Adelaide Strikes From Last to Win Cox Plate
Description:
Ryan Moore piloted Irish raider Adelaide from last to victory in the Aus$3 million Sportingbet Cox Plate (Aus-I), Australia's premier weight-for-age race Oct. 25 at Moonee Valley.
Adelaide steadily advanced from about five furlongs out to enter contention, and angled six wide into the stretch to make a brilliant run down the outside. He fought off challenges from favorite Fawkner and Silent Achiever to prevail by a head in a blanket finish.
Three-year-old Adelaide, under 123 pounds, was timed in 2:03.76 for 2,040 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) over good turf. He won at 7-1 odds.
A son of Galileo, Adelaide came in off a third in the Qatar Prix Niel (Fr-II) Sept. 14 at Longchamp. Prior to that, he won the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) in August at Arlington International Racecourse and was beaten a neck when second in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (gr. I) in July.
The Cox Plate win improved his career line to 4-3-1 from eight career starts for trainer Aidan O'Brien, who trains him for the Coolmore partnership and associates.
Seven-year-old Fawkner, carrying 130 pounds, was second, a short head to the good of third-place finisher Silent Achiever. Side Glance was fourth, another head back.
After a slight stumble at the start, Adelaide was settled at the back of the field of 14 while Wandina led early, chased by Side Glance, before Tasmania-trained The Cleaner strode into his expected role as pacemaker. The Cleaner maintained his advantage as the field swept up the hill and into the short straight. He was soon engulfed as Fawkner, Silent Achiever, and Side Glance vied for command before Adelaide got up to settle the matter at the finish line.
"He is a very good horse because he has done it the hard way," Moore told Australia's Associated Press. "From what I have seen of the Plate it's tricky, but usually the best horse wins, and the best horse sometimes has to do it a bit tougher. Things were against him but he got the job done.
"This horse has shown what a good colt he is; he's been around the world all year and has come down to Australia to round it off."
Adelaide was bred in Ireland from Royal Ascot group II winner Elletelle, a daughter of Elnadim who also was group I-placed in Ireland.