Lincoln Moore's Balaklava preview

Racecourse : Balaklava
Racecourse : Balaklava Picture: BalaklavaRC

BEST BETS

LOPE DE WOLF (Race 4)
STREET SWAGGER (Race 5)

VALUE

SOPHINA DIVA (Race 3)

RACE 1 - 1:20PM My Butcher 36° South Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)

CLASSIC HOLLY led them up when 2nd behind Platinum Wolf at Murray Bridge last time. She draws to lead and gets out to the mile. DIVINE JOURNEY had specking at a price and was good leading when 2nd behind Just Jazz at Gawler last time. She draws out but looks well placed here. FLITTELL was placed here behind Melody Shine four stars back in September. OUTPOUR was solid in the market but well beaten first-up behind Spanish Stroll at Gawler.

SELECTIONS: 8 CLASSIC HOLLY, 9 Divine Journey, 2 Flittell, 5 Outpour
PLAY: Playing DIVINE JOURNEY each-way.

RACE 2 - 1:55PM Atkins Photography Maiden Plate (1050 METRES)

MIDNIGHT RUSH trialled OK behind Tapinforpar at Gawler. Draws a nice gate and the stable has a great record with their debutants. CROWN MOSHE has returned well running 4th behind Press Down at Murray Bridge before chasing home Hot Sparky there last time. She's a big threat if she gains a start. CASSANDRA ISABEL has been placed at 10 of 17 but remains a maiden. She was 6th behind The Magistrate here before a break and did trial nicely, the wide gate isn't in her favour. FLY THE LINE trialled well before going around at big odds when 3rd behind Hot Sparky at Murray Bridge on debut. She can run well from a middle gate. SET THE BAR LOW was a big drifter when 5th behind Moorak Miss at Mt Gambier before a break. PLUCKSEY DUBH is first-up in SA for John Macmillan who is going well and must be kept safe here with Todd Pannell taking the ride. TENTERK was easy on debut and battled away behind Hot Sparky at Murray Bridge but trialled OK and should improve.

SELECTIONS: 7 MIDNIGHT RUSH, 15 Crown Moshe, 9 Cassandra Isabel, 12 Set The Bar Low
PLAY: Watching on.

RACE 3 - 2:30PM Paul Dowling Benchmark 56 Handicap (1050 METRES)

SOPHINA DIVA has a good record here and won at Strathalbyn three starts back before a good effort behind Strasongari at Gawler and followed up with an OK effort behind Ocean Reward at Morphettville in a much stronger race last time. She draws well and looks hard to beat. EFFORTKAT dropped in class to win at Port Lincoln last start. She draws a middle gate and should be in the mis again. MADAM FURPHY comes off a good effort running 2nd behind Manage The Cycle and gets in OK here after the claim. MISS MIDUKI is lightly raced and defeated Texan Windstorm back in December. She's had just one run since that was down the track at Gawler in April but draws a gate and can give this a shake. NOT A SINGLE BID was a Gawler winner in August and has been freshened for this. He draws the inside and is more than capable, the stable is having a good run.

SELECTIONS: 6 SOPHINA DIVA, 2 Effortkat, 3 Madam Furphy, 4 Miss Miduki
PLAY: Backing SOPHINA DIVA each-way at odds (2/3)

RACE 4 - 3:05PM Bloom Media Australia Benchmark 56 Handicap (1200 METRES)

LOPE DE WOLF didn't have a lot go his way in the straight when 4th behind Magic Phantom here two runs back and was then beaten a length behind Tequila Sunset at Gawler. He gets the blinkers gain and this looks his chance to find winning form. FALLOW ran 2nd behind Bamyan Buddha at Morphettville three starts back and drop in class form a middle gate but still has a big weight. BLUE LUNA was a winner here in June beating Covered Call. She's trialled nicely for her return, likes to race on speed and can take some catching here. FIVE POCKET was perfectly ridden to win at Murray Bridge in August, her past two have only been fair. She gets the blinkers on here and expect improvement. SHOURI LAD is the watch, a Robert Hickmott trained 4yo who was placed at three synthetic runs at Ballarat before he was well beaten behind Fleurieu Flipper at his local debut. TWICE FORGOTTEN is a dual winner here but has been winless for two years.

SELECTIONS: 5 LOPE DE WOLF, 1 Fallow, 2 Blue Luna, 7 Five Pocket
PLAY: Keen on LOPE DE WOLF.

RACE 5 - 3:40PM Taylors Wines Class One Handicap (1300 METRES)

STREET SWAGGER was easy in betting and didn't do a lot first-up over the 1000m at Murray Bridge. He jumps to the 1300m, Todd Pannell takes the ride, and he looks well placed in a race like this. EAGLELOU won well at Murray Bridge on debut and hasn't raced since he was beaten 2.1 lengths behind Prince Jofra at Morphettville. He has the two trials under his belt and the blinkers are off. ODDSOCK has run well at his past couple at Port Lincoln and draws a nice barrier. GRAFTON AVENUE is first-up for Jemma Frew and has shown ability. TIGER QUEEN was a Mildura winner at odds before running down the track behind Frankel Star last time. JUMPING BEAN is first-up for Garret Lynch

SELECTIONS: 3 SWEET SWAGGER, 1 Eaglelou, 10 Oddsock, 5 Graftson Avenue,
PLAY: Backing STREET SWAGGER.

RACE 6 - 4:15PM Barossa Distilling Co. Benchmark 56 Handicap (1400 METRES)

POSSUM BORN has a good record here and her form is solid for a race like this. She finished 2nd behind Texan Windstorm last time out, who has won again since, and should be fighting out the finish. THE LADIES MAN has been good in two runs back from a spell chasing home Splash Some Cash when 2nd in the Broken Hill Cup last time out. He is a winner here and gets in well after the claim. WHISKEY 'N' WOMEN gets a good gate and Todd Pannell rides. He made ground behind Frankel Star last start at Murray Bridge and has been placed here. SANDPIPER was runner-up at Gawler four starts back and comes off an OK effort behind Prince Tikea there. PRETENTIOUS LASS is mixing form, but her best is up to a race like this.

SELECTIONS: 10 POSSUM BORN, 3 The Ladies Man, 6 Whiskey 'N' Women, 7 Sandpiper
PLAY: Something on POSSUM BORN.

RACE 7 - 4:50PM Coopers Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600 METRES)

BENZ BARON was well backed to find winning form last start beating LORD OF DARKNESS, who was first-up in SA. They both came from back in the field, they have contrasting draws, LORD OF THE DARKNESS meets the winner 2kg better at the weights. WHEELS OF COURAGE was well backed and did plenty of work before blowing up late at Murray Bridge. His previous form was good enough to be winning a race like this. DAZZLING PROSPECT made good ground from the back behind Texan Windstorm last time out and was a Mildura winner in July at odds. CATALINA BLUE made good ground at Port Lincoln last start and maps to get a good run here. MORE SHOTS has a good record here and was placed behind Enlist at Gawler last start.

SELECTIONS: 3 BENZ BARON, 2 Lord Of Darkness, 8 Wheels Of Courage, 4 Dazzling Prospect
PLAY: Staying with BENZ BARON.


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