Ben Hayes ranks Lindsay Park stable’s three Adelaide Cup runners at Morphettville

BEN Hayes has a clear top elect when assessing the chances of three Lindsay Park runners in Monday’s Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.

Fanatic wins the 2017 Sandown Cup. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

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BEN Hayes agrees with price assessors who have ranked Lindsay Park mare Fanatic at the top of Adelaide Cup markets.

Ladbrokes have marked Fanatic as the $5 favourite for Monday’s $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on the back of some solid lead-up form, including a strong last-start second in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Fanatic wins the 2017 Sandown Cup. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos

Hayes, who trains in partnership with his father David and cousin Tom Dabernig, rated New Zealand-bred Fanatic as the clear top elect of the stable’s three runners as they chase their second Cup in three years following Purple Smile’s upset win in 2016.

The five-year-old’s claims were enhanced even further when she drew ideally in gate three.

“Fanatic is our best pick for sure. I’d definitely be leading towards her,” Hayes said.

“Barrier three is perfect. That makes me even more confident.

“She’s a horse who races better when she’s inside of horses. If you look at all her runs, you’ll see her weaving between runners.”

Hayes said the step up to 3200m was another significant factor when assessing the prospects of Fanatic, the 2016 New Zealand Oaks winner who claimed the Sandown Cup over the same distance last spring.

Michael Walker, who has been aboard the mare at her past five starts including that Sandown Cup triumph, retains the ride on Monday.

“Once she gets over 2800m-plus, that’s when she’s at her best,” Hayes said.

“The 3200m of the Adelaide Cup should really suit.

“I thought her last start was excellent. It was a slowly run race and she was really strong through the line.

“It was a great trial for Monday.

“We’ve targeted her for this race ever since she won so impressively in the spring.

“We really like her. She’s a Group 1 winner. I think she’s the class runner of the field.”

The Lindsay Park team also will be represented by Raindrops on Roses ($18), a slick last-start Moonee Valley winner with her Cup jockey Jamie Kah in the saddle, and consistent gelding Al Haram ($26), to be ridden by Michael Dee.

Jamie Kah wins on Raindrops On Roses at Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Dadswell/AAP

“I thought Raindrops looked really strong at the Valley ... and Al Haram is racing like he’s looking for the 3200m now,” Hayes said.

“They both have a similar form line to Purple Smile before he won the Cup a couple of years ago.”

Ladbrokes spokesman Tom Hackett said Fanatic had attracted her share of support since markets opened but the Darren Weir-trained gelding Ormito, who finished just behind Fanatic when third in the Roy Higgins, had been most popular with punters.

“He’s been the best-backed runner in our early Adelaide Cup betting market,” Hackett said.

“We took a $1000 bet on the German import straight after the barrier draw and he has received the most consistent support over the past 24 hours.

“The favourite Fanatic continues to be well-backed at the $5 mark, while the most strongly supported roughie has been Lindsay Park-trained Al Haram. He is $31 into $26.”

ADELAIDE CUP BETTING

Morphettville, Monday, 4.20pm

$405,000. Group 2. 3200m

$5 FANATIC

$6.50 Master of Arts

$8 Ormito

$8.50 Exalted Lightning

$12 Double Bluff

$13 Pretty Punk, Diamond Grace

$14 Benzini

$15 O’Lonera

$18 Randrops on Roses

$21 Khezerabad

$26 Jim’s Journey, Al Haram

$31 Poppiholla

$34 Like a Carousel

$41 Cuban Fighter

$61 Tunes

$71 Flying Casino

*Ladbrokes fixed-odds market