The Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Statuario has firmly established himself as the one to beat in Saturday’s 2025 South Australian Derby at Morphettville, with the popular grey currently leading the betting markets as he aims for consecutive victories.

Statuario dominates betting on the 2025 SA Derby this weekend in Adelaide. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

This year’s Group 1 $1 million South Australian Derby (2500m) has attracted a typically strong field of late-autumn staying prospects, and Statuario is the clear favourite at $3.30 with Ladbrokes after a dominant Black-Type win at Caulfield last time out.

The son of D’Argento proved his staying prowess over the mile and a half in the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) on April 5th, winning impressively by over two lengths while carrying 57kg as the odds-on favourite.

This victory provided a significant confidence boost after his disappointing 14th-place finish in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two starts prior, which was followed by an improved third in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley behind Shanwah.

Notably, Statuario will be ridden by John Allen, a jockey with an impressive record in this race, having already steered four previous SA Derby winners to victory.

Adding further intrigue, Shanwah subsequently franked the Alister Clark form with a third-place finish in the ATC Derby, setting the stage for Statuario’s return to Group 1 company in South Australia.

The main danger in the SA Derby betting, priced at $5, is Lavalier, representing the powerful Godolphin stable and trained by James Cummings.

The progressive Microphone gelding will be partnered once again by in-form jockey Jamie Melham, who is chasing back-to-back victories in this race after guiding Coco Sun to victory last year.

Lavalier enters the Derby off consecutive second-place finishes, most recently a narrow defeat by under half a length to Athanatos in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Morphettville last weekend – a race that has historically provided a reliable form line for the Derby.

Despite the capacity field, only one other runner is currently listed at single-figure odds: American Wolf at $7.

Prepared by the in-form training partnership of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, this Tivaci gelding is seeking a hat-trick of wins.

Two starts back, he carried 59kg to victory over 2000m at Ballarat as the favourite from a wide barrier, followed by another win in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington, demonstrating his staying capabilities.

Adding further interest, Mark Zahra, fresh off a Group 1 double at Morphettville last weekend (winning the Australasian Oaks on Benagil and the Robert Sangster Stakes on Charm Stone), has been booked to ride American Wolf from barrier 11, a potentially advantageous draw for a horse with his running style.

Zahra himself has tasted SA Derby success previously, aboard Jungle Magnate in 2022.

Ciaron Maher, who won this race in partnership with David Eustace in 2021 with Explosive Jack, returns in 2025 with a live chance in Saint Emilion, priced at $11.

This son of Snitzel is on a quick back-up after finishing fourth in the Chairman’s Handicap at long odds (30/1), beaten by only two lengths, and will be ridden by Todd Pannell from barrier seven.

Intriguingly, the second emergency runner, Global Eclipse, from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr stable, is listed at 10/1 despite needing two scratchings to gain a start.

This classy Pierata colt was last seen winning a Cranbourne maiden impressively over 2025m by six lengths while carrying 59kg on April 18th, marking him as a potential future star.

Other longer-priced contenders hoping for an upset include Lindsay Park’s filly Chase Your Dreams ($15), looking to continue the fillies’ recent good record in the race, the spring’s VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru ($15), aiming to recapture his best form, and Politely Dun ($15), who finished second to Saturday’s favourite, Statuario, last start.

2025 South Australian Derby Field & Barriers 

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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