Horse Racing

Local Goolwa horseman David Jolly will launch a double pronged attack on the 2013 Spring Stakes at Morphettville in Adelaide this Saturday with his duo dominated by Cox Plate hopeful Budriguez.

Cox Plate nominee Budriguez resumes racing at home in Adelaide's Spring Stakes 2013 this Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

Running as Race 7 at 3:50pm (local time) this year’s $115,000 Adelaide Galvanising Spring Stakes (1200m) has attracted a classy line-up of 11 hopefuls.

Many of those are preparing for a shot at bigger races during the Sydney and Melbourne Spring Racing Carnivals including veteran Al Maher seven-year-old Budriguez.

Last seen winning the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield back in March, Budriguez also dead heated with current Melbourne Cup favourite Puissance De Lune in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes down the Flemington mile last prep.

Now they will kick-off back home before heading up to Victoria again for the spring where they have been nominated for the $3 million Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26.

On Saturday Budriguez, 2011 South Australian Horse of the Year, has drawn barrier six and will be ridden by Joe Bowditch with Jolly expecting a decent first-up effort.

“He usually takes a few runs to come to hand,” Jolly told Adelaide Now this week.

“He had a good break from a reasonably long campaign but he’s come back well.

“He’ll run here, the Penny Edition and then maybe head to Melbourne.”

Jolly’s other Spring Stakes hopeful is then Danish Spy who has come up trumps with gate three and Simon Price to ride.

The Dane Shadow mare hasn’t raced since May when she finished a credible fourth in the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville which was won by subsequent Stradbroke Handicap winner Linton.

“She actually pulled ground off Linton in the mile race,” Jolly said.

“She got held up a little bit – he’s obviously a very good horse – but she really hit the line well.

“He went on to win the Stradbroke, so I am quite excited about her heading towards the spring.

“She’s progressed quite quickly so I’m looking forward her campaign.”

Another notable spring carnival-bound galloper in the Spring Stakes mix this weekend is then the Paul Beshara-trained Happy Trails.

The local six-year-old defends their Spring Stakes title having won the race when resuming last year.

That win led to an excellent Melbourne campaign which ended with their breakthrough Group 1 triumph in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Their most recent run was in Sydney meanwhile with Happy Trails crossing third behind Reliable Man in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Sydney Cup Day in late April.

After the Spring Stakes Happy Trails is tipped to race second-up in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), now worth $350,000 in prize money, with the new updated feature to take place at Caulfield a fortnight later.

Other notable Spring Stakes hopes then include the Darren Weir-trained Ballarat visitor Broken (barrier four), Phillip Stokes’ rails-drawn Just Discreet and Mick Price’s Draw Forward (barrier seven).

A number of early Spring Stakes entries meanwhile have defected at acceptance stage including the Tony McEvoy-trained Parramatta Cup winner Pelicano and flying local galloper Riziz who won a black type in Flemington last start.

Both of these horses will race in Melbourne instead this Saturday facing off against dual Perth Group 1 winner Luckygray who debuts for new trainer Robert Smerdon in Flemington’s $150,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).

See below for the full 2013 Spring Stakes final field, barriers, jockeys and weights.

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2013 Spring Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

Morphettville Race 7 – 3:50pm (Local Time) – 10/08/2013