Delicacy is currently on top of the South Australian Derby tips of Adelaide form expert Nadia Horne and she believes that the talented filly is worthy of her place on top of betting markets for the Group 1 event at Morphettville this weekend.
Delicacy stamped herself as the most talented filly in Western Australia when she took out the Group 3 Western Australian Oaks (2400m) at Ascot on March 28 and the Group 2 WATC Derby (2400m) at the same venue on April 11 before she franked that form with a most impressive victory over Fenway in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
Horne told RSN that three-year-old fillies have a strong record in the South Australian Derby, with Zarita the last horse to complete the double in 2008, and she is confident that Delicacy will prove very tough to beat as long as she handles the quick back-up this weekend.
“I don’t think that it is any great shock that we have seen this massive money come for Delicacy because she runs up to what she did do in the Oaks last week she wins the race,” Horne said.
“It is just whether or not she can run that type of figure again.
“She did improve a couple of lengths off what we did see of her over in the west and she has definitely made nice progression.
“It is just whether she can do it again backing up within the seven days.
“As far as where she is likely to get into the run here I don’t think that is going to work against her because she will probably settle midfield and she did look very good the way she hit the line and she was extremely strong on it.
“When we have seen in-form three-year-old fillies run in the Derby in the past they have had a very good record in it.
“She has probably reached her correct market price.”
While Horne believes that Delicacy is clearly the horse to beat in the South Australia Derby, she does believe that Kiwi hopeful Werther does offer some value at his current quote of $12.
Werther scored the biggest win of his racing career when he took out the Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on April 18 and Horne believes that the Lord Tavistock gelding can overcome a wide draw to run a big race in the South Australian Derby.
“A horse like Werther who comes off that Group 2 win in New Zealand,” Horne said.
“I know that it was on a really wet track last time out, but he is worthy of some consideration.
“The horses that have drawn bad really do drift out and they end up being well and truly over the odds and Werther fits that category.”
Delicacy is currently available at 2015 South Australian Derby odds of $2.80 and is a dominant favourite from Manapine ($7), October Date ($8), Magicool ($12) and Werther ($12).