Promising stayer Eclair Samba will get his final Adelaide Cup warm up run in the Group 3 $115,000 James Boags Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Eclair Samba will have his final Adelaide Cup warm up in the Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Eclair Samba has worked his way up through the grades and threw himself into Adelaide Cup contention with a last start win over Lucky Lucky Lucky in the Listed $80,000 Holdfast Insurance Birthday Cup (2032m) at Morphettville on February 14.
The Tony McEvoy trained Lucky Lucky Lucky is also nominated for the Lord Reims Stakes.
Another good performance on Saturday will have the Phillip Stokes trained gelding primed for the Group 2 $400,000 Tattsbet Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville nine days later.
“He’s ticking over nicely,’’ Stokes told The Advertiser.
The way that Eclair Samba runs out the 2600m of the Lord Reims Stakes on Saturday will give Stokes a good idea if the Ekraar five year old will handle the step up to the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup.
“I know he’ll run the distance on Saturday but I guess there is still a question if he can run the 3200m out,’’ Stokes said.
“But I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s taken a lot of benefit out of his past couple of runs and he looks in good order.’’
“Tony’s horse Lucky Lucky Lucky is going well but the interstate horses will obviously hold the key to the race this weekend.’’
Three of those interstate horses, Zanteco, Taiyoo and Akzar are from the stables of Melbourne’s premiership trainer Darren Weir.
Akzar finished just behind the placegetters when one length fifth to Smokin’ Joey in the Group 3 $150,000 T S Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 14 and will appreciate the step up to the 2600m this weekend.
Taiyoo has been working his way up through the classes like Eclair Samba and made it four wins on the trot in winning the Listed $150,000 ADAPT Australia Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 20.
While Zanteco won’t have any trouble running out the distance after winning over 2400m at Geelong on January 4 and then over 2500m at Flemington on January 17 in restricted grade before a last start third in a 2100m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Sandown on February 18.
Sandown Cup winner Renew will be fitter for two runs this time in and showed improvement at his second run back when sixth to Taiyoo in the Torney Night Cup after finishing at the tail of the field when eleventh to Averau over 2000m at Flemington on January 31.
