Adelaide A Confirmed Cox Plate Runner

Coolmore representative James Bester has confirmed that talented colt Adelaide is certain to make the trip to Australia for the 2014 Cox Plate.

Ryan Moore rode Adelaide in the Prix Niel in France on Saturday.

Ryan Moore rode Adelaide in the Prix Niel in France on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Adelaide finished an unlucky third in the Group 2 Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp in France on Saturday and there was speculation that Coolmore may elect to run the Galileo colt in the 2014 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at the same venue on October 4, but Bester told Sky Racing HQ that the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) would be the next race start for the three-year-old.

“He was held on the rail by a horse in the same ownership, albeit not trained by the same trainer,” Bester said of Adelaide’s run in the Prix Niel.

“It was most unfortunate and he probably should have won that race, as impressive as the winner Ectot was.

“It was a tremendous performance.

“Obviously there was so temptation to consider the Arc De Triomphe for him, given that was a major Arc trial and favourite Treve flopped in her Arc trial, but that said he is a horse that relishes really fast ground.

“In America when he won his Group 1 it was very firm ground too.

“This horse will thrive under Australian conditions.”

A half share of Adelaide was purchased by clients of Chris Waller in Australia after it was revealed that  the Cox Plate was on the agenda for the talented colt, but Bester said that the change of ownership had not played much of a role in the decision to run Adelaide in the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.

Coolmore missed out on the opportunity to win the Cox Plate for the first time when Atlantic Jewel was scratched leading up to the Group 1 event last year and Bester believes that Adelaide is capable of delivering the leading racing and breeding operation a maiden win in the Cox Plate.

“Coolmore has always wanted to win a race like the Cox Plate, especially with the disappointment with Atlantic Jewel last week and it is all systems go for the Cox Plate,” Bester said.

“He goes into quarantine on the 25th and he comes out of quarantine at Werribee on the morning of the Cox Plate.

“There has been a lot of discussion between Aidan and the owners and at the end of the day the owners make the call at Aidan’s recommendation, but Aidan and the jockey believe that the firm ground that he is likely to encounter in Australia will suit him tremendously.

“As long as he gets through his quarantine ok he has to be a serious horse in this race.”

Adelaide will arrive in Australia with the second planeload of European-trained 2014 Spring Racing Carnival contenders, but will not serve his quarantine requirements at Newmarket and will instead complete the two week quarantine period at Coolmore’s home base of Ballydoyle.

“There was a choice of going to Newmarket, but then he would be on strange tracks and not under the eye of the master,” Bester said.

“He can actually do his quarantine at Ballydoyle and Kingfisher will go in with him.

“He will have his regular riders, his regular carers and Aidan will keep a very close eye on him all the time.

“It is an ideal situation really.”

Adelaide is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $13 in the betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.

About The Author

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.