Racegoers turn up the heat at this year’s Adelaide Cup

It wasn’t just the temperature that was hot at this year’s Adelaide Cup — fashionable punters also sizzled trackside. Were you snapped by our photographer?

It was hot on and off the track, as fashionable punters flocked to Morphettville to see superstar jockey Jamie Kah riding The Map finish second to Excelleration in the Adelaide Cup.

It was a nail biting finish and a win – with Harry Coffey in the saddle – by the narrowest of margins before a strong crowd that sizzled trackside.

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Despite the heat, pre-sale ticket numbers surpassed last year’s attendance of 7000.

Excelleration’s journey to win the Cup began six years ago over a couple of pints and the words “Why not?”

Part-owners Ray Nicholson and Grant Thorson met through St Paul’s Football Club in McKinnon, Victoria; where Thorson’s two sons, also part-owners, play footy and Nicholson coached.

“We were out having drinks when Ray asked me to buy a horse, and I just thought, ‘Why not?’” Thorson said.

“I came home and told my wife I bought shares in a racehorse and she said, ‘I beg your pardon?’

“She couldn’t believe it ­­– but it’s paid off.”

Part-owners Ray Nicholson, left, and Grant Thorson celebrate after their horse Excelleration wins the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville Racecourse. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

They picked out Excelleration at Adelaide’s Magic Millions meet in 2018, paying just $6000.

“I’ve been a lucky man, and today just feels unbelievable,” Thorson said.

“It’s been frustrating at times, joyous in others, but at the end of the day, we’re just a group of mates who got lucky with a tough horse.

Neck and neck with Kah’s The Map in a knife-edge result, Thorson and Nicholson said they “no doubt” who would win.

“It’s been a long journey, a lot of hiccups on the way, but we had a lot of faith in him and now he’s repaying the faith,” Thorson said.

“He’s had injuries, he’s stood on nails, he basically lost three and half years from his four year racing career and he just persevered. We just believed in him and now he’s paying it back.”

While Kah didn’t ride the favourite to victory in the main race, the South Australian-born hoop was still a winner, finishing first place in race three on Boognish, race six on Meridius and race eight on Austmarr.