Robbie Griffiths’ Cranbourne-based three-year-old The Quarterback is narrow favourite to win their first stakes race in the Euclase Stakes 2014 at Morphettville this weekend.
The Street Boss gelding is one of just nine of their accepted for Saturday’s $250,000 Group 2 Sportingbet Euclase Stakes (1200m) set to run as South Australian Derby Day Race 6.
Drawn in gate six with Matthew Allen booked for the ride they’re also the only last start winner in the mix.
On April 19 The Quarterback backed up from some nice autumn form at Caulfield and won the Bert Bryant Handicap (1200m) by nearly two lengths.
A graduate from the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) having suffered respiratory issues when 11th to Shamus Award, they’ve had three Group starts this season.
The Guineas was the third and came on the back of two Group 3 thirds firstly to Bull Point first-up in the Manfred Stakes and then to Hucklebuck over 1400m at Flemington in the CS Hayes Stakes.
They’ve got the form and class then to take out the Euclase and pay $3.20 to get the job done.
Hot on their heels is then the Euclase Stakes betting market mover, Miracles Of Life paying $3.70 to win her likely final race start.
Winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in Melbourne last year during her undefeated two-year-old campaign, Daniel Clarken’s talented daughter of Not A Single Doubt hasn’t won a race since.
He’s hoping that changes on Saturday before Miracles Of Life retires from racing and goes under the hammer.
The local champ has run second in her two lead-up runs here, most recently behind Minaj in the Listed Redelva Stakes (1050m) but how she handles the step up in distance will be key to her chances of going out a winner.
There are then three other single figure fancies with Éclair Big Bang ($4), Classy Jack ($7.50) and the ultra-consistent Lucky Symbol ($8).
Local Phillip Stokes-trained Savabeel gelding Éclair Big Bang also comes via a run in the Redelva when fourth in their first run since stepping up to Group 1 company in Melbourne during the spring.
They failed their two elite level assignments last season when dead last in the Caulfield Guineas, despite having won the Prelude the run before, and then eighth behind Zoustar in the Coolmore Stud Stakes when dropped back from a mile to 1200m.
Back at home against easier rivals though they’re looking a better chance, especially second-up with a run under their belt.
Classy Jack then is a track specialist for the Murray Bridge-based John Hickmott.
The Danerich three-year-old has won three of their four Morphettville starts which came all in a row during March.
They were sixth behind The Quarterback at Caulfield last time out though so will need the home track advantage to be a shot at turning the tables on their last start conqueror.
Lucky Symbol meanwhile also represents Stokes, the Magnus three-year-old yet to finish out of the money with four wins and two thirds from six starts.
Their latest effort was a nice third in the Redelva which could prove the form race for the Euclase this year.
At longer odds and out for a Euclase Stakes upset are then the likes of the Mick Price-trained Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Jazz Song ($15) with the inside running from barrier one and the David Hayes-trained Fast ‘N’ Rocking ($17).
The full Euclase Sportingbet Stakes 2014 odds can be found in the table below.
To back your favourite three-year-old in the Adelaide feature this weekend we recommend you head along to Ladbrokes.com.au who are also offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the South Australian Derby!