McAuliffe declares an epic
series of racing
Racing spearhead, Terry McAuliffe, said the 2025 Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival is one not to be missed, with four Group-1 races over the series showcasing some of Australia’s finest horses and jockeys.
The Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes & Australasian Oaks on April 26 will lead the program with two Group-1 races, followed by the SA Derby on May 3 and Sportsbet Goodwood day on May 10.
“It’s a great chance for people to come along and experience Group-1 racing, see not only the best horses that might be available to run here in our state, but see the best jockeys in action,” McAuliffe told Morphettville.
“It’s a really exciting time, those three Saturdays; on the back of a little taste last Saturday with the running of six black type races here at Morphettville.”
McAuliffe said the stage has been set for an epic series of racing.
“I’ve touched on Jamie Kah (now Melham) winning, well, not only the Derby last year, but she also won the Goodwood on Benedetta for Jason Warren. We had JMac [James McDonald] right here last year as well,” he said.
“And you get the trainers, the likes of Ciaron Maher, Chris Waller, Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior’s here, taking on the best that South Australia can offer with the likes of Will Clarken and Nikki O’Shea, Richard and Chantelle Jolly, Andrew Gluyas.
“There’s every likelihood Andrew [Gluyas] may bring Goldrush Guru back after his, well, disappointing performance I think it’s fair to say in the Derby in Sydney. So, if we were to get Goldrush Guru here on Derby Day that will be a great bonus for the locals.”
Run over 1,200 metres and 2,000 metres, respectively, the Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes and Australasian Oaks is the first of the series.
“It’s always a great race [the Robert Sangster Stakes], weight for age conditions for fillies and mares over 1,200 meters on our beautiful track,” he said.
“That’s why we’ve been able to attract the horses like Black Caviar to run-in such a race. So that’s always an exciting race and it’s complemented on the day as well with the running of the Australasian Oaks for the three-year-old fillies.”
Open to three-year-olds, the SA Derby is contested over 2,500 metres and has long been a proving ground for emerging stayers.
“We saw that last year when Coco Sun was able to win the Derby for Tony and Calvin McEvoy with Jamie Kah in the saddle,” McAuliffe said
“The Derby was under a lot of pressure there once upon a time, but it’s sort of grown in status in the last, five to ten years, and it had to.”
Rounding out the 2025 Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival is the Sportsbet Goodwood over 1,200 metres.
To join all the action trackside, click here.
