A host of key Adelaide Cup 2017 contenders are nominated for a lead-up run into the two mile feature this weekend at Morphettville Racecourse in the Lord Reims Stakes.
Running on Saturday in South Australia, the $120,000 Group 3 James Boag’s Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) attracted a bumper 23 nominations.
The majority of the stayers in the mix for the set weights plus penalties feature are eyeing a run in the $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 13 back at the track over more metres.
One of the early fancies in pre-field Adelaide Cup odds this autumn is the Stuart Webb-trained Annus Mirabilis from Melbourne.
The Caulfield-trained six-year-old won the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day before a third behind Post D’France on February 18 over 2000m.
He’ll be improving the further he gets, the son of Montjeu having won the Bagot Handicap by over two lengths, and gets the chance to stake his Adelaide Cup 2017 claims in the Lord Reims this weekend.
Another Victorian raider out to make an impact in the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival staying features is the Danny O’Brien-trained De Little Engine.
A six-year-old son of Encosta De Lago, the galloper is Group 1 performed at home including his ninth to Jameka in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) last spring.
He backed-up with two fourth place efforts that October in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) and Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) before a fifth to Qewy in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m).
His resuming run at Caulfield on February 11 caught the eye when runner-up to Second Bullet in an 1800m handicap, form he can improve on heading towards Adelaide Cup Day on Monday March 13.
One of the top local Adelaide Cup hopes nominated for a lead-up Lord Reims Stakes run this autumn is the Grant Young-trained veteran Murray Bridge stayer Tunes.
A rising nine-year-old son of Viscount, Tunes was runner-up to Purple Smile in last year’s Adelaide Cup quinella and was last seen winning over 2250m at Morphettville Parks on February 25.
That was the gutsy galloper’s 22nd run since the Adelaide Cup second last season and his trainer Young is happy with his winning effort last weekend.
“He was good. He would probably prefer it a bit longer,” Young told The Advertiser on Saturday.
“I was thinking today just may have been a bit too short for him.
“I think the horse is probably going a touch better than last year as we’ve had him around the place longer and we really understand the animal.”
Other notable Lord Reims Stakes nominees tracking towards an Adelaide Cup test include the Tony McEvoy-trained Big Memory, last start Torney Cup third placegetter Dandy Gent and flying local Reset four-year-old Mail It In.
Check out the full Lord Reims Stakes 2017 nominations below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au who will have the best autumn odds on offer this weekend and for the Adelaide Cup.
2017 Lord Reims Stakes Nominations
Morphettville Racecourse – 04/03/2017
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 40x0x77113 | ANNUS MIRABILIS (IRE) | G | 6 | Stuart Webb | 83 |
2 | 22x302x025 | BIG MEMORY (FR) | G | 7 | Tony McEvoy | 96 |
3 | 1333196385 | BULLITT COUNTY | G | 6 | Grant Young | 78 |
4 | x88x795047 | CADILLAC MOUNTAIN | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 84 |
5 | 3220×13555 | CHOYSA (NZ) | G | 6 | Wayne Walters | 58 |
6 | 85256×6883 | DANDY GENT | G | 5 | Terry & Karina O’Sullivan | 84 |
7 | 3423414x | DARABAD (FR) | H | 4 | Robbie Laing | 82 |
8 | x8679445x2 | DE LITTLE ENGINE | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 90 |
9 | 021×805132 | EXALTED LIGHTNING | G | 5 | Rob Wilkinson | 70 |
10 | 2650137160 | FLYING CASINO | G | 7 | John Hickmott | 79 |
11 | 694517×156 | JIM’S JOURNEY | G | 5 | Peter F Blanch | 91 |
12 | 5113212221 | MAIL IT IN | G | 4 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 94 |
13 | 1211×44448 | MASTER OF ARTS (NZ) | H | 5 | Darren Weir | 97 |
14 | 441265×805 | NISHIAZABU | G | 8 | Kevin & Heather Frew | 54 |
15 | 25111×8824 | NOT SO LADY LIKE (NZ) | M | 4 | Richard Jolly | 72 |
16 | 6×22427779 | PUCCINI (NZ) | H | 6 | Wayne Walters | 95 |
17 | 6132444646 | ROBOCOP | G | 6 | Shane Oxlade | 70 |
18 | 3x50025x16 | SECOND BULLET | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 95 |
19 | 0x66095355 | SIR LASZLO (NZ) | G | 6 | Stuart Webb | 76 |
20 | 00630×0900 | SPUR ON GOLD | G | 5 | Michelle Payne | 68 |
21 | 6×55256521 | TESSABELLE | M | 5 | Mark Kavanagh | 68 |
22 | 0662122×77 | TREMEC (NZ) | G | 8 | Eric Musgrove | 75 |
23 | 4282129221 | TUNES | G | 8 | Grant Young | 87 |