South Australia Derby Tips and Best Bets 2024

After last weekend's highly successful start to South Australia’s richest carnival, we progress onto another terrific program of racing highlighted by the $1 million SA Derby. 

The time-honoured SA Derby is one of Australia’s oldest races having first been conducted in 1860 with only a few minor changes over the years.

It is a race run over 2500m for three-year-olds with colts and geldings carrying 56.5kg whilst fillies get in with 54.5kg. Apprentices cannot claim.

With the recent exciting prizemoney increases this year for the first time will see the winner pocket a cool $547,250.

This year sees a capacity field of sixteen runners, including two smart fillies plus three emergencies.

 

 

Track Conditions

The track is currently rated a Good 4.

With no rain forecast racing will be conducted on an ideal Good 4 surface.

The rail will be out 2m from the 1200m to the winning post and true for the remainder.

 

The Map

Predicting an accurate speed map in a race where most of these are quite simply unproven over the longer 2500m is tough. 

I am expecting Jason Holder to cross and lead on the natural pace-maker Air Assault, especially from Barrier 13

Sunsets in Barrier 3 shapes as the map runner stalking the leader and doing no work on just a moderate tempo. 

Glad You Think So (6) is another runner capable of pressing forward (Blake Shinn), especially out of the awkward draw of barrier 15.

While a couple of lightly raced locals in A Samurai Mind (9) and Just Berrilliant (11) can also settle handy.

 

The Favourites

Early on punters are finding it tough to decide upon an early favourite. Little separates Bold Soul, Warmonger and the two fillies Coco Sun and Ahuriri at the top of the market.

Things become even more tricky when you realise that Coco Sun is the only one that could settle better than midfield, with the other three more than likely to drop out the back.

Does that mean we are potting any of the favourites? Absolutely not!

They are all strong chances in a race where many of their rivals will be going backwards over the final 600m. 

 

Bold Soul, the winner of last Saturday’s Chairman’s Stakes, will be looking to make it back to back SA Derby’s for trainer Patrick Payne after winning with Dunkel last year. 

Last week the Price & Kent Stable were able to salute with Vibrant Sun in the SA Oaks and for this race will be saddling up three runners with Warmonger shaping as the Stable’s strongest fancy.

Coco Sun for team McEvoy backs up here after last week's super game, close-up placing in Vibrant Son’s high rating Oaks win.

While the Chris Waller trained Ahuriri is one of the only runners proven over the trip, coming off an impressive 2800m VRC St.Leger victory.

 

Check out this year's VRC St. Leger won by Ahuriri.

 

Tips

Gold Wolf

What a story this would be if this small country Victorian stable could take out this year's SA Derby and if ratings/formlines are any indication there is no reason why they can’t. 

Three starts back he was only just edged out late behind one of the more favoured runners in Bold Soul in the Tasmanian Derby. 

He had excuses in subsequent efforts when he was still far from disgraced, before last starts tough and strong win when he edged out Antrim Coast late. 

He is drawn to do no work in Barrier 1 whilst Neil Farley knows this bloke better than anyone and maintains the ride here. 

Not surprisingly the market has overlooked him at the opening $15.

Rates $6.50.

 

Gold Wolf's tough effort in the 2024 Tasmanian Derby

 

Antrim Coast

Kiwi invader that earned a trip across the Tasman with a terrific 3.8L runner-up effort behind the highly touted, Orchestral in the NZ Derby. 

Two Australian efforts have been so game. Firstly taking out the G2 Alister Clark Stakes when just pipping Quintessa, before another solid effort when just nosed out last start behind Gold Wolf. 

He is also drawn to enjoy a much more favourable run than most of the stronger market fancies. 

He makes each way appeal at the opening $10. 

Rates $6.50.

 

Glad You Think So

Concede it was a Heavy track however this bloke is coming off a last start placing in an Australian Derby where he gave a huge sight! 

Only two previous wins have also come on Good tracks whilst now gaining the services of Blake Shinn. 

He has drawn awkwardly, however if they elect to go with similar tactics he will land in a great position up on the pace. 

There is $15 currently out there which also appeals. 

Rates $11.0.

 

Sunsets

Talk about the forgotten horse. 

The only run at 2500m was in last year's Vic Derby (G1) where he ran a huge 1.1L third behind Riff Rocket. 

Is he going as well? Possibly not. However that astute stable has had this race as his clear target this time in. 

He is the map horse, making his own luck trailing the leader. 

Currently $31 which is seriously insane.

Rates $14.0.

 

There are loads of tips for today's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at theGreatTipOff.com.