Australia: Likely favorite Accidental Bid needs scratch to make it into South Australian Derby

The future-book favorite for Saturday’s Group 1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide was stuck on the also-eligible list as of Wednesday.

Accidental Bid, trained by Ciaron Maher, was 2-1, but is the first alternate. He will draw into the field should there be a scratch among the 16 runners entered in the $712,700 South Australian Derby at about 1 9/16 miles.

Accidental Bid has had a different career for a 3-year-old starting in a major stakes in the Southern Hemisphere autumn.

Bred in Great Britain, Accidental Bid was winless in two starts in that country last year, finishing second in a maiden race at a mile at Thirsk, and 14th of 26 in a sale progeny stakes at seven furlongs at Newmarket.

Accidental Bid is unbeaten in two starts in Australia, both at Pakenham Racecourse – a maiden race at a mile on March 16, and a minor handicap by 7 3/4 lengths at 1 1/4 miles on April 16.

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Accidental Bid is the only Northern Hemisphere-bred horse in the South Australian Derby. He was foaled in April 2023 and is considerably younger than his rivals who were foaled from early August to early November of 2022.

If Accidental Bid does not draw into the field, the race will probably lack a clear favorite. The fillies After Summer and Silvasista and gelding Engine of War will draw support.

After Summer, a winner of one race in eight starts, was third by a half-length behind the highly-rated Ohope Wins in the Group 1 ATC Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on April 11.

Silvasista won for the third time in her seventh start in the VRC St. Leger Stakes against 3-year-old males at 1 3/4 miles at Flemington last Saturday. Silvasista closed from seventh in a field of 17 to win by 3 ½ lengths.

Engine of War was fourth by 2 1/4 lengths behind Impulsive Reaction in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles at Morphettville last Saturday.

Impulsive Reaction, who was 20-1 in the Chairman’s Stakes, is part of the South Australian Derby field, but was rated as a 30-1 outsider as of Wednesday. He has won 2 of 4 starts as a closer.

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