Adelaide Could Run In Neville Sellwood Stakes After Flat Trial

Coolmore Australia Racing Manager James Bester has revealed that 2015 Neville Sellwood Stakes could be an option for Adelaide after he produced another flat performance in a barrier trial this morning.

Cox Plate winner Adelaide will return to racing in either the Neville Sellwood Stakes or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Cox Plate winner Adelaide will return to racing in either the Neville Sellwood Stakes or the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Adelaide contested the first barrier trial at Warwick Farm this morning and looked to track into the trial nicely, but he failed to respond when asked for an extra effort and could finish no better than sixth behind David Vandyke-trained Less Is More.

Bester told Sky Racing HQ that Adelaide did not hit the line impressively, but he believes that the entire knows the difference between trackwork and raceday and will turn it on when he eventually starts his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.

“He jumped out and settled and started to move up and that was part of the plan, but he didn’t quite accelerate as one might have hoped in the straight to be honest,” Bester said.

“It really remained me a lot of Vancouver’s trial pre-Canonbury Stakes and he knows the difference between raceday and trackwork that is the thing about this horse.

“We know what sort of a horse we have, we are delighted with his trackwork and we know what he is capable of, but I think we are going to need raceday conditions to see him at his best, not trials.”

The Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) were both touted as Queen Elizabeth Stakes lead-up races for Adelaide, but he will not contest either of these races and is now a chance to go into the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes first-up.

Bester confirmed that Adelaide would either contest the Queen Elizabeth Stakes without a lead-up run or will make his return to racing in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 28.

“We are now just trying to decide what the best step into the Queen Elizabeth is and whether to go straight into the Queen Elizabeth or use the Neville Sellwood the week before over 2000 metres as a stepping-stone,” Bester said.

“Chris will mull that over and perhaps even call Aiden and have a chat with him.

“Then a decision will be made.”

Adelaide is currently available at 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds of $6.50 with Ladbrokes and is on the second line of betting behind Japanese hopeful To The World ($5).

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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.