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2020 Adelaide Cup form guide

Sixteen horses are scheduled to face the starter for Monday’s Group 2, $400,000 TAB Adelaide Cup.

The two-mile classic has again generated plenty of interest, so today we look at the hopes of each runner:

  1. Home By Midnight – Patrick Payne / Billy Egan (4)

Home By Midnight has an undeniable chance of giving Patrick Payne his second Adelaide Cup as a trainer, following on from Capecover in 2010. Home By Midnight romped home with the $250,000 Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) last start. That booming victory followed a solid run in the Hobart Cup and a tough second at Caulfield over the same 2400m journey. Well drawn for Monday’s race, Home By Midnight finished second in the 3200m Auckland Cup a year ago to the day.

  1. Yogi – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace / John Allen (6)

If the Adelaide Cup is to have a blowout horse, Yogi is the top candidate. Trained by the all-conquering Ciaron Maher/David Eustace combination, Yogi has raced three times over 3200m for a win and a placing, and has a powerful finish when on song. Expect to see Yogi’s eye-catching colours near the back of the field for most of the trip, but it won’t surprise to see him running over the top of the field down the long Morphettville straight.

  1. Dabiyr – Chris Waller / Jye McNeil (10)

Prepared by champion trainer Chris Waller, Dabiyr posted a professional win in the Listed Torney Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 14, before finishing second to Adelaide Cup favourite King of Leogrance in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality over 2600m at Flemington last Saturday. The top duo finished well clear of the remainder of the field and Dabiyr will meet the Cup favourite a little better at the weights.

  1. King of Leogrance – Danny O’Brien / Damian Lane (15)

King of Leogrance rocketed into Cup favouritism by taking out the Roy Higgins Quality over last Saturday, when it never looked like losing. The emphatic victory was the imported galloper’s first in Australia after several promising runs last spring and the classy gelding looks well placed to give Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien an Adelaide Cup to place alongside his 2019 Melbourne Cup. The booking of top Melbourne hoop Damian Lane also helps the favourite’s cause.

  1. Chouxting the Mob – Simon Morrish / Beau Mertens (1)

Chouxting the Mob never gave up during two battling runs in February – behind Dabiyr and King of Leogrance – but it is difficult to see the son of Jimmy Choux improving enough to win the Adelaide Cup.

  1. Naval Warfare – Chris Waller / Dwayne Dunn (8)

Chris Waller’s former overseas stayer finished third behind Surprise Baby in the 2019 Adelaide Cup and was solid last Saturday behind King of Leogrance and Dabiyr. Could place.

  1. Rock On – Peter Galagotis / Anthony Darmanin (12)

Made some ground from last in the Roy Higgins Quality, but would need sharp improvement to figure.

  1. Eperdument – Shane Oxlade / Kayla Crowther (2)

South Australia’s big hope has done everything right heading towards the Adelaide Cup, including taking out the traditional lead-up, the 2600m Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville last Saturday. Shane Oxlade’s charge – to be ridden by local apprentice Kayla Crowther – showed plenty of staying grit to win a fast-run Lord Reims and will be hoping for a similarly sweet run on Monday from an ideal barrier draw.

  1. Yulong Rising – David & B. Hayes & T. Dabernig / Dean Holland (7)

Has been in good form of late, including two solid runs at Moonee Valley: a second at 3000m and a win at 2500m. Another former overseas stayer, to be ridden by last year’s Adelaide Cup-winning jockey Dean Holland. An each-way hope.

  1. Good Idea – Phillip Stokes / Ben Thompson (13)

Shapes as a genuine each-way chance after an extremely tough win over 2500m at Moonee Valley on February 20, when covered significant extra ground. Bred to be a stayer of quality and could be a surprise packet.

  1. Heart of Grace – Anthony Freedman / Damien Thornton (11)

Started hot favourite in the Lord Reims and held on for a dogged third, after attempting to lead all the way and making the race a true staying test. Likely to give a good sight up the front and must come into calculations, particularly given its in-form trainer, Anthony Freedman. 

  1. Azurite – Michael Hickmott / Anna Jordsjo (16)

Local hope that didn’t have the best of luck last start when runner-up to Eperdument, which went on to take the Lord Reims Stakes. Up and class and would need a mercurial ride from barrier 16 by apprentice Anna Jordsjo to have any hope.

  1. Alienated – Cliff Murray / Georgina Cartwright (14)

Won well over 3000m at Moonee Valley two starts back but likely to be outclassed in this field.

  1. Knight Star – Jeremy Gask / Jason Holder (5)

Carried 62.5kg to win over 2200m at Scone on January 30, but this tough grey is likely to be outclassed, regardless of what gun SA staying jockey Jason Holder can conjure.

  1. Dark Alley – Paul Preusker / Declan Bates (9)

Can trainer Paul Preusker pull off back-to-back Adelaide Cup wins, after Surprise Baby’s stirring victory last year? Dark Alley has a similar profile: lightly raced, promising, but still something of an unknown quantity. It was backed as if unbeatable at Morphettville last start and rounded up a vastly inferior field to win easily. Last year’s result cannot be ignored, but is Preusker’s 2020 hope good enough?

  1. Turf Man – John Hickmott / Sairyn Fawke (3)

Actually ran on okay in the Lord Reims, but would be a surprise if John Hickmott’s five-year-old figured in the placings.

Selections: 1. King of Leogrance; 2. Home By Midnight; 3. Dark Alley; 4. Heart of Grace.

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