Moon rising again for Bryce’s first win
Acappella Moon stormed home down the Morphettville Parks straight on Saturday to give young trainer Hannah Bryce her first victory in the O’Brien’s Wholesale Meats Handicap (1250m).
The five-year-old mare remained a threat late in the race after favourite Autumn Frost made his move at the 400m mark.
After two close run second place finishes in February, Acapella Moon made it third time lucky, with jockey Connor Murtagh saluting on the line after erasing a three-length deficit.
Acapella Moon now has a fourth trainer in Bryce, after previously being in the stables of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, Clayton Douglas and Andrew Payne.
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Bryce bought the five-year-old for $7500 in an online sale earlier this year and she is no stranger to winning at Morphettville, having previously won on the track in 2023.
Talented youngsters Chica Astuta claimed the opening event, the Thomas Farms Two-Year-Old Plate (1000m) before fellow young gun Ramasis backed up to claim top honours in the AIG Security Maiden Plate (1250m).
Andrew Gluyas collected a quinella in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1400m) with Dirty Old Town edging out Freedom Flame.
Dirty Old Town has now got three wins-in-a-row, while Freedom Flame, the 2025 Hill Smith Stakes winner, ran a fantastic second, with both fillies now set for the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) on Adelaide Cup Day (March 9).
Andrew’s Memory made it back-to-back city wins for trainer Dan Shepherd in the Ennio International Spring Net Handicap (1966m), while Midlife Crisis landed an upset victory in the final event on the card, the The Fotobase Group Handicap (1550m).
