Adorabeel causes upset win in Aspiration Quality

The Joe Pride trained Adorabeel was back in the winner’s circle with an upset victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick today.

Adorabeel, black and green, wins the Aspiration Quality at Randwick in a blanket finish. Photo by Steve Hart.

Adorabeel, black and green, wins the Aspiration Quality at Randwick in a blanket finish. Photo by Steve Hart.

Adorabeel was sent out as one of the outsiders of the field at $19 but fought out a tight finish to redeem herself after being beaten as favourite when fifth in a 1500m BenchMark 85 Handicap at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The Savabeel mare was a winner at her previous start in a 1500m BenchMark 80 at Rosehill on February 7.

Winning jockey Sam Clipperton settled Adorabeel in the m idle of the pack before making his move coming to the home turn and after being challenged all the way down the straight was able to hold off another roughie in the field, Entertains ($26), by a head with Intimate Moment ($21) making it a longshot trifecta.

Race favourite Telephatic ($2.60) also raced back in the field but after circling the field from the 600m, found the wide run telling at the finish and finished just behind the placegetters in fourth spot.

Pride said that Adorabeel was ready to step up in distance again and will look to the Group 3 $150,000 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on March 21 for her next run.

“I left her one run too many at the 1500m but it was about buying a little of time to get here today,” Pride said.

“Terrific run today, she was really, really tough, really brave. This mare has plenty of improvement in her, maybe not tis prep, but the next couple of preps.”

“She is a tough mare and she has been looking for this distance. I’d love to run her in the 1900m Epona in a couple of weeks time at Rosehill,”

“I think the upside to her is maybe in six month, twelve months time.”

The Gerald Ryan trained Solicit ($5.50) set the pace in the early and middle stages but compounded badly in the straight to tail off last.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.