2015 Adelaide Cup Results: Tanby Scores Narrow Win

Veteran stayer Tanby got his nose in front at the right time to record a narrow win in a thrilling 2015 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville this afternoon.

Darren Weir-trained Taiyoo had won seven of his past eight race starts and he hit the front at the 300 metre mark, but looked out on his feet at the 200 metre mark, while Renew and Tanby loomed on the result.

Tanby, pictured centre, chases down Taiyoo (inside) to win the Group 2 Adelaide Cup

Tanby, pictured centre, chases down Taiyoo (inside) to win a close Group 2 Adelaide Cup today. Photo by Jenny Barnes

Taiyoo battled on bravely and looked as though he was going to hold for a very tough win, but Tanby was stronger on the line and he poked his head in front of his rival to record his first race win since he took out the 2012 edition of the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m).

Tanby made his racing debut under the care of Lloyd Williams and was a consistent performer for the Macedon Lodge team, but he was sold for $140,000 at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Select Racehorse Sale and joined the stable of Mick Cerchi.

The Galileo gelding has performed well without winning since joining the Cerchi stable and the battling-trained was thrilled that the veteran stayer was able to return to winning form in the 2015 Adelaide Cup this afternoon.

“He has been going terrific the horse and we knew that he could run the journey out,” Cerchi said.

“Everything just went to plan and it is great for the people that supported us in Bulla Thoroughbreds.

“I don’t think you feel confident when you are in the Adelaide Cup and you just have to do your best.

“We got the horse as good as we could get him and as sound as we could get him and we have got the chocolates.

“It is just great.”

Jockey Dean Holland was having his first race ride on Tanby in the Adelaide Cup and he earnt the opportunity to partner the veteran stayer in his hometown Cup after riding trackwork in the early hours of the morning for Cerchi.

The underrated hoop said that Tandy always travelled like the winner throughout the race, but he admitted that he was unsure whether his mount had got his nose in front of that of Taiyoo in the shadows of the post.

“Everything just worked out perfect,” Holland said.

“He just travelled so soft throughout and I always had a lap full throughout.

“Taiyoo is a bloody hard horse to get past and at the top of the straight I thought I had the horse, but I wasn’t sure if I won on the line but thank god I did.

“It was just a good tough effort and a great training performance by Mick.

“He had him spot-on for today.”

The Adelaide Cup was Holland’s biggest race win since he took out the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) on Small Minds in 2010, while the victory was Cerchi’s first at Group level.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.