Christmas Handicap Day at Morphettville, here is Linc’s look at a bumper card

BEST BETS
VINTAGE STAR (Race 2)
ARUGAMAMA (Race 3)

EACH-WAY
ROCKTAGON (Race 7)

RACE 1 - 12:27PM Happy Birthday John Eley Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)

NOETZIE is on debut for the Stokes stable who has finished 2nd in two jump-outs. He went up double figure odds and has been hammered in the market to suggest she'll take some beating here. Stablemate LEAVING LAS VEGAS was placed at Balaklava on debut in October and good again last time when 2nd behind Angel Torque at Murray Bridge. He draws a nice gate and looks the danger. MYTHICAL WISDOM is a $300k yearling who was placed here behind Royal Majesty in October and then ran 4th as a $1.80 fav at Gawler in early November. CITY UNITED is on debut for Michael Hickmott and was runner-up at his only start at Warwick Farm in May as a $21 chance. He has jumped out well. GOOD BLOKE was OK running 4th behind Mississippi Miss at Bordertown on debut but draws out wide here. SHADOW EAGLE has been placed at three of four starts.

SELECTIONS: 7 NEOTZIE, 3 Leaving Las Vegas, 6 Mythical Wisdom, 1 City United
PLAY: Folllowing the money with NEOTZIE.

RACE 2 - 1:02PM Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1050 METRES)

VINTAGE STAR is a progressive horse who has won both runs this time around, the latest beating Prairie Flower on the Parks. He draws a nice gate and can make it three on the bounce. LET'S GET DOWN has been in the money at eight of 11 starts and was a winner here in June and has trialled and jumped-out nicely ahead of his return from a nice gate. HOWL was good beating Overstrike here before he had a big weight beaten 2.18 lengths behind Cool Magnum on the Parks. THE GREAT BABY was good beaten 0.57 lengths behind Sir Sway and has trialled well since. WOLFLANDS has ability draws a nice gate and gets in well after the claim. He strips fitter for a good return beaten 3.6 lengths behind Grand Larceny at Caulfield. DIVINE GLORY is a watch first-up for Clarken/O'Shea and has jumped-out well. SECRET WAR draws the inside and can run well.

SELECTIONS: 4 VINTAGE STAR, 6 Let's Get Down, 3 Howl, 5 The Great Baby
PLAY: Staying with VINTAGE STAR.

RACE 3 - 1:37PM Sportsbet Handicap (2500 METRES)

ARUGAMAMA was back to winning form here last time beating SENTIMENTAL FLAME, who draws the inside, this track and trip. She's a solid staying mare who gets in OK after the claim and should take beating again. DOLCEMENTE won consecutive races here and was doing her best work late beaten 0.79 lengths behind Magnetic Edge at Murray Bridge last week. THE TRUE BELIEVER is a Victorian coming off a Geelong win in BM64 grade, he has some upside and should run well here. SOUTHERN STOCK brings Victorian staying form here beaten 8.15 lengths behind American Pharoah at Moonee Valley last time. He can improve. TEMBU BOY has won his past couple and must be respected.

SELECTIONS: 1 ARUGAMAMA, 5 Sentimental Flame, 3 Dolcemente, 7 The True Believer
PLAY: Keen on ARUGAMAMA again.

RACE 4 - 2:12PM Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1800 METRES)

HASSELTOFF was a winner here before beating France's Boy at Gawler last time. He should give this a shake. NASHO was 3rd in that race and was a good winner on the Parks prior. Victorian PITTSBURGH PIRATE has won his past three, the latest at Ararat in November. He has trialled since, draws out but looks well placed in a race like this. YURI ROYALE comes back in trip and was a winner on the Parks two runs back. THRILL KILL was good beaten 1.17 lengths in the behind Dr Dee Dee in the Bordertown Cup last time.

SELECTIONS: 3 HASSELTOFF, 9 Nasho, 2 Pittsburgh Pirate, 1 Yuri Royale
PLAY: Staying with HASSELTOFF.

RACE 5 - 2:47PM Canadian Club Handicap (1200 METRES)

FINE FUTURE is a promising horse and was good coming from off the speed to win first-up here. He draws the middle has a lot of upside and should go close again. EROICA is an interesting runner, she won her only two starts back in Dec/Jan and has trialled up well for her return. She's been acceptor a couple of time recently, draws a good gate and should be somewhere in the finish. NARALINGA was a Murray Bridge winner three starts back and then too good again at Stawell last time. He gets a good gate and is going to be in the finish again. ANOTHERHOUSE was good first-up for his new stable when beaten 1.06 lengths behind Cool Magnum on the Parks. He draws out but should be in the mix. STAR SIRIUS was OK beaten 3.86 lengths behind Kinetic Jewel on the Parks last time

SELECTIONS: 1 FINE FUTURE, 4 Eroica, 2 Naralinga, 3 Anotherhouse
PLAY: Something on FINE FUTURE each-way.

RACE 6 - 3:27PM Dominant Handicap (1600 METRES)

METRICAL has been good this time in and comes off a 1.39 length 4th behind Astrodean at Gawler. He draws out but should give a race like this a shake. DIAMONDS CHOICE ran OK first-up off along break when beaten 3.73 lengths behind Shroder's Mistake. She jumps in trip and should be an improver. SAN LUCIDO comes off a good effort when 3rd in the Astrodean race at Gawler, he was placed on the Parks prior and has each-way appeal. STARTS NOW was a winner here three starts back and just behind placegetters last time when 4th behind Eventually at Gawler. FROST YOURSELF brings some solid Victorian form here winning at Ararat two runs back.

SELECTIONS: 2 METRICAL, 5 Diamonds Choice, 6 San Lucido, 4 Starts Now
PLAY: Something on METRICAL each-way.

RACE 7 - 4:02PM Festival Hire Handicap (1050 METRES)

ROCKTAGON was impressive first-up from a spell when a 2.73 length winner over Top of The Ridge in maiden class. This is harder and he draws out but he looks a horse with plenty of upside. MISLUDI was a good winner on the Parks before running 4th behind Kova there last time. VEXATIOUS DANCER has been good since resuming tunning 2nd at his first two runs back and then beaten 2.66 lengths behind Beauty Bound at Gawler last time. REINE OF NINE was 2nd behind Volcanic Express two starts back and followed up beating Sioux Warrior at Murray Bridge last time. She draws out but should be in the mix. FIRST MAID won a Balaklava maiden back in June and has trialled OK for her return.
SHADOWFAX led throughout to beat Limbering here last time and draws a good gate.

SELECTIONS: 11 ROCKTAGON, 6 Misludi, 8 Vexatious Dancer, 13 Reine Of Nine
PLAY: Something on ROCKTAGON each-way.

RACE 8 - 4:42PM Adelaide Galvanising Industries Christmas Handicap (1200 METRES)

PRESS DOWN has been racing well winning three of his past five, failing twice at Flemington at his other two runs including last start in the Group 3 Rising Fast in early November. He draws the middle and his best would go close to winning this. CELSIUS STAR has won three of eight here and was good running 3rd behind Mrs Chrissie at Ballarat last time. Stablemate ZEBELLA is over the odds on her form this time around. She was a winner here and ran 2nd to Warnie at Flemington, she wasn't beaten far at Ballarat last time out. DUBAI POET is another who has been freshened, his form through the Balaklava and Murray Bridge Cups was excellent and he gets blinkers from an inside gate here. GRINZINGER PRINCE hasn't done a lot wrong and comes off a good effort beaten 1.61 lengths behind Kin at Listed level at Caulfield. He draws out but will be in the mix. The Clarken and O'Shea stable have SIXTEEN REASONS has only won four races but has been close up running 13 placings she was 3rd behind Bellinger last time, RUBAMOS was OK running 2nd in the same race. EPISODIC resumes, she was flying last preparation winning four (placed twice) from her last seven starts and she should give this a shake. PRAIRIE FLOWER was good on debut for her new stable when 2nd behind Vintage Star on the Parks. SILENT SURRENTE resumes, she was racing well through the carnival in good races and can sprint well fresh. WIGGUM was back to his best form at Gawler beating last year's winner and stablemate STRUCK BY here last time.

SELECTIONS: 1 PRESS DOWN, 3 Celsius Star, 4 Dubai Poet, 12 Sixteen Reasons
PLAY: Something on PRESS DOWN each-way.

RACE 9 - 5:30PM Thomas Farms Handicap (1200 METRES)

VOLCANIC EXPRESS has won two of his three starts this time around and was again well back before he powered home to beat Sabermetric at Murray Bridge last week. He draws out but should take some beating again. ROCKSTAR MEGGSY was good in the Viddora Final behind Cararada and then had market support when beaten 5.4 lengths behind Kova last time. She has the winkers off and her best would be in the mix. KINETIC JEWEL was back to winning form beating Super Alana on the Parks last time. She draws the middle and gets in well after the claim. TIPSY VIXEN was good before a break winning twice before running 2nd behind A Samurai Mind here. HIDDEN WITNESS was impressive coming off the speed to score a 2.16 length win over Rich Lady last time here. MERCHANT BOSS has been racing well and gets some weight relief, REFRESHING had specking first-up behind Beauty Bound at Gawler. HOOKED ON WEALTH was a beaten favourite last time while MISS RESMSKI was back to winning form last time.

SELECTIONS: 3 VOLCANIC EXPRESS, 5 Rockstar Meggsy, 6 Kinetic Jewel, 8 Tipsy Vixen
PLAY: Staying with VOLCANIC EXPRESS, saving on ROCKSTAR MEGGSY.