The Mail for Saturday

Savannahs Choice has come back well

SR 4: (2) SAVANNAH'S CHOICE - A Queensland carnival campaign, where she was narrowly beaten by the classy Scarlett Lady in Group company, showed this Redoute's Choice mare has the talent to win good races and it would seem it brought her on nicely judging by her determined first-up win over 1550m at Canterbury on 5 October. She has since been back to the trials, common practice by the Chris Waller stable, to improve her fitness and will take beating from the rails draw with the benefit of crack Kiwi apprentice Jason Collett's claim giving her a weight edge on the rivals she beat first-up at Canterbury.

SR 6: (7) GOPANA - Good class mare has been given a solid preparation for her first start over 2000m this campaign, coming into this race at her fourth run after working to the line well in each of her three starts since resuming in unsuitable shorter events. Her four starts in this distance range have produced two wins and two placings, she is a winner from just two runs on her home course and this class will suit taking a line through her form against subsequent Group One winner The Verminator last season. If she can run to that rating she appeals as one of the better value bets on a difficult program.

SR 8: (11) RIVA DE LAGO - The confident first-up go for this promising Encosta de Lago gelding was well placed at Randwick on 15 October when he made his rivals look second rate with one of the best restricted class wins seen this season. Having been gelded during his spell was obviously the key to this lightly-raced 4yo as he looked to have a lot of up his sleeve winning by a soft four lengths to land the betting plunge. He was far too dominant in fast time for the class not to expect that he can rise to better things and his trainer Con Karakatsanis has him well placed to take the next step on that path.

ONES TO AVOID

SR 6: (1) MERENSKY REEF - Was able to dictate the terms to a small field last Saturday but will find it much tougher to repeat with a 5.5kg rise in weight in a race where he is likely to be forced to work a lot harder from an awkward gate.

MR 1: (1) GALAH - We won't get the price we got when we tipped him last time but boy was he impressive. On a day when it was hard to make up ground, he came from last before the bend at Caulfield. He rounded up a good benchmark horse in Masthead who had been right around the best in his age group as a 2/3yo. He will sit back in a field which isn't that big and certainly not as good as last start and run over them.

MR 2: (3) GREEN MOON - With Green Moon desperate to win this race to make the field, he will be so tough again. His last two have been sensational efforts, winning the Newcastle Cup in unbelievable fashion and then robust again in the Caulfield Cup. While that race has not garnered much credit, his performance was hard to ignore. If he gets into the big one he will be a tough nut to crack.

MR 6: (7) INDUNA - Could not have been more impressive in winning the Geelong Classic. No doubt this has not been the best Derby lead up over the years but in a season where there is no other apparent stayer in the field, he could be the one. Race was run at a very fast tempo and he rounded them up like a real 2500m horse. He's put two killings back to back and while he's a full brother to a Sires winner (Camarilla), his mum Camarena won a Qld Derby. Looks the true mile and half horse.

ONES TO AVOID

MR 6: (1) MANAWANUI - We've laid the two favourites in the two features over the last two weeks and let's keep the roll going. No question Manawaui is a good horse. But he is vulnerable in the Derby simply because of the 2500m. So many top 3yos look dominant, or the least very good, up to 2000m and his record proves that. But just think of Whobegotyou, Encounter, Coronation Day, Marching, Savabeel, Viscount etc who were classy into Derbies at short prices. Only needs one to stay better like Rebel Raider did.

DOOMBEN - tips by Wayne Bristow

BR 3: (2) GEBLITZT - The 5yo mare brings in top performances fresh. Won first up last time at this venue and ran in three Listed Races last campaign. Trialled with the same result as last time but just needs to have luck early finding a place from the wide draw.

BR 5: (10) HIDDEN KISSES - Has a very good first up record having won on resumption at this very course and distance. Remember she did get to the Doomben Roses and Queensland Oaks running competitively without challenging. This could be a winnable race, especially from a soft barrier.

ONES TO AVOID

BR 4: (3) ANOTHER SUPERIOR - Needed the long straight to run them down last week in a good win. Horses with last start wins tend to get punter's attention. But he goes up 3.5kg and back onto the Doomben circuit where he is yet to place, perhaps over unsuitable trips admittedly. In a race with other chances, she might be worth a risk.

MORPHETTVILLE - tips by Jason Hickson

AR 3: (6) SIMPLY BOOGIE - Tony McEvoy looks set to dominate the meeting today and Simply Boogie looks one of the better chances from the stable. Fitter for two runs from a spell and suited here with the light weight.

AR 8: (9) CORVIDAE - Has been racing in top form winning four of last five, two of them here. Will carry no weight after the claim and drawn for the right run. Putting a good margin on rivals as well.

ONES TO AVOID

AR 5: (1) CRUISING EAGLE - Has started one of the top fancies at his last two and hasn't been able to do the job. Will be given another go coming back to his right journey but hasn't won since Oakbank and last win in town was at Cheltenham, which has been closed for 2½ years!