Despatch has not been seen at the races since June, but he typically flies fresh and strikes a very winnable one on Adelaide Cup Day. The Written Tycoon gelding is in fact yet to taste anything but success first-up and won at Listed level last time in. He’s won a pair of barrier trials in the lead-up to this race and looks ready to go.
2 Units Despatch
Last year’s Darwin Cup favourite Leider has steady built to the task this time and is primed for a return to winning form on Monday. The Street Cry gelding worked home well to finish third at the track and distance last time out and will enjoy a huge relief in the weights. Chris Caserta can find a nice position in transit from barrier 2 and the horse probably won’t be offered a better opportunity to return to the winner’s stall.
2 Units Lieder
Messerschmitt broke his maiden impressively last time out and can continue his rise through the grades in this race. The son of All Too Hard drops 5.5kgs from that effort and can take a position behind the early pace, before calling on a decent turn of foot. He looks a touch of over at his current price
1 Unit Messerschmitt
Movie Role is rock-hard fit and ready to record the second win of her short racing career in this Magic Millions race. The Fastnet Rock filly broke her maiden in style at Randwick in late December and passed a few late to finish seventh in the 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. Her run for third in the Listed Cinderella Stakes here last week was decent and she has options from the rails draw this time around.
1 Unit Movie Role
Blue Morpho can go straight to the lead in the fifth and will give them something to chase. The Hussonet mare has not been seen at the races since October, but she has decent fresh form and has trialled well in the lead-up to her resumption. Will Clarken’s horses are flying and Blue Morpho can continue the good run of form by winning.
1 Unit Blue Morpho
Adelaide Cup Day’s first black type race has drawn a quality field of milers and there is a case to be made for several in the market.
Silentz has been a strong and consistent performer and will have conditions to suit. A former Weir galloper, Silentz weathered a tough run over 1800m at Caulfield in his first start for Phillip Stokes, but he’s had a brief freshen-up and has trialled well leading into this.
Mighty Boss is a Group 1 winner at the distance and while he has failed to live up to that billing throughout his last couple of preparations, he’s up to winning a race of this calibre. The Not A Single Doubt entire resumed this time for a credible fourth over 1400m at Flemington before a credible effort for sixth in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes last weekend. With improvement, he can break back into the winner’s stall.
1.5 Units Mighty Boss
Bondeiger returned to winning form with an impressive performance in the Group 3 Lord Reims here last weekend and as long as he handles the trip, he looks tough to beat in the Adelaide Cup. The War Pass entire weathered several years between wins, but broke back into the winner’s stall a few times in 2018 and has gone on with the job this year. The change to Maher & Eustace’s care looks to have been beneficial and he can win again.
Top Of The Range has been charged with overcoming a wide barrier, but he’ll have every chance at two miles and looms as a light weight chance. The Savabeel gelding was an impressive winner over 2500m at The Valley two starts back before running third in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality last time out. Leading Perth hoop William Pike has been booked to run.
3 Units Bondeiger
1 Unit Top Of The Range
Stellar Collision will be having his second start for Maher & Eustace on Adelaide Cup Day and is up to winning an open edition of the Matrice Stakes. The Star Witness gelding has been a strong and consistent performer for several seasons and scored over 1250m here two starts back. He is rock-hard fit and is drawn to receive a beautiful run from barrier 6, with Dean Yendall aboard.
1.5 Units Stellar Collision
All Hard Wood will carry winning form into the last one Adelaide Cup Day and looks the one to beat again. The All Too Hard gelding has returned to the care of Richard Laming for his autumn preparation and has plenty of improvement still in store. He gets a relief in the weights in this race and with even luck, will be given every chance to make it two in a row.
Lynch Mob faces a step up in class, but he is also seeking a fourth-consecutive win and looms as a genuine each-way chance. The Wanted gelding is at peak condition for his seventh campaign appearance.
2 Units All Hard Wood
0.5 Units Lynch Mob