare Lindop in the saddle
PRICE ADVANTAGE HISTORY
Coco Sun won the race last year with a $5.22 BSP which was on parity with competition.
Dunkel won it in 2023 at the $9.59 which was 1.3% higher than best tote after commission.
SPEED MAP
Looks to be genuine tempo here with the Victorian Derby winner Goldrush Guru likely to cross from the bad gate and inject some rolling speed into the race. American Wolf, Dubai Focus and Global Eclipse (Emerg) will all look to push forward and help create a proper staying contest here. Horses that settle mid-field and second half should all have there chance if they can stay the tripÂ
RACE PREVIEW
Great race. Thought Snoopy Now ticked all the boxes here. Last start tempo was against but really rocketed through the line from well back for 3L 6th over the 2000m. The way the horse picked up through the line suggests to me that 2500m suits and I like the fact a European Jockey rides as they are strong and vigorous with the horses if they need to get more out of them. Would be a fantastic story if boutique breeder/trainer Daryl Hewitt could get a Group 1. Great each-way chance. Lavalier ran 2nd in the lead up race behind Athanatos when charged from well back late to just miss. Has to navigate an awkward draw but gets one of the best hoops in the land to do so. The way the horse hit the line you would expect the 2500m to suit. Â Goldrush Guru was only plain last start but you would imagine that it was just a tick over for this Derby. The horse is proven over 2500m winning the Victorian Derby in the Spring. Draws wide but I’m guessing Jason Holder will come across and lead and just try and run them into the ground. There has been good market support early. Like Daryl Hewitt, it would be great to see Jason Holder win another Group 1 after so many years. Statuario gave them a belting over 2400m at Caulfield when sat on speed and peeled out and was way too strong for them. He draws to do no work from gate 3 and is proven over the distance. John Allen sticks the ride and he has a great record in the Group 1s in Adelaide.
SUMMARY
Bold Soul won the traditional lead up race here last weekend in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes over 2000m. He looked to be in trouble and under hard riding on the bend but once the horse picked up through his gears he was too strong for them late in a very busy finish. He knows what it takes to win a Derby after claiming the 2200m Tasmanian edition.
He’s bomb proof and simply doesn’t put in a poor performance. Can’t see the extra trip being any harm.
Warmonger comes from the same race and put in a puzzling performance but still ran a great 1.1L 5th. Went back from the wide gate and looked detached and uninterested before finally responding to riding and flashing home at the end. They have taken the Blinkers off for this and the extra trip suits.
A Samurai Mind is the boom lightly raced gelding for the South Australian trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy McGillivray. Trainer and jockey have always had a big opinion of the galloper and we get to see how good he is on the big stage. Had an unconventional lead up into this just racing at 1950m in a metro Saturday race but does have the advantage of an extra week break and Lachlan Neindorf riding in career best form winning his maiden group 1.
Wairalda Warrior could be the smokey so have a tiny nibble. It looked to be going well at odds in the Chairman’s but then had his run pinched by eventual winner Bold Soul. He then had to switch course a couple of times in the straight and was held up on the line. Think he’s overs here!
BETTING STRATEGIES
Betting Strategy
BACK: 1. Goldrush Guru (WIN) for 1.5 units
Great race. Thought Snoopy Now ticked all the boxes here. Last start tempo was against but really rocketed through the line from well back for 3L 6th over the 2000m. The way the horse picked up through the line suggests to me that 2500m suits and I like the fact a European Jockey rides as they are strong and vigorous with the horses if they need to get more out of them. Would be a fantastic story if boutique breeder/trainer Daryl Hewitt could get a Group 1. Great each-way chance. Lavalier ran 2nd in the lead up race behind Athanatos when charged from well back late to just miss. Has to navigate an awkward draw but gets one of the best hoops in the land to do so. The way the horse hit the line you would expect the 2500m to suit. Goldrush Guru was only plain last start but you would imagine that it was just a tick over for this Derby. The horse is proven over 2500m winning the Victorian Derby in the Spring. Draws wide but I’m guessing Jason Holder will come across and lead and just try and run them into the ground. There has been good market support early. Like Daryl Hewitt, it would be great to see Jason Holder win another Group 1 after so many years. Statuario gave them a belting over 2400m at Caulfield when sat on speed and peeled out and was way too strong for them. He draws to do no work from gate 3 and is proven over the distance. John Allen sticks the ride and he has a great record in the Group 1s in Adelaide.
BACK: 6. Snoopy Now (WIN) for 1.5 units
Great race. Thought Snoopy Now ticked all the boxes here. Last start tempo was against but really rocketed through the line from well back for 3L 6th over the 2000m. The way the horse picked up through the line suggests to me that 2500m suits and I like the fact a European Jockey rides as they are strong and vigorous with the horses if they need to get more out of them. Would be a fantastic story if boutique breeder/trainer Daryl Hewitt could get a Group 1. Great each-way chance. Lavalier ran 2nd in the lead up race behind Athanatos when charged from well back late to just miss. Has to navigate an awkward draw but gets one of the best hoops in the land to do so. The way the horse hit the line you would expect the 2500m to suit. Goldrush Guru was only plain last start but you would imagine that it was just a tick over for this Derby. The horse is proven over 2500m winning the Victorian Derby in the Spring. Draws wide but I’m guessing Jason Holder will come across and lead and just try and run them into the ground. There has been good market support early. Like Daryl Hewitt, it would be great to see Jason Holder win another Group 1 after so many years. Statuario gave them a belting over 2400m at Caulfield when sat on speed and peeled out and was way too strong for them. He draws to do no work from gate 3 and is proven over the distance. John Allen sticks the ride and he has a great record in the Group 1s in Adelaide.
BACK: 8. Lavailer (Saver) (WIN) for 1.5 units
Great race. Thought Snoopy Now ticked all the boxes here. Last start tempo was against but really rocketed through the line from well back for 3L 6th over the 2000m. The way the horse picked up through the line suggests to me that 2500m suits and I like the fact a European Jockey rides as they are strong and vigorous with the horses if they need to get more out of them. Would be a fantastic story if boutique breeder/trainer Daryl Hewitt could get a Group 1. Great each-way chance. Lavalier ran 2nd in the lead up race behind Athanatos when charged from well back late to just miss. Has to navigate an awkward draw but gets one of the best hoops in the land to do so. The way the horse hit the line you would expect the 2500m to suit. Goldrush Guru was only plain last start but you would imagine that it was just a tick over for this Derby. The horse is proven over 2500m winning the Victorian Derby in the Spring. Draws wide but I’m guessing Jason Holder will come across and lead and just try and run them into the ground. There has been good market support early. Like Daryl Hewitt, it would be great to see Jason Holder win another Group 1 after so many years. Statuario gave them a belting over 2400m at Caulfield when sat on speed and peeled out and was way too strong for them. He draws to do no work from gate 3 and is proven over the distance. John Allen sticks the ride and he has a great record in the Group 1s in Adelaide.
