Aidan O’Brien-trained Adelaide is set to contest the 2014 Cox Plate after a 50 percent share of the promising colt was sold to Australian interests.
Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Adelaide in the Secretariat Stakes this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Adelaide remained in the United States after he finished a close second behind Mr Speaker in the Group 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (2011m) at Belmont Park on July 5 and he will contest the Secretariat Stakes (2000m) at Arlington Park in Chicago this weekend.
Coolmore Racing Manager James Bester told TVN yesterday that clients of Chris Waller had purchased a half share of Adelaide and he confirmed that the son of Galileo was set to be O’Brien’s first ever runner in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
“We are hoping he runs well in America next week, we’re hoping that justifies a trip to the Cox Plate and then depending on what unfolds there’s a possibility he may remain in Australia,” Bester said.
“Should the horse remain in Australia after the Cox Plate then that’s where he would go (to the Waller stable).
“Whether he remains in Australia after the Cox Plate is the question.”
Adelaide made his racing debut with a win in a maiden at Leopardstown on October 26 last year and he made his debut at Group level with a second place finish in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart (2200m) at Longchamp on May 11.
The three-year-old scored an impressive three lengths win in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes (2011m) at Curragh on May 25 and he was far from disgraced when second behind Eagle Top in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2414m) during the 2014 Royal Ascot Meeting in June.
Adelaide was sent to the United States for the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes and he was well-backed in the lead-up to the race, but was narrowly denied a maiden win at Group level.
O’Brien has also included Kingfisher, Magician, Table Rock and Venus De Milo in the 2014 Cox Plate nominations and Bester said that all four remain a chance of joining Adelaide in Melbourne for the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.
The leading Irish trainer has not had a runner in Australia since the 2008 Melbourne Cup where he was heavily criticized for his tactics after Septimus (18th), Alessandro Volta (20th) and Honolulu (21st) all tired badly in the final stages of the race after setting a quick early tempo.
Adelaide is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $15 in the betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.
