Outback Joe has given jockey Chad Schofield another great result, winning the Group 2 $400,000 Tattsbet Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville today.

Outback Joe and Chad Schofiled (pictured centre) have combined to win the Group 2 Adelaide Cup. Photo by Jenny Barnes

Schofield has topped off a huge couple of days after winning the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday on the Mick Price trained Lankan Rupee.

The young jockey settled Outback Joe back in the field before coming late and holding off the Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon and Base who also ran on hard to finish third.

Favourite Big Memory with Craig Williams lead the field up early before being headed mid race by Rialya and was there again on the home turn  before fading in the straight to miss a place.

Winning trainer Nigel Blackiston knew that Outback Joe would have no trouble handling the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup being by Caulfield Cup winner Elvstroem out of champion race mare Let’s Elope who was trained by Bart Cummings to win the Caulfield – Melbourne Cups double in 1991.

“I knew he would outstay them,” Blackiston said.

“Never any worries about him getting the two miles. I couldn’t wait to get him to the two miles.”

“I run him the other day, he needed the run. He hadn’t run for six weeks.”

“I knew this horse would keep finding the line.”

Outback Joe was solid in the betting and started the third favourite at $7 behind Big Memory ($3) and Cooldini ($4).

Cooldini, ridden by Glen Boss, finished tenth and Big Memory finished eleventh after both raced on the pace but couldn’t sustain the pressure over the concluding  stages to finish well back in the field.

Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon ($17) looked like providing a great result for the bookies but just wilted under the 59kgs to be beaten by a neck by Outback Joe who only had to carry 54kgs.

The Luke Oliver trained Base ($21) also ran a mighty race to finish third just over a length away and showed that his run to finish second in the Group 3 $115,000 James Boag’s Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on March 1 was no fluke.

Today’s win was a good tonic for Flemington trainer Nigel Blackiston who had been in the wars lately because of a nasty foot infection.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks. A fortnight ago I had an infection in the foot, everything is under control and there’s nothing like this to make you feel better.”

Outback Joe has 52kgs and is currently equal forty-five in order of entry for the Group 1 $1m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 19 and a penalty for today’s win would help elevate him into the final field.

Schofield won’t forget his first trip to Morphettville to ride his first ‘two mile’ winner as his career is really started to take off following his win in the Newmarket Handicap on the top of his historic win in last year’s Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Shamus Award.

Schofield said that the hot pace up front really suited Outback Joe who was able to get to the line strongly.

“It’s was very brave win,” Schofield said.

“The pace was really hot throughout and he was travelling throughout and he was very relaxed with me.”

“They were going very quickly and on the home turn I hooked him out and got him wound up and he just outstayed them.”

“It was a tough win.”

“It was the first time I have ever ridden here in Adelaide. Big crowd, nice atmosphere.”