A capacity field of young stayers will take to the Morphettville track on Saturday for the next Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival Group 1 and it is the first emergency, Accidental Bid, dominating 2026 South Australian Derby betting.

The time-honoured Group 1 $1 million SA Derby (2518m) has been won by plenty of nice types over the years and markets this season have the Ciaron Maher-trained Phoenix Of Spain colt, Accidental Bid, as the one to beat.

The up-and-comer is sweating on a start needing an early scratching to make the starting 16-horse line-up, but the bookies are taking no chances with Accidental Bid at $3.10 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Drawn well in gate two with South Australian superstar, John Allen, booked for the ride.

Allen has ridden four SA Derby winners to victory since 2015 with Explosive Jack (2021) for Maher and his then co-trainer David Eustace the latest.

He sticks aboard Saturday’s favourite following back-to-back wins on Accidental Bid at Pakenham.

Third-up and flying, the horse went around favourite first-up and was too strong late, sweeping home from midfield to score by 0.8 lengths in a Pakenham maiden over 1600m on Soft ground with 59kg.

Second-up he justified the market again, sitting right on the speed and putting a space on them — a dominant seven-length romp in a Pakenham BM62 over 2000m on Heavy going with 60.5kg.

He’s building a terrific profile this prep, handles all conditions, and her racing pattern is rock-solid.

The danger occupying the second line of betting at $4.50 is the talented Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Silvasista.

Luke Currie retains the ride on the in-form Toronado filly who chases a hat-trick this weekend.

She comes into this third-up assignment off a booming Flemington win, storming home from midfield to put a decisive 3.5 lengths on Finance Merchant in the Listed VRC St Leger over 2800m on April 25, carrying 56kg at $3.70.

Prior to that she was already trending the right way, proving far too strong at Donald when stepping to 2200m, putting 1.3 lengths on My Uncle Did It in a BM62 with 59.5kg at $3.40.

She’s in the zone, her staying form stacks up, and it’s getting very hard to poke holes in what she’s producing.

Following closely at South Australian Derby odds of $5 is then Dominic Sutton’s early market mover After Summer.

Another filly out to be the third on the trot to beat home the boys following the back-to-back wins by Coco Sun (2024) and Femminile (2025), After Summer is a beautifully bred daughter of The Autumn Sun who looks to be peaking at the right time.

Third in the spring’s VRC Oaks over this distance at HQ at 30/1, the classy chestnut has been competitive at the highest level again this prep.

Two back she was runner-up by a nostril flare at a huge price in Rosehill’s Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

She then relished a rise in trip for the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11 when rounding out the trifecta under a half-length off the winner Ohope Wins.

Kept fit with a subsequent Flemington trial, After Summer’s wide draw is the only knock on this progressive filly who brings in strong form lines and ticks plenty of boxes to go on with the job now.

A further two runners are also under $10 for the win with the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Engine Of War ($7.50) and Matt Cumani‘s Single Choice ($9.50).

Engine Of War presents fit fourth-up this weekend up in grade and distance off a last start fourth in the Group 3 Chairman’s (2000m) here just last Saturday.

On the quick back-up, he’s firing on all cylinders and has Daniel Stackhouse coming aboard.

Single Choice meanwhile chases his third win in four starts.

His latest outing saw him step up to 2400m at Caulfield and deliver, putting 1.3 lengths on Arabian Prince in the Listed 3YO SWP on April 11. He handled the soft ground comfortably, carried 59kg, and still went around at $5 before proving too strong late.

The run prior he wasn’t disgraced in tougher company, finishing fifth of twelve in the Group 2 Alister Clark on March 21 over 2000m, only 2.5 lengths off Roulette King with 57kg at $8.

He’s got the right form lines and certainly isn’t out of the contest.

The 2026 South Australian Derby is scheduled to run as Morphettville Race 8 at 4:05pm (ACST) / 4:35pm (AEST) on Saturday’s nine-race card.

2026 SA Derby Field & Odds

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