Lives updates from 2018 Adelaide Cup Day at Morphettville
A GENIUS ride by Michael Walker has paved the path to victory for classy mare Fanatic in the $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
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A GENIUS ride by Michael Walker has paved the path to victory for classy mare Fanatic in the $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
Walker, in red-hot form after coming off a Group 1 win in the Australian Cup at Flemigton on Saturday, allowed the favourite Fanatic ($4.40) to settle midfield on the rail before sticking to the inside rounding the home turn.
The Lindsay Park mare had a wall of horses in front of her before the home turn but Walker made the winning move by sticking to the rail as the field fanned wide.
He found room on the inside and Fanatic accelerated sharply, kicking clear at the top of the straight then digging deep when strongly challenged by the second favourite, the Darren Weir-trained Ormito ($5.50).
Ormito’s stablemate Poppiholla ($21) was third, while Exalted Lightning was the best placed of the locally trained brigade, beaten 5¼ lengths in sixth place.
Clare Lindop’s final Cup ride did not provide the fairytale result many had hoped for.
Her mount Tunes ($31) was prominent early, taking the lead from barrier release then challenging again in the final lap. But the veteran gelding faded when the pressure went on and he was eventually finished among the tailenders.
FORMER WA galloper Lite’n In My Veins could be destined for better races after his dominant CS Hayes Stakes win at Morphettville on Monday.
Formerly trainer by Fred Kersley in Perth, Lite’n In My Veins sat outside the race leader Chamois Road before proving too classy for rivals.
Trainer Aaron Purcell said the horse was regaining the confidence he showed early in his career winning five of his first seven starts in WA.
“He showed early in his career in WA he was a Group horse,’’ Purcell said.
“He shot up the ratings and was then chasing home the likes of Scales Of Justice, Vega Magic and Rock Magic over in Perth before he sent over to us,’’ he said.
Purcell said placing the horse in suitable races where he could regain his confidence had been crucial in his return to form, the win his second in succession in Adelaide.
“He’s a horse who had a long time between wins,’’ Purcell added.
“His first few runs for us he wanted to pull and not finish off but the last couple he’s settled well and has been strong to the line.
“We’re really excited about his future,’’ he said.
Jockey Mark Zahra said sitting outside the race leader Chamois Road where he control the tempo worked out perfectly in the run.
“There didn’t look much speed on paper, Billy Egan (Chamois Road) set the pace and it as just perfect for me, we got quicker every furlong and he was too strong in the end.
“He’s a very good trainer Aaron, and the team have done well,’’ he said.
EXCITING filly Zizzis gave Victorian trainer Patrick Payne his second $200,000 Magic Millions 2yo Adelaide Classic in four years at Morphettville today.
Coming off a Bendigo maiden win, Zizzis sat just off a solid tempo before working into the clear on the turn and fighting off rivals with Billy Egan in the saddle.
“She won well first up and she’d come on really well but with these young horses your not sure,’’ Payne said.
“We where more hopeful than over confident,’’ he said.
Payne gave a glowing endorsement to first season sire Sizzling.
“She’s a sweetheart to deal with, I think the Sizzling breed have got that in them, are really good racehorse.
“They have a great demeanour about them and they’re here to be racehorses
Payne said they would take the horse home and let the dust settle on yet another Adelaide feature before mapping a plan geared towards the Melbourne spring.
“We’ll wait and see, we’ll look after her and lay out a plan for her,’’ he added.
Zizzis held off Illuminaire and the fast finishing Dancer’s Kin who was with a wall of horse lining up for the minor prize.
Jockey Billy Egan paid tribute to Payne, who’s stable boast an imposing strike-rate.
“She’s a really nice professional horse,’’ Egan said.
“All credit to Paddy for the work he (and the stable) put in.’’
TOP jockey Michael Walker has started Adelaide Cup Day in style, delivering a classy ride to win the Darley Stallions Handicap.
Walker, who rides Adelaide Cup favourite Fanatic later in the day, showed plenty of strength to get the money on second favourite Easy Beast ($3.60).
He beat the luckless favourite Over Exposure ($2) by 1¼ lengths, with Exalted Lauretta ($41), from the Murray Bridge stables of Grant Young, a lip back in third.
Meanwhile, Fanatic remains the clear-cut favourite for today’s $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
The New Zealand-bred five-year-old is a firming $4.40 chance in latest Ladbrokes fixed-odds markets for the 3200m feature, scheduled to be run at 4.20pm SA time.
The Lindsay Park team already has enjoyed a blockbuster weekend, winning the Group 1 Australia Cup and Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday, and co-trainer David Hayes is upbeat about Fanatic’s prospects of adding to that big-race haul.
“Her form is outstanding going into the race and she comes into her own at two miles,’’ Hayes said.
“I’m quietly confident that with an in-form Michael Walker aboard that she can win.’’
LATEST LADBROKES MARKETS FOR THE ADELAIDE CUP
$4.40 FANATIC
$5.50 Ormito
$6 Exalted Lightning
$9.50 Double Bluff, Pretty Punk, O’Lonera
$14 Randrops on Roses
$15 Benzini
$17 Al Haram
$26 Like a Carousel
$31 Poppiholla
$34 Jim’s Journey, Cuban Fighter
$41 Tunes
$101 Flying Casino
TRACK TALK PREVIEW FOR THE ADELAIDE CUP MEETING
BEST OF BEST
ENTRANCING
Race 1, No 7
Smart mare who hasn’t raced since leading them up when 5th to Fuhryk in the Proud Miss here in May. Has trialled nicely, fresh form is excellent and sure to take some beating first-up.
BOORADLEY
Race 9, No 12
This gelding looks very well placed in this grade after some really solid efforts in Melbourne recently. He’ll settle close to the speed from barrier five and should be strong when it counts with only 54kg on his back.
THE EYE-CATCHER
EASY BEAST
Race 8, No 3
Handy effort first-up from a break where she made good ground in the latter stages behind Demerara at Moonee Valley. Has been here before defeating My Unicorn last October and looks a sharp improver.
THE TRAINER
AARON PURCELL
COLUMN (Race 2)
He’s going well, it was a good ride last time he has good jockey on again. There’s no reason why he can’t win again.
SIZZLESUN (Race 4)
He’s always shown plenty of ability. He got a long way back at Moonee Valley which is always a task and finished off really well. He can be right in the mix in what looks a strong race.
LITE’N IN MY VEINS (Race 6)
He’s a good horse who has been around the traps. He won well there in Adelaide last time, he‘s fit and well and should run a good race again.
LETTSY LIKES
CASINO WIZARD
Race 8, No 1
Very smart horse from the South East who hasn’t raced since winning Christmas Handicap and has banked more than $630,000. Always races well fresh and sure to give this a big shake.
THE QUADDIE
First leg — 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9
Second leg — 1, 2, 4, 7, 11
Third leg — 1, 3, 5, 10, 14
Fourth leg — 6, 8, 11, 12, 14
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