Adelaide Cup dream alive for trainer Patrick Kearney after $8000 bargain buy Yellowbrick Road delivers in Lord Reims Stakes

Yellowbrick Road is taking Patrick Kearney on the ride of his life after securing the Victorian trainer his first black-type win at Morphettville on Saturday.

Trainer Patrick Kearney gives Yellowbrick Road a cuddle after his Lord Reims Stakes win. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Emerging trainer Patrick Kearney is daring to dream after a horse he bought for $8000 at an online sale on the back of “a couple of beers” delivered him the biggest victory of his young career in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Yellowbrick Road gave Kearney his first Melbourne winner at Sandown earlier this month and has raised the bar again with another gutsy display, defying the late challenges of The Map and Hasta La War to book a place in next month’s Adelaide Cup.

It’s an astonishing rise to prominence for both the horse and the Ballarat-based trainer, the former a European import who didn’t show much in a handful of starts for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable, while the latter has only had his licence for two years.

Now Kearney is taking the five-year-old gelding, who only had a maiden win at Kempton Park to his name before October, to the Adelaide Cup and he’s relishing the moment.

Yellowbrick Road defies them all in the G3 Lord Reims 🙌@[e-mail]/wZmoHX97C0

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 24, 2024

“I love this horse, I cannot believe it,” Kearney said.

“I paid $8000 online for this horse. I was sitting on the couch having a couple of beers when I thought ‘stuff it, I’m buying him’.

“I’ve got a heap of really good people in him and he’s come out and won a Group 3 today, my first Group race.

“He’s so tough. We really look after him and he tries his guts out every time. I have no words, I can’t believe it, my head is going to explode.

“We’re having a really good run, gaining some momentum now and hopefully this horse can kick us away and we’ll be back here for the Adelaide Cup.

“You know, dreams are free, if he wins that we might have a crack at the Melbourne Cup.”

Jake Noonan urges Yellowbrick Road home in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

It was a smart ride from jockey Jake Noonan, sitting prominent throughout before cutting the corner entering the straight to land the prize at $8.

Placegetters The Map and Hasta La War certainly lost no fans looking ahead to the Adelaide Cup after gallant performances but there seemed to be an issue with Grand Promenade, who was under pressure a long way out.

"Herastar from nowhere!"

Herastar bursts through the pack & charges home to win the Cinderella Stakes ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/eRbWL3Oo6I

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 24, 2024

Meanwhile, it was a welcome homecoming for veteran hoop Paul Gatt, piloting Dean Krongold’s filly Herastar to victory in the Listed Cinderella Stakes on debut at $31.

Gatt spent about 30 years riding in South Australia, winning five Adelaide premierships, before relocating to Victoria and, after a short-lived retirement, he’s back in the saddle and making regular trips to the winner’s circle.

Herastar found a lovely spot worse than midfield with a strong tempo playing into her hands, letting down strongly to beat Michael Hickmott’s Ad Astra, who was enormous in defeat, while the odds-on favourite Campari Twist disappointed.

Snapped comes thundering home to take out the City Of Marion Stakes 💥 @FreedmanRacing@todd_pannellpic.twitter.com/umcHZwg2jK

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 24, 2024

In the other black-type race on the card, the Freedman-trained Snapped continued her love affair with SA, charging home under Todd Pannell to claim the Listed City Of Marion Stakes, her second feature win in the state after snaring the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes last May.

Originally published as Adelaide Cup dream alive for trainer Patrick Kearney after $8000 bargain buy Yellowbrick Road delivers in Lord Reims Stakes