Tuesday, 7 August 2012:
Three heavyweights of South Australian racing are set to resume under weight-for-age conditions at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Spring Stakes has attracted 17 nominations and most interest will focus on Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, popular stayer Alcopop and the well-performed Happy Trails.
All three were among 222 entries for the Caulfield Cup when nominations for the $2.65 million handicap closed on Tuesday.
Southern Speed will return after a solid autumn which netted Group One placings in the C F Orr Stakes and the Australian Cup.
Alcopop and Happy Trails have been cleared to launch their spring campaigns in the 1200m sprint after Morphettville barrier trial appearances on Monday.
On a comeback trail after a serious knee injury, Alcopop resumed in the Group Three race last year before winning the Penny Edition Stakes at his next start.
He went amiss in Caulfield Stakes two starts later.
Now an eight-year-old, Alcopop was sixth in a 1000m heat at Morphettville with Matthew Neilson in the saddle.
Happy Trails surprised trainer Paul Beshara with his trial win over 1000m.
"He doesn't usually trial that well but he is a lot more mature this time in," Beshara said.
"He actually ran on in between horses which is a good sign."
Beshara will keep Happy Trails to weight-for-age racing before deciding on a spring target.
"After Saturday, he'll go to Melbourne for the Memsie Stakes and the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and I'll make my mind up after that," he said.
Happy Trails, who returned to Beshara's stables 50kg heavier, hasn't raced since his sixth placing to More Joyous in the Doncaster Mile.
"He's classed as the unluckiest horse in Australia and I reckon that's about right because he should have probably won the Doncaster," Beshara said.
 | | Posted by ratings1, on 18-8-2012 5:07:16 PM
No good today anonymous....hope your luck was better than mine. ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 18-8-2012 5:07:15 PM
No good today anonymous....hope your luck was better than mine. ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 18-8-2012 7:27:57 AM
a-nonie there may be a return here..Lethal Arrow..Riceman..Rememba Howe...She''s a Rock Star e/w in Brisbane ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 16-8-2012 8:46:50 AM
Anonymous, come on toooo many please.Looks like you dont need much of my help anymore but to please you I will try and post a couple for you this weekend. ”
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| | Posted by Anonymous, on 15-8-2012 8:14:40 PM
well done on your win on the weekend Ratings. Thanks for your advice and just to help me further my winnings, can you please please please, start posting your tips again. I, like most of your fans, are just missing them so much. It is so hard to fathom when you did post tips on this site, they lose, yet when you don''t, on Monday you post all the great wins you had? ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 15-8-2012 5:03:26 PM
Anonymous,again congratulations on the good work...I will stick up for you mate and the rest of you guys "stop taking the mickey" out of anonymous.
Seems you are really starting to study the form, so maybe the advice that others on this site have given you,is starting to show returns.
Happy and successful punting mate. ”
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| | Posted by Anonymous, on 14-8-2012 9:37:53 PM
crikey, you guys are so bright you can''t even see when I am taking the mickey. Hard to fathom you are even brighter on the punt? I will keep up the good work Ratings. thanks. ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 14-8-2012 6:56:08 PM
TOTR I can believe you had the first 2 because they were great chances,but as for Golago and HH,well I would have to question your honesty.You and your alterego must just hate to see others have a win....Don''t worry,your 2 chances will happen. ”
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| | Posted by tiredoftherubbish, on 13-8-2012 8:28:14 PM
me too...I had Riceman (certainty) all up Happy Trails (certainty) all up Golago (moral) all up Hardbreak Hotel....75000 to one....had the house on it...what a great weekend...next Monday I''ll tell you all about the good things I backed on Saturday so stay tuned... ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 13-8-2012 6:58:59 PM
well done anonymous...I''ve missed a fair few this year but thats the fun in it.Keep up the good work and you will probably find other value like Riceman. ”
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| | Posted by Anonymous, on 13-8-2012 10:28:12 AM
I had Riceman (certainty) all up Happy Trails all up e/w Likable Will and Bit of a Dude and then all up Lady Jodalyna at 31/1 in the last at Cranbourne. Only missed one all up all year long! ”
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| | Posted by ratings1, on 12-8-2012 4:51:20 PM
He was a special yesterday,and seeing as Oliver and Craig Williams think this horse is "something special"...well that is probably the reason he has chased black type races.
I had Riceman (who was a weighted certainity,against horses that had won 1-3 races)all up Happy Trails all up e/w Likable Will and Bit of a dude for a great return . ”
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| | Posted by sg29, on 11-8-2012 4:12:33 PM
Well that was a fair bit better than winning a few C6 races. ”
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| | Posted by stevez, on 11-8-2012 4:04:49 PM
Looks like HT''s trainer finally had some luck this time. First win over the distance, first win first-up. ”
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| | Posted by tiredoftherubbish, on 9-8-2012 1:07:28 PM
this is the worst managed horse racing in Australia...he is still eligible for class three races...he could win three of those class six plates in Queensland but the trainer only ever runs him in Group races.... ”
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| | Posted by Kieran, on 8-8-2012 3:32:35 PM
If you ever want a horse to run you a slashing 3rd or 4th Happy Trails is your horse!
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