Oaks on horizon for Mating Call
All roads lead to the $1 million Sportsbet Australasian Oaks for Mating Call after a stunning come-from-behind victory in the Sportsbet Auraria Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
The half-length success gave Irish jockey Emily Finnegan the biggest win of her career, with Mating Call chasing down Freedom Flame to claim victory.
Mating Call kicked clear with 50m to go, rewarding the faith of trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray – while favourite Stung finished well back in the field in blow for Lindsay Parks’ Oaks chances.
Clarken conformed post-race the Robert Hill-Smith-owned Mating Call was in the frame for an Oaks battle, one of two $1 million Group One races on the first day of the 2026 Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival on Saturday, April 25.
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Jockey Jacob Opperman was in fine form during Saturday’s 10-race card, recording a winning treble, including two feature wins.
With an early win on Regal Secret in the Quayclean Handicap (1200m), Opperman was aboard Verzain for trainer Phillip Stokes to win the Sportsbet Without Fear Stakes (1050m) and also claimed the Sportsbet R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) on Super Smirk.
The Western Australian Super Smirk will now look to the $1 million Sportsbet Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) after the half-length triumph over Watchme Win.
The Michael Hickmott-trained Ole Go and the Byron Cozamanis-trained Never Ordinary (were battling for favouritism pre-race for the Sportsbet Without Fear Stakes (1050m), with Ole Go beaten by Verzain and Never Ordinary running fifth.
Melbourne Cup-winning trainers Sheila Laxon and John Symons have mapped out a Thomas Farms SA Derby (2500m) route for McWoody, who cruised to victory in the Sportsbet Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m).
Arran Bay fought back hard late to claim the Sportsbet City of Adelaide Handicap (1529m) with jockey Lachlan Neindorf carrying 61.5kg onboard, and the victory gave trainer Phillip Stokes a winning treble for the day.
Victorian trainers Anthony Freeman and Sam Freeman now have their eyes on the Group Two Tobin Bronze Stakes on the opening day of the 2026 Sportsbet Adelaide Racing Carnival after Regeneration stormed home to win the Sportsbet Redelva Stakes (1100m).
Local hopes Mathematician and Bassett Babe were not able to add to their impressive run of form, finishing sixth and seventh respectively.
