The time honoured Adelaide Cup highlights a nine-race program at Morphettville this Monday.
Along with the $350k feature, three other black-types races will be run and won.
Won by some greats of the turf, including Melbourne Cup winners, Rain Lover, Hyperno, Just A Dash and Subzero, the race certainly carries a rich history.
The rail is in the true position and with warm weather forecast, we’ll be racing on a Good 4 surface.
My full Adelaide Cup Day Preview including Morphettville best bets can be found below.
Race 1 - 1:00pm AEDT
Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Hard Prince (3) has been racing in great form this preparation and looks well placed here.
The Richard & Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding impressed last start over 1800m here when letting down powerfully from the back to win by a neck.
He drops back to a mile which I don’t think will be a problem given he demonstrated his versality five starts back when winning over 1400m at Murray Bridge.
A strong speed will aid his cause.
1 Unit – Hard Prince (3)
Race 2 - 1:35pm AEDT
Class 2 Handicap (1100 METRES)
Steel Tsunami (2) has come back a much-improved horse this preparation.
Following a 1.3 length second first-up at Murray Bridge, the Clarken & O’Shea-trained gelding won his past two starts.
I was particularly taken with his most recent performance over 1050m here where he produced plenty when challenged to win by just over half a length.
The wide barrier isn’t ideal, but he has the speed to cross and find a prominent position.
1 Unit – Steel Tsunami (2)
Race 3 - 2:10pm AEDT
Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Super Alana (7) is low flying this preparation with two wins and four seconds from her six races.
The five-year-old mare looked the winner over this course and distance last start but was nutted on the line by the undefeated Sabaj.
She’s been given a four-week freshen-up following that run which will do her the world of good.
Top jockey Blake Shinn is a massive plus, and he can give his mount every chance from barrier 3.
1 Unit – Super Alana (7)
Race 4 - 2:45pm AEDT
0-64 Handicap (2000 METRES)
Stardealt (3) has been building towards a win this preparation and looks primed here.
The Jason Warren-trained son of Dundeel found the line strongly two starts back to miss the win by a nose over 1600m at Pakenham.
Despite a long and wide run last start over 1800m here, he kept coming to finish just over a half-length third.
The rise to 2000m fourth-up looks ideal.
1 Unit – Stardealt (3)
Race 5 - 3:20pm AEDT
Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600 METRES)
Elphinstone (3) can bounce back from a tough run in the G3 JRA Plate last start where she never gave in despite racing wide to finish 3.9 lengths seventh.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained mare won her two races before that, powering home three runs back to win over 1600m at Pakenham before doing the same to win over a mile at Flemington.
Typically, she’s been given a month between runs and will appreciate the drop in class and the dry track.
Local legend Jamie Melham is a key booking and she finally draws a good gate.
1 Unit – Elphinstone (3)
Race 6 - 4:00pm AEDT
Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600 METRES)
Sabaj (1) is an up-and-coming star in South Australia who is undefeated in his three races.
The Richard & Chantelle Jolly-trained gelding won on debut in September before being sent to the paddock and returning last month with an impressive display to come from the back and win over 1200m here.
However, it was his performance last start over 1525m here that truly stamped his card as a top horse when he produced a devastating turn of foot from the back to win comfortably by 1.7 lengths.
He’s rock hard fit and is clearly my best best on the Adelaide Cup card.
2 Units – Sabaj (1)
Race 7 - 4:45pm AEDT
G2 Adelaide Cup (3200 METRES)
Taramansour (4) produced an excellent G2 Adelaide Cup audition last start in the G3 Lord Reims Stakes over 2600m here.
The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding settled back after drawing wide and was forced to make a sustained, wide run but never shirked the task and was the strongest through the line in finishing a head third.
His form before that was excellent with a win at Flemington over 2500m and a close second in the Listed Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm when suffering heat stress.
He maps to get an economical run and should run out a strong 3200m.
1 Unit – Taramansour (4)
Race 8 - 5:25pm AEDT
Listed Manihi Classic (1100 METRES)
Prairie Flower (4) returns to her home state following a two-race campaign in Melbourne.
The Clarken & O’Shea-trained mare was beastly unlucky last start in the G1 Oakleigh Plate when held up on the fence and having to check off several heels to get clear running on the outside before finishing 4.5 lengths fifth.
Two starts back she produced an enormous effort to finish 1.4 lengths third in the G2 Rubiton Stakes.
She was a dominant winner of the Listed Durbridge Stakes three starts ago over this course and distance which looks the right form for this.
She looks hard to beat with Kayla Crowther in the irons.
2 Units – Prairie Flower (4)
Race 9 - 6:05pm AEDT
0-64 Handicap (1050 METRES)
Fun Forever (3) returned in great order over 1000m on the Parks circuit last start.
The Andrew Gluyas-trained gelding let down powerfully from worse than midfield to run over the top of them and win by a neck.
He’ll have come on since that run and went within a head of winning second-up last preparation.
Jason ‘Stubby’ Holder will settle off what looks a decent speed before letting launch in the straight.
1 Unit – Fun Forever (3)