We move onto the final day of the South Australian Racing Carnival which has been one of the best in recent memory.
The feature event on the SA racing calendar, The Goodwood Handicap is run over 1200m.
Extreme Warrior is this year’s favourite, aiming to be the first 3YO winner of this race since Lone Rock won in 2011.
Extreme Warrior has been rock solid at $4.40 in the market since acceptances and is the most intriguing runner.
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Currently the track is rated a Soft 5 after some rain earlier in the week.
There isn’t any further rain forecast for the week. Therefore, I like our chances that we will be running on a Good 4 by the time the Goodwood begins.
The rail is out 5m from the 1200m to the winning post, but I can't see that posing too much of an issue.
The track has held up very well over the last month with lots of racing but as we move through the card again on Saturday, look for runners off the speed to be running on down the middle of the track.
The Map
A couple of likely leaders in this race are both drawn fairly, with Savatoxl and Aysar likely to be setting the speed.
Lombardo, Bella Nipotina & Beau Rossa are all drawn deep and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them push across to take up the front running.
The Astrologist will get a perfect run just behind them and really gets every opportunity here from gate 6. Similar opportunities arrive for Free of Debt and Behemoth who have both drawn well and are well placed
Favourite Extreme Warrior is drawn awkward but will settle in the 2nd half of the field and will get a good run, while Mark Zahra will need to make a decision on The Inferno from gate 3 to ensure he is caught back of midfield on the rail.
The Early Favourite – Extreme Warrior $4.40
Extreme Warrior is emerging with a very bright future ahead of himself.
The 3YO Colt for the Price Kent Stable has been really solid in his short career to date.
Last prep he dominated his maiden at Echuca before going to Caulfield and obliterating his 3YO rivals at Group 3 level.
He failed in the Coolmore but happy to forgive him there, especially down the Flemington straight.
He has since come back and won impressively with a tough on the speed effort at Listed level over 1100m.
That was the first time he has taken on the older horses and he was up to the challenge.
He comes into this off a four-week break with a nice jumpout in-between.
I’m unsure if he is quite ready for the older boys/girls just yet, but happy for him to prove me wrong.
Best Racing Tips
The Inferno
A forgotten horse last start entering the Group 3 McKay Stakes.
The Inferno was the eye-catcher of the race running home brilliantly to just miss out on a second win on Australian soil.
The ex-Singapore star has been okay since coming to Australia winning at Group 2 level and then just missing out in the Group 1 Moir Stakes.
This prep he came back only fairly in his first couple of runs, but looked to be at his best again last start.
I think the McKay Stakes looks to be the form race for the Goodwood this year and The Inferno is the horse you want to be on coming out of that run.
We get a great price and rate him highly here.
The Astrologist
The Astrologist has been in great form this prep including running 2nd in the Newmarket, beating home the likes of Masked Crusader and Home Affairs.
Next start, he was a little unlucky being caught behind the speed at Moonee Valley in the William Reid.
He then went back in grade and was strong on the speed at Caulfield with 60kg on his back.
He drops back to 56kg and with his runs being spaced accordingly, he will be fresh enough for this.
If he is able to re-produce his Newmarket run, he simply wins here and will be getting a lovely trail into the race
Behemoth
The big boy Behemoth was a bit of an unknown first up in the McKay Stakes with many unsure what to expect from him.
He proved that he is still at his best and was terribly unlucky only getting clear late, to finish just off his rivals.
He drops back to 59kg here and looks ready to go.
The only query I have is that his multiple Group 1 wins have come over 1400m and at this level, he may need the extra trip to show his best.