The sole Group 1 race running in Australia this weekend is the 2013 South Australian Derby in Adelaide, the Races.com.au’s exclusive form guide preview and betting analysis for which is detailed below.

Shoreham is the only horse in the SA Derby 2013 field to have won over the 2500m before. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

There are 15 three-year-olds engaged in this year’s $500,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) which is due to run as Morphettville Race 7 at 3:35pm (local time).

Two horses currently share favouritism in the latest SA Derby odds with Peter Gelagotis’ Victorian raider Hvasstan and local hero Hioctdane paying $4.20 each.

Hvasstan won the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) two back before two tough Group 1 runs behind It’s A Dundeel in the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby where they finished seventh and sixth respectively and which they will be looking to improve on getting back to racing left-handed.

The Richard Jolly-trained Strada gelding Hioctdane meanwhile has been in top form in Adelaide this campaign including their big 4.5 length win last Saturday in the Group 3 Chairman’s Veolia Stakes (2000m).

Other notable chances then include Shoreham ($4.60) who won over the 2500m by 3.5 lengths last start at Flemington, the David Hayes-trained Gerontius ($8.50) coming off a fourth in the Australian Derby and early market mover Molto Bene ($12) the local filly last seen running seventh in the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks seven days ago.

It’s a big field full of genuine hopefuls however so to help you make your South Australian Derby betting selections this weekend below we have the must know facts, form stats and betting info on the classic.

2013 SA Derby Form Facts & Betting Stats

• Last year’s SA Derby winner was the Leon Corstens-trained Victorian Zabeelionaire who came off a 2000m win at Caulfield, jumped from barrier one (of 16) and was ridden by Damien Oliver
• Barrier one on Saturday belongs to #6 Escado ($26) – the gate producing three winners since 1983

• The most successful SA Derby barriers in that time have been gates five and 16 with five wins each; there’s only 15 runners this year so no gate 15 but barrier five on Saturday belongs to #8 McNulty ($13)
• In the past three decades 14 SA Derby winners have jumped from a double digit gate and this year the widest drawn are #12 Gingerboy (10), #1 Hvasstan (11), #11 Packing Empire (12), #7 Pins Of Pele (13), #10 Bel Thor (14) and #2 Hioctdane (15)
• There are three last-start winners in the mix this year with #2 Hioctdane (Group 3 Chairman’s Veolia Stakes, 2000m, Morphettville, 27/04/2013), #3 Shoreham (Listed Galilee Series Final, 2500m, Flemington, 13/04/2013) and #11 Packing Empire (3YO Mdn, 2400m, Bendigo, 20/04/2013)
• #2 Hioctdane ($4.20) is out to become just the second horse in the past 10 years to win the Chairman’s – Derby double joining Rebel Raider (2009)
• Two of the past 10 SA Derby winners came via the Australian Derby with Mummify (2003) and Testifiable (2006) who both ran third in the Sydney Group 1; this year horses coming out of the ATC Derby are #4 Gerontius (4^th) and #1 Hvasstan (6^th)
• The best Win Rate of the field belongs to #2 Hioctdane (37.50%) followed by #1 Hvasstan (33.33%) and #11 Packing Empire (33.33%)
• #11 Packing Empire ($21) also boasts the best Place Rate with 66.67% followed by #2 Hioctdane (62.50%) and #5 Gold Medals (55.56%)
• The only horse with winning form at the track is #2 Hioctdane (6-2-0-1) while the other previous placegetters at Morphettville are #15 Molto Bene (3-0-0-1) and #7 Pins Of Pele (1-0-0-1)
• Only two horses have run top three over the distance before with Galilee Series Final winner #3 Shoreham (1-1-0-0) and runner-up in the same race #10 Bel Thor (1-0-1-0)
• Favourites have a great record in the race with six wins in the past 10 years; this year two horses share top spot in the SA Derby odds with #1 Hvasstan and #2 Hioctdane both paying $4.20

Stay tuned to Races.com.au four our top 2013 SA Derby tips and exotic selections to be published shortly.

Think you’ve already got the winners and placegetters in the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival feature picked out and want to lock them in at the best price?

Visit our number one recommended bookie bookmaker.com.au now for all the weekend’s best racing odds including access to the Pick Your Own Odds markets on the SA Derby!

2013 South Australian Derby Field & Form Guide

Morphettville Race 7 – 3:35pm (local) – 04/05/2013

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from bookmaker.com.au and subject to change

*Form Guide Credit – [sportsbet]