Racing
Ladbrokes Blog: 2025 Leon Macdonald Stakes Day Preview
The Parks track at Morphettville is the focus in South Australia again this Saturday with the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes headlining the action. A deep field of middle-distance sprinters has accepted for the feature, and it’s looking like another winnable race for the in-form Grahame Begg team with talented mare Splash Back dominating the betting.
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Punters might need to dive into some wet track form with the track rated a Soft 6 at publish, but the rail is still in the true position with the weather starting to fine up.
For our thoughts, best bets, and analysis on all eight races at Morphettville, check out our 2025 Leon Macdonald Stakes Day Preview!
Race 1 – Hahn Handicap (1250 METRES)
No. 5 Laws Wars
Race time: 8:12 am, 23 Aug 2025
LAWS WARS (5) is a three-start maiden who looks close to a win for the Jolly Team and connections.
The three-year-old out of Group 2 winning sire Derryn has placed in all three races he's contested so far, charging late down the middle of the track here a couple of weeks ago, where he quickened over the final 50m to just miss out on grabbing the leaders.
I thought he was terrific through the line back out over further, and with a firming track expected, he should be just as strong late with 1.5kg off under Todd Pannell.
Bet Now: Morphettville Race 1
Race 2 – Maiden Plate (1250 METRES)
No. 5 Ruled By Thieves
Race time: 8:47 am, 23 Aug 2025
RULED BY THIEVES (5) continues to improve with racing for the in-form Scott Whittle team.
The four-year-old gelding by Reward For Effort was one of the runs of the race for mine last week here on the Parks track, shifting off the fence at the 300m mark to charge the line hard down the centre of thes traight for second behind Lottie Jane.
He's got an awful gate to contend with here, but the 3kg claim is huge and there's a bit to like about his turn of foot, particularly if he's afforded clear running room this time.
Bet Now: Morphettville Race 2
Race 3 – Festival Hire Handicap (1950 METRES)
No. 3 Glenrichero
Race time: 9:22 am, 23 Aug 2025
GLENRICHERO (3) almost never runs a bad race, as we saw a couple of weeks ago at Sandown when he was back close to last in the early stages, eventually working his way forward to run third over the mile.
Back to back starts over 1600m reads well for this step up in trip, and we did see him handle further when winning over 2400m in Melbourne earlier in the year.
The gate is the issue, but he's got enough late speed to get back in the run and save his best for the finish.
Bet Now: Morphettville Race 3
Race 4 – Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1400 METRES)
No. 5 The Guava
Race time: 9:57 am, 23 Aug 2025
THE GUAVA (5) hasn't won for a while but does appear right in this based on recent form.
His latest effort over 200m shorter here at Morphettville was encouraging, working home solidly down the outside for third after overcoming a five-wide position from well-back early on.
Jacob Opperman has a good feel for him now, and most importantly, he's drawn a soft gate that should allow him to save his tickets for the finish.
Bet Now: Morphettvilel Race 4
Race 5 – Croser Handicap (1400 METRES)
No. 4 Murmullo
Race time: 10:37 am, 23 Aug 2025
This rates a winnable race for MURMULLO (4), who goes around in search of her hat-trick now coming off a pair of outstanding wins in Melbourne.
The Snitzel four-year-old was fast into stride on her way to making every post a winner at Echuca two weeks ago, letting down with a powerful turn of foot at the top of the straight to march 2.8 lengths clear.
She won her maiden in similar style at Warracknabeal nearly a month earlier and has so far known only wide barriers during this recent winning streak.
How she handles a drying track is the query, but she'd appreciate a genuine tempo here with the class of Jordy Childs engaged.
Bet Now: Morphettville Race 5
Race 6 – Thomas Farms Handicap (1000 METRES)
No. 12 Thunder Shoc
Race time: 11:12 am, 23 Aug 2025
Quite the easy watch for those on THUNDER SHOC (12) last start.
Will Clarken's mare was installed as the favourite over hte track and distance in maiden company, a race she controlled from the front all the way to lengthen and win by nearly two lengths.
She had to get across early from a similar wide gate under Rochelle Milnes, who retains the ride here with a 1.5kg claim.
We've seen the runner-up come out and win just as well las week here on the Parks track, so the form suggests another bold showing could be on the cards.
Bet Now: Morphetville Race 6
Race 7 – SkyCity Handicap (1550 METRES)
No. 10 Flowerdale
Race time: 11:52 am, 23 Aug 2025
FLOWERDALE (10) is still a mare with plenty of upside for the Hayes boys.
We've seen the lightly-raced mare by Toronado only briefly, her most notable performance coming two back at Bendigo where she was given a 10/10 steer just off the speed under Ben Allen before launching late.
She lost no admirers up to BM64 level two weeks ago at Sandown, and really, this race isn't much tougher up to Saturday grade.
Considering she was 1400m up sharply to the mile last start, this slight step back in distance also looks ideal with fitness on her side.
Bet Now: Morphetville Race 7
Race 8 – Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400 METRES)
No. 13 Splash Back
Race time: 12:27 pm, 23 Aug 2025
SPLASH BACK (13) could make an absolute mess of them here if she produces her best.
That unfortunately wasn't the case last start in the Group 3 Aurie's Star at Flemington a few weeks ago, although you could probably forgive the run given she was taken right back off the speed and forced to make up a stack of late ground against some talented horses.
You could argue that was the toughest race she's faced during ehr should career, and it's one she should improve on back up to 1400m where so far, she's four-from-five for Grahame Begg.
Bet Now: Morphettville Race 8
Race 9 – BM62 Handicap (1250 METRES)
No. 12 Vallencourt
Race time: 1:00 pm, 23 Aug 2025
Quite keen to see VALLENCOURT (12) over further here after finding the line for third fresh a couple of weeks ago.
Looking at the replay, she really could have won that race over 1000m if she wasn't squeezed for room along the fence, only finding clear out when it was too late to finish three lengths off Halliwell.
Her form dating right back to last prep has been super consistent, and she does have a win and a place to her name at this stage of her prep.
Wins have proven hard to come by, but fitter now and up in distance, I think she can measure up at solid double-figure odds if she's given another patient ride off the speed.
