Adelaide Cup: Aurora’s Symphony, Amade lumped with big imposts

Last year’s placegetters will carry significantly more weight than the rest of the field if they line up in next Monday’s Group 2 at Morphettville.

Aurora's Symphony and Amade finish in the placings behind Rebel Racer in last year's Adelaide Cup. Picture: Ben Clark

Last year’s Adelaide Cup placegetters Aurora’s Symphony and Amade face an enormous task if they are to improve on their efforts from 12 months ago after being handed huge imposts by the handicapper.

While the other 29 entrants will carry either 53.5kg or 53kg, the Symon Wilde-prepared Aurora’s Symphony and Phillip Stokes’ Amade have to lump significantly more than their opponents after being allocated 59kg and 58kg respectively.

It means they will be giving between 4.5kg-6kg to each of their rivals if they take their place in the field.

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While Amade remains on track to compete in next Monday’s Group 2 at Morphettville, carrying 1kg more than last year, connections of Aurora’s Symphony confirmed they will make a decision in the next 48 hours about whether they push on after his sixth in the Group 3 Launceston Cup last week.

The seven-year-old has an extra 3kg impost from his second to Rebel Racer in last year’s Adelaide Cup.

Patrick Payne’s Alhambra Lad, the Julien Welsh-prepared Don’t Doubt Dory and Excelleration, from the Richard Cully yard, are the other three above the 53kg minimum, each given 53.5kg.

READ: Jamie Kah snapped up for Adelaide Cup ride on in-form stayer

Leading South Australian mare The Map leads the list of horses with 53kg, alongside Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes winner Yellowbrick Road, the Ciaron Maher-trained Herman Hesse and Terry Kelly’s veteran Skelm.

The early TAB market has The Map, who will be ridden by superstar jockey Jamie Kah, as the early favourite at $4, just ahead of Amade ($6) and Yellowbrick Road ($6).

Excelleration and Herman Hesse ($9) are the other runners with single-figure odds.

The final field will be declared on Thursday morning with the barrier draw at Adelaide Oval on Friday morning.

Originally published as Adelaide Cup: Aurora’s Symphony, Amade lumped with big imposts