Morphettville trainer Peter Blanch is confident that his stayer Jim’s Journey is back on track for the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.
Jim’s Journey, above, is on track to run in the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Jim’s Journey was beaten two and a quarter lengths when fourth to Purple Smile in last year’s version of the Adelaide Cup and Blanch is looking for a better result this year after the five year old ran back into form with flashing third in the Group 3 $120,000 James Boag’s Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
Blanch took the blinkers off Jim’s Journey and the gelding settled a lot better for Dom Tourneur and hit the line well to finish three quarters of a length behind Adelaide Cup favourite Master Of Arts with Puccini splitting the pair on the line.
“That was much better. I’m really happy with him,” Blanch told The Advertiser.
“He overraced last time, which is why we took the blinkers off.
“At least it now feels like we’re in with a shot in the Cup.”
Jim’s Journey kicked off his Adelaide Cup campaign with a first up win in a 1600m Open Handicap at Morphettville on January 21 but was unplaced at his next two starts.
He was never in the hunt when fifth to Letmedowngently over 1800m on the Morphettville Parks track on February 4 before running sixth to Mail It In in the Listed $100,000 Birthday Cup (2020m) at Morphettville on February 18.
Jim’s Journey has drawn wide and will jump from barrier fifteen if the remaining two emergencies fail to gain a start and Tourneur will be looking to slot in somewhere in the second half of the field and put the gelding to sleep.
The Darren Weir trained Master Of Arts has drawn perfectly at barrier six in the capacity twenty horse field and heads the Adelaide Cup market order at $4.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au following his tough win in the Lord Reims Stakes.
The Stuart Webb trained Annus Mirabilis is the second pick at $6 following his last start fifth in the Listed $120,000 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on last Saturday.
Adelaide Cup top weight Chance To Dance is next in the batting at $6.50 and has been working his way up through the distances with a win over 2400m two starts back at Caulfield on February 4 followed by a second to Northwest Passage in the Listed $150,000 Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 17 while Jim’s Journey is rated an $11 chance..
