The Goodwood 2022 preview & betting strategy | Saturday, May 21

What	The Goodwood 2022
Where	Morphettville Racecourse – 79 Morphett Rd, Morphettville SA 5043
When	Saturday, May 21, 2022 \| 3:47pm ACST \| Race 8
Prizemoney	$502,250
Distance	1200m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Set Weights & Penalties \| 3YO & Upwards
2021 Winner	Savatoxl (2) \| T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy \| J: Barend Vorster (56kg)
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The South Australian Racing Carnival comes to an end on Saturday at Morphettville, where The Goodwood at Group 1 level is the feature event on a nine-race card. It is a capacity field with 20 (with one emergency) sprinters accepted for the 1200m race, including four Group 1 winners.

Despite drawing out wide, boom three-year-old colt Extreme Warrior is a $4.80 favourite with online bookmakers to claim his maiden Group 1. Having earned his shot at a race like The Goodwood, the Lindsey Smith-trained In The Boat is deemed a $7 chance on the back of his win in the inaugural Country Discovery last time out. Three-time Group 1 winner Behemoth ($9) and classy sprinter The Inferno ($9) round out the single-figure runners in what looks to be as open an edition of The Goodwood as ever.

Considering how wide they have drawn in the field, In The Boat (20), Lombardo (19) and Extreme Warrior (13) look to be the key speed influencers, whilst defending champ Savatoxl (7) will be looking to hold them out and take up the running from his midfield draw. Look for the likes of The Inferno and Instant Celebrity to settle towards the rear of the field.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 edition of The Goodwood.

Despite finishing sixth in the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes behind Free Of Debt, we are happy to side with the David Jolly-trained Behemoth in The Goodwood. On that day, the champion sprinter struck more traffic in the home straight than peak hour in the Sydney CBD. Once he saw clear air inside the final 200m, he hit the line with great intent, suggesting he has returned in fine form having missed Melbourne’s autumn carnival for the most part. From barrier eight, we expect to see Kayla Crowther have him settled just off the hot speed, ideally in the moving line with cover. With even luck in the home straight this time around, Behemoth has the turn of foot to put a gap on his rivals quickly and will take some running down late on. The $9 with online betting sites is a ridiculous price for the proven qualities he possesses.

Savatoxl was beaten a nostril in the DC McKay Stakes and looks primed to claim consecutive Goodwood wins. With key speed influencers drawn out wide, we are hoping his proven Group 1 sprinting calibre and a soft draw in barrier seven will have him leading the field up and proving hard to run down. He took out this race last year when third-up from a spell, and with a near-bombproof record (5:4-0-0) at this point in a campaign, Savatoxl has no doubt had this race marked as his grand final. He has shown throughout his career to have a high cruising tempo, and with race fitness on his side, he should be Behemoth’s main danger in a race that looks perfectly set-up for the locals.

Extreme Warrior has a bit of X-factor about him and, if he can avoid getting trapped wide from barrier 13, is another who can be fighting out the finish. The chances do not end there, with In The Boat, The Inferno and The Astrologist all having genuine claims to Group 1 glory this weekend.