FEATURE PREVIEWS: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DERBY

Track: Morphettville | Distance: 2500m | Type: Group 1 3YO SW | Rail Position: +2m 1200m-W/Post; True Remainder | Condition: Good 4 | Prizemoney: $1,000,000

The South Australian Derby is a 2500m Group 1 Three-year old thoroughbred race held at Morphettville race track where the horses now compete for a newly prize pool of 1 million dollars.

The inaugural race was run way back in 1860 when it was then known as the Thebarton Derby.

It gained Group 1 status in 1979

The race attracts many interstate runners who generally have a hold on the event. Only two South Australian horses (Kushadasi 2014 and Rebel Raider 2009) have won it in the past 20 years.

Some notable winners of the race include Gatum Gatum (1961) Regal Jester (1978) Subzero (1992) Mummify (2003) Rebel Raider (2009) and the recently retired Dunkel last year.

Air Assault is a natural front running type that should take things up here. He led in the lead up race and was only just gunned down in the shadows.

Glad You Think So led and put in a great sight in the AJC Derby when 3^rd so will likely adopt similar tactics here.

South Australia’s leading fancy A Samurai Mind should slot just off the main speed from the good gate.

Favourites Bold Soul and Warmonger should get back in running but they have the turn of foot to overcome that.

4. Bold Soul
7. Warmonger
9. A Samurai Mind
14. Wairialda Warrior
15. Coco Sun
1. Antrim Coast

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 5^th. 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!

Back (Win) Bold Soul for 2 units
Back (Win) Warmonger for 1.5 units
Back (Win) A Samurai Mind for 1 unit
Back (Win) Wairalda Warrior for 0.5 units each-way