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Punt Preview: Balaklava Cup - 10th September 2025

Racecourse : Balaklava.
Racecourse : Balaklava. Picture: BalaklavaRC

BEST BETS
SO POLITE (Race 3)
FIABESCA (Race 4)


EACH-WAY
RETOURNE (Race 7)

VALUE
RICH LADY (Race 5)

RACE 1 - 11:45AM Taylors Wines Three-Year-Old Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400 METRES)

Oui Oui Ma Cherie ran well when beaten 3.97 lengths in 4th behind Ole Dancer in the MM 2YO Classic in March. She then found herself back and in a sticky spot when beaten 1.17 lengths behind KALMANA last time. She's fitter and well-drawn. KALMANA won that race on the Parks track and then followed up with another good effort there when he took ground off Bacash beaten 2.35 lengths last time. He gets the claim and looks well suited again. Stablemate OAKLEY MISS was placed in the Listed Without Fear and G3 Breeders Stakes behind Legacy Bound before a break. She has trialled up well and is sure to give this a shake. FREEDOM FLAME was $31-$18 when beaten 6.98 lengths behind Intellectual at Morphettville last time.
SELECTIONS: 7 OUI OUI MA CHERIE, 1 Kalmana, 2 Oakley Miss, 5 Freedom Flame
PLAY: Backing OUI OUI MA CHERIE.

RACE 2 - 12:20PM Clare Valley Toyota Maiden Plate (1600 METRES)

Utah is a former Victorian who was placed at his two runs before being sold and lands in SA for the Bain/Taylor stable. He has the two trials under his belt and should go well first-up at the mile.
GRINZINGER HALO was an improver second-up for the Will Clarken stable beaten 1.43 lengths behind Broadbeach Miss on the Parks track last time. She draws out but should go well. SASSY SOPHIE draws the inside and was OK late beaten 4.18 lengths in 3rd behind Bacash in city grade on the Parks track last time.
ANNANDA was beaten 3.15 lengths at Mildura first-up from a spell and then ran OK, beaten 4.69 lengths behind Titan Rising at Gawler last time. She'll give this a shake. Stablemate EMPRESS OF SOUL has ability and was a $2.60 favourite here two runs back. CRACKEN GOOD TIME was placed behind Anthracite at Murray Bridge two runs back and then a $2.50 favourite when beaten 1.24 lengths in 2nd behind Normie No Show at Port Augusta last time. He draws well.
SELECTIONS: 5 UTAH, 9 Grinzinger Halo, 12 Sassy Sophie, 6 Annanda
PLAY: Backing UTAH.

RACE 3 - 12:55PM Sportsbet Racing Form Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

So Polite has had all three runs of her runs here and all were among the placings. He was on speed and beaten 1.67 lengths behind Tropical House before a spell. Then was beaten 2.25 lengths in a Strathalbyn trial, but draws the right barrier and will take some beating. SAFE BET was good in two runs earlier in the year and was first-up from a spell, when beaten 4.18 lengths in 3rd behind Round Two at Gawler. The winner has done so, again, since in city grade and he draws the inside. SIMPLY SID was specked at odds and hit the line strongly and was beaten 1.96 lengths in 4th behind Dapper Don at Morphettville last time. He draws a nice gate. LADY ZELDA has been just behind the placegetters running 4th at her past two. She was beaten 3.81 lengths behind Lottie Jane on the Parks track in the latest run. MATING CALL debuts for the Clarken/MacGillivray stable, and won a Strathalbyn trial back in May and was 3rd in a recent Murray Bridge jump-out.
SELECTIONS: 10 SO POLITE, 9 Safe Bet, 4 Simply Sid, 8 Lady Zelda
PLAY: Keen on SO POLITE.

RACE 4 - 1:30PM Agfert Maiden Plate (1300 METRES)

Fiabesca looked good winning a Strathalbyn trial, before she was a $3.70 chance and hit the line strongly, beaten 0.68 lengths behind Zoutrail at Gawler. She draws out, but is a filly with upside. ZARUBINA was placed at three in succession before jumping a $3.20 favourite, when beaten 1.4 lengths behind Zoular at Naracoorte last time. CITY PRO trialled up nicely before a solid debut, beaten 2.6 lengths behind More Than Hope at Murray Bridge. He draws the middle and should go well. JOSEPHS GLORY was $19-$10 when beaten 3.32 lengths behind Beachbarbeckons at Strathalbyn. GOLDFIELDS GREY is on debut for Matt Seyers, and was placed in a Strathalbyn trial before running 2nd in a Murray Bridge jump-out. LOVE STREET debuts for Jess Tzaferis and has trialled up well at Murray Bridge and Strathalbyn. CAUSEWELUVADELAIDE is on debut for Sarah Rutten and has finished second in recent trials and jump-outs, the latest at Murray Bridge but she draws wide.
SELECTIONS: 13 FIABESCA, 12 Zarubina, 1 City Pro, 6 Jospeh's Glory
PLAY: Keen on FIABESCA.

RACE 5 - 2:05PM Coopers Dry 3.5 Fillies & Mares Rating 0 - 56 Handicap (1050 METRES)

Rich Lady has been around here seven times and placed at five of those. She was a Murray Bridge winner two runs back, beating Dapper Don who has won since, she has been back to the trials since she was well-beaten behind Suzido on the Parks track. MISS GABBIANO was a $61 chance winning here at her SA debut, and was then beaten 4.52 lengths behind Nextonixs on the Parks track last time. She draws out but should go well again. ONE KIND was $1.80-$2.10 favourite when beaten 6.38 lengths behind Grandellie at Gawler. She looks well-placed in a race like this. EMOOKI MAGIC was placed here and at Gawler before being sent out a $151 chance when beaten 7.98 lengths behind Karavas on the Parks track.
SELECTIONS: 3 RICH LADY, 1 Miss Gabbiano, 5 One Kind, 13 Emooki Magic
PLAY: Playing RICH LADY each-way at $16.

RACE 6 - 2:40PM BMD Colts, Geldings & Entires Rating 0 - 56 Handicap (1050 METRES)

Derby Downs has been in the money at three of four starts here, and was a $2.40 favourite back in December when 3rd behind Bangerang Redback. He draws out, but this is a winnable race. SHIKANIC has won two of his past three, both at Port Augusta, and was beaten 3.34 lengths in 5th behind Hooked On Wealth at Murray Bridge in the middle field. He draws well and must be respected. ROCKABYE WARRIOR is a winner here and was OK on the Parks track in February, when beaten 2.74 lengths behind Beauty Rising. OUTPOST is first-up for Travis Doudle. He has a couple of jump-outs under his belt and draws well.
BROADWAY LANE has been placed at four of nine starts, the latest here in June when 3rd behind Italian Informant. LUCKY DOG resumes and hasn't been seen since a Darwin campaign, he has been in the money at five of his nine first-up runs.
SELECTIONS: 5 DERBY DOWNS, 2 Shikanic, 6 Rockabye Warrior, 3 Outpost
PLAY: Wide open race and staying out.

RACE 7 - 3:15PM Select & Atlas Event & Party Hire Benchmark 56 Handicap (2200 METRES)

Retourne was a good winner on the Parks track, three starts back beating United Legend and was well beaten in a BM78 last time behind Paradise Storm. He has been placed at two of three here, and at his only run on a heavy track, and should take beating. OH LOVELY NO was placed at three runs in succession before she was well-ridden to break her maiden on the Parks track last week. This is a step up, she's a progressive stayer, who is drawn perfectly, but unplaced in two wet track runs. ENCIPHERING was sent out favourite here when beaten 3.24 lengths in 5th behind Cuban Lord, two runs back, then beaten 7.24 lengths in 10th behind Tropical House at Morphettville last time. He gets in well after the claim and should go well here. MANDINO was good when just behind the placegetters last time when beaten 4.17 lengths in 4th, behind Easy Beast at Morphettville. He gets in well after the claim and loves it wet. WHISKEY SOUR jumped in trip and was OK beaten 4.61 lengths behind Johnny Cigar at Naracoorte last time. MISS NARRANGA has been placed at two of her past three, the latest at Casterton as a $101 chance. COURS VITE hasn't fired for a while but was placed at his only run here.
SELECTIONS: 2 RETOURNE, 6 Oh Lovely No, 1 Enciphering, 3 Mandino
PLAY: Something on RETOURNE each-way.

RACE 8 - 3:50PM TQCSI Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200 METRES)

Nurys continues to race well and was good late when beaten 0.61 lengths in 4th behind Cash at Morphettville last time. She gets in well after the claim and should give this a shake. LITTLEBOURKESTREET has been bursting to win a race and was beaten 1.04 lengths in 3rd behind Welcometotheshow on the Parks track last time. She draws the inside and gets her chance. TOSEN WATER won on the Parks track in May/June before being beaten 2.01 lengths behind Fiasco Tess there on June 28. He draws out, but should be in the mix, and is a winner at his only run on a heavy track. VALLENCOURT was placed first-up on the Parks track behind an in-form Halliwell and then beaten 1.76 lengths in 4th behind Anotherhouse there last time. She draws a good gate and should go well. Stablemate SETTEVELI was good first-up for the Will Clarken stable, when beaten 2.57 lengths in 4th behind Kalasec on the Parks track, he's a winner at his only go on a heavy track and he should be somewhere in the mix. JILLADORA was an Oakbank winner three runs back, and has trialled OK for her return. She gets a handy 3kg claim. HOOKED ON WEALTH comes off a 3.13 length Murray Bridge win beating Startide and draws a nice gate.
SELECTIONS: 5 NURYS, 12 Littlebourkestreet, 2 Tosen Water, 9 Setteveli
PLAY: Something on NURYS each-way.

RACE 9 - 4:25PM BTR Excavations Balaklava Cup (1600 METRES)

The weather is going to be key to a host of chances and banking on the rain hitting. That makes Lingani the horse to beat. She is flying this time, beaten 2.34 lengths behind Café Millenium in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes last time out and she was beaten 2.56 lengths in 3rd behind Queman prior in the G3 Behemoth. She'll need luck from the wide, but is three from three on a heavy track. DUBAI POET is hard fit and was placed in the Mildura Cup over 1400m before running 4th over the same trip, beaten 2.49 lengths in the Café Millenium race. He was placed in this race last year and looks well placed with some luck from the gate and he does handle all conditions. Stablemate MARACOURT was 5th in this race last year before winning the Murray Bridge Cup, he is fitter for two runs back and comes through the Café Millenium race. FINE FUTURE has won five of his 21 starts and was good winning at Morphettville over the 1600m on May 3. He then backed-up to run 3rd behind Regal Azmon in the G3 Cummings. He's carried big weights in two runs back, draws the right gate and looks hard to beat if the rain stays away. SAV ON ICE won three in succession, before he was a $1.65 chance when beaten 2.68 lengths behind Merchant Boss at Morphettville on August 9. He's fresh but should be in the mix. FAST BUBBLES has a good record here and won four in succession before he was out the back and never a factor behind WILLYBEAFACTOR last time at Morphettville. WATADEEL likes the sting out and was a winner on the Parks track, beating Flashing Steel before running 5th in that race last time. PUDDING drops sharply in weight on recent form in Melbourne, he was beaten 1.25 lengths in 2nd behind The Creator at Moonee Valley last time and draws to go well. The knock is he's been well beaten in two attempts at this race but when he's been back and leaders have dominated. SIR KINGSFORD resumes, his form last time in work was super and he showed plenty of fight to hold off Basalinna to win the Listed Port Adelaide Cup over 2500m at Morphettville back in May. He has placed first-up but will roll forward and make his presence felt. BEAUIFUL JEWEL is a mare with talent and was 4th in the G3 SA Fillies Classic behind Litzdeel back in May. She was well tried first-up from a spell when narrowly beaten by Hot Strut on the Parks track. This is a big class rise but she must be respected. TEST THE LAW draws a good gate and is another who can run a cheeky race up on speed.
SELECTIONS: 5 LINGANI, 2 Dubai Poet, 12 Fine Future, 14 Fast Bubbles
PLAY: Something on LINGANI each-way and saver on FAST BUBBLES.

RACE 10 - 5:00PM Adelaide Galvanising Industries Rating 0 - 56 Handicap (1400 METRES)

Monseagle was placed on the Parks track two runs back behind Savatoff and then led when beaten 14.48 lengths behind Spelman at Gawler last time. He has a win and a placing from three starts here and can improve. OBI is unbeaten in two runs here beating Weekend Warrior here back in June. He draws out but gets a claim. KINDRA PARK has been racing well and was beaten 0.55 lengths in 2nd behind The Ice Cutter at Gawler last time. He was on speed when beaten 3.54 lengths behind Justica's Bonus prior and should run well with some luck from the draw. BY THE BOOK was well beaten behind Halliwell here two runs back and just missed when beaten 0.11 lengths behind Scandalize at Murray Bridge last time. WHISKEY 'N' WOMEN was beaten 7.54 lengths in the same race but does have a handy record here, in the money at two of his three starts. FLEURIEU FLIPPER was runner-up behind Sav On Ice here two runs back, and then beaten 6.54 lengths behind Alainge at Murray Bridge last time, the winner has done so again since in city class.
SELECTIONS: 14 MONSEAGLE, 3 Obi, 17 Kindra Park, 9 By The Book
PLAY: Wide in the quaddie.


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