A field of potential South Australian Derby horses face off on the main track at Morphettville this Saturday in the SA Chairman’s Stakes 2018 ahead of the Group 1 next month.
The Darren Weir-trained Civil Disobedience heads towards the SA Derby next month via run at single-figures in Chairman’s Stakes 2018 betting at Morphettville on Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Howard Be Thy Name (2016) was the last three-year-old to do the double and there are a dozen remaining chances in the opening leg this weekend following two scratchings from the Group 3 $1250,000 SA Chairman’s Stakes (2035m).
Leading the updated Chairman’s Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au for the set weights clash is Leicester ($3) drawn well in barriers one.
The narrow favourite is prepared by Darren Weir, trainer of the aforementioned Chairman’s Stakes – SA Derby double winner from two years ago Howard Be Thy Name, and the consistent son of Wanted has his second start in Adelaide on Saturday.
Current $6 second favourite in futures betting for the upcoming Group 1 $600,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) on May 12, Leicester comes off a close fourth when only one and a half-lengths beaten in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).
This is his first run over further and he looks winning hope, drawn to get a soft inside run with Damian Lane coming aboard for the ride.
Weir plays a strong hand in the SA Chairman’s Stakes field this season with Leicester joined in the line-up by three of his stablemates: Civil Disobedience ($5.50), Savaheat ($17) and Amerock ($20).
Of those the best fancied at single-figures is Civil Disobedience, favourite in futures SA Derby betting next-up, jumping from barrier 10 with John Allen riding the Raise The Flag colt.
A proven stayer, the Kiwi-bred bay boasts two wins and a third from his three starts at the distance and is looking for his first victory since claiming the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) at Hobart in February by nearly three lengths.
He went across the Tasman after that for a seventh in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) before a lead-up fifth from a wide barrier in the Port Adelaide Guineas that he gets the chance to improve on going up in distance here.
Between the weir Stablemates Leicester and Civil Disobedience in the Chairman’s Stakes odds are two other hopefuls with Greycliffe ($3.90) and market mover High ‘N’ Dry ($4.40).
Ballarat horseman Matt Cumani prepares nicely-bred Tavistock colt Greycliffe who ran second in the Port Adelaide Guineas and who has winning form up to 2200m.
With staying pedigree, the up-and-comer gets the chance to break a winning drought going back to his four length romp home at Seymour last October that he backed-up from to run 13th to Ace High in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
High ‘N’ Dry meanwhile is the other best in pre-field SA Derby betting, the lightly-raced Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra-trained gelding having run third only a length off the Port Adelaide Guineas winner from the outside barrier (15 of 15) last time out.
See below for the full SA Chairman’s Stakes 2018 field and betting markets, odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au.
